Does anyone have an image , or know where I can find one of Helleborus orientalis seeds? I have some flower heads out there, they're covered with aphids, whch I'm sure are eating the seeds. I just need to know what, exactly, to look for seed-wise. Are there supposed to be pods, or are there just seed? Thanks!!
Helleborus Seeds...
After the flowers fade things that look kind of like arabian slippers form in the center of the flowers. When they are ripe the capsules split open and the seeds fall out.
This isn't H. orientalis; but you can see the seed capsules in the center of the green flowers:
http://www.pays-dignois.com/assets/images/flore/hellebore_fetide_detail.jpg
The seeds I've collected are black and relatively large.
Hope this helps.
Here is a somewhat blurry photo of the ripening seed capsules on H. orientalis.
Ah, ok! I was wondering. I guess I've missed mine for this year. I found the slipper-looking things on most of the blooms, but they're empty already. The ones that haven't formed yet are the ones the aphids are mouing down on. Thanks so much for this info! I'll know what to look for next year, then.
You may have some little ones coming up at the base of your plants this fall or next spring!
Keep an eye out, they take a while to germinate.
To me the seeds look a bit like small-ish apple seeds. They are shiny, black, and slightly longer than they are wide. I think they were around an eighth of an inch long.
The picture above was from April this year. In my zone, most of the seed capsules were ripe in mid to late May.
Are they really hard to germinate, do you know?
Well, a little tricky. I've never quite worked up the courage to try it, myself.
Instructions from a seed packet:
"Sow as normal and keep at 72 degrees for 6 weeks. Transfer to refridgerator (40 degrees) for 6-8 weeks. Raise to 50 degrees for 4-5 weeks."
Oh my, that's pretty involved, isn't it? I don't know if I'd ever have the courage to try this, either! I'm lucky if I remember to fertilize twice a month!!