Desperately Seeking I. jalapa (purga)

Willing to do *almost* anything for this hard-to-find morning glory. I hear they've naturalized in Florida, deep south. Anyone know of a wild source? (Not that I can travel.... :-) )
raydio

Picture: http://www.selu.edu/Academics/Faculty/rickmiller/I_purga.html

PS Seed from various sources is *much* appreciated so as to help with genetic diversity.
I can send you fresh seeds-plus-interest next season in return.
Dmail me and we can work out the details/discuss alternative trade.


This message was edited Sep 17, 2005 2:33 AM

Raydio, I may have a couple of seeds left of Purga. I will look
today and let you know. If you are able to get it to grow, bloom
and set seeds, I would like to have a new supply of fresh seeds.
Apparantly I need some growing tips on this one.
Jackie

Raydio, I only have 4 seeds left so I can only send you 2. I don't know
how old they are or if they are still viable. Send me your
address by dmail and I will send them to you.

Jackie

Thanks, Jackie! Will D you.
I'm wondering if you would share your (not so good) experience. I know you can overwater them when they're first starting, and that includes the just planted germinated seed. In fact, the seeds can rot if you soak them too long. (I've heard 4 hours is quite long enough).
I over-soaked/over-watered some I.turbinata. Only one of three survived.
Thick/hardcoated seeds usually have a looong period of viability, if they aren't subjected to extremes in storage.
There are instances of lotus (Nelumbium) seeds found in China and dated to 2000+ years old that germinated! Can't say that Ipomoeas can match that, but some (Calonyction for example) have very thick shells.
raydio.

This message was edited Sep 17, 2005 1:52 AM

This message was edited Sep 17, 2005 2:34 AM

Raydio, I'm sure I just oversoaked them. I think I had one up at one
point and probably overwatered. Probably should have slightly nicked
them and planted without soaking.
I know some mg seeds have germinated at well over 50 yrs.
I do have the Nelumbo nucifera "Ohga Hasu". I purchased 3 seeds supposedly not too many generations removed from the 2000 yr old seed that germinated. Started 1, still have the other 2. I babied the one seedling thru the winter in my g house the 1st yr. Last yr I didn't get it right so no blooms. This yr
I potted it up late in season and didn't feed enough so no blooms.
It's huge now so I'm leaving it out for the winter. If I don't get blooms this
next yr, I'm tossing it.

Jackie

raydio - I found this site that supposedlly sells seeds, but I'm not vouching for them. I've never bought anything from them before, but I did some re-search on the Ipomoea purga and came up with this. At first when I saw your thread I thought I migh have grown these before under another name. Anyway here the link I found:
http://www.banana-tree.com/Product_Detail~category~12~Product_ID~523.cfm
Let me know what you think.
Dennis

Banana Tree is where I purchased mine several yrs ago, but
they are out of stock and don't know when they will get them in.
Thats why I am sharing mine with raydio.

Jackie

Jackie - that's nice of you :)

Dennis, I try :)

Jackie

B&T World Seeds gets them in from various sources and ID accuracy can vary...several German and European mailorder places usually offer an Ipomoea purga...which invariably has turned out to be Ipomoea turbinata...

This message was edited Dec 26, 2008 9:16 AM

I have checked with Banana-tree about a year agao. They said there source has experienced flooding that wiped out their crop. I had wondered about B&T, but thought that they were a bit expensive with a highish minimum order, and didn't know how reliable they were.
I know B&T states that they abide by the ISF rules for plant identification, and I assume this means they will refund or replace incorrectly identified seeds (they do pass through various hands before they get them.) But that also means I might have to wait for yet another season to come around as I must grow outdoors. I don't have a really sunny window and winter light levels are low indoors.
Thanks all around.
Robert.

Robert. - Yes,I have ordered from B&T World Seeds many times and it is my personal experience that their ID accuracy although often accurate, is also often innaccurate...same holds true for other suppliers offerring a very large selection of unusual species...The quality control of the several German suppliers also varies,but if you 'really' want rare stuff,then you have to be willing to do what it takes to get it...high prices and innaccurate ID's are part of the 'experience' and can be disappointing,but have also resulted in interesting and pleasant surprises...got to make the best of it...
Good Luck...

Thanks to Patootie, I think we can mark this one closed.
Hope to have great news and pictures to share next year.
Robert.