Propagating Red Buds.

Can anyone tell me the best way to propagate Red Buds from seeds? I have a lot of seedpods and would like to start and then transfer some Red Buds into my hedgerow. I have had a couple volunteers that have come up in the yard but never where I want them. Holly

Holly, maybe this will help? From Dirr:

Bothering with acid and clean-up can only be worth it in big commercial applications. Just slice off a small piece of the hard outer seedcoat with a razer blade, soak for 24 hours, and plant. I've done this with almost all my legumes with good success.

Scott

I read somewhere that you could soak some seeds in Orange juice for the scarification. Would that work for this type? These seed pods are from the tree in my yard. It has produced a few seedlings on it's own but they are always under my pines and by the time they are tall enough that we see them all we can do is cut them down. Trying to dig them up would damage the pines. Why can't it reseed in the middle of the yard? I'm sure those little seeds like that nice soft protected area under the pines but couldn't they be a little more cooperative? ;} Holly

I live in a much different climate than you do, but I grow a hundred plus redbuds each year. I'm not an expert, but this is what I do in central Alabama. I collect the seed pods in November - I just pull the pods off the limbs. I place them in a freezer bag, which I place in a fridge in my garage which is dedicated to plant material. I sometimes use peat to allow a resting place for the pods in the bag. I don't add any moisture, although my better educated mentors say I should. In the spring, when the heat and humidity begins to rise, I put them in pots. I literally dump the seed pods in various size nursery containers. I once thought I should open the pods, but one day in a moment of Alabama brilliance, I looked to the woods where they grow so naturally. I didn 't need to try to open the pods - nature would do it. It was so wonderful to one day walk out and see that the pods had opened - I then spread the seeds outward with a garden glove. Heck, we're just stewards. I use redbuds for understory trees. They are such nice trees.
edited to correct typo.

This message was edited Nov 21, 2006 4:46 PM

I have one planted in with my pines ads great color in the spring. We dug it up out of the woods at a friend’s property quite a few years ago. In all the years it has been here we only had 3 seedlings start on their own, and they had to be destroyed since they grew out from under the Pines. I hated to do it but couldn’t get them out without damaging the Pines. I want to salt the hedgerow next to my property and the edge of the woods behind my pasture with Red Buds and White Dogwoods. You’re right they are great under story trees. I know I can just gather the seeds and sow them in the hedgerow and woods and just hope for the best. But I wanted to try starting them in pots hoping that I would get more seedlings to start that way. There are a lot of both types of trees in my area just not any close enough that I can see them from my windows

Holly:

Do both. See what happens.

Have the joy of success in your propagation, and let nature have its way with those scattered with reckless abandon.

The happenstance ones have a way of "knowing" where they'd like to grow (like under your pines).

I have this one that grew under my Blue Spruce. My Spruce is about 20 ft tall and pretty big and round. This stubborn little Red Bud won’ t go away It snakes it’s way out from under the middle of the Spruce and pokes it’s little finger branches out of the Spruce about 2 ft off the ground. I can’t dig it out, can’t pull it out so I just reach in as far as I can and clip it off but it just keeps coming back. It’s kind of pretty you get a couple of very small branches that arc out with a little spray of flowers and heart shaped leaves. The color of the flowers look beautiful against the color of the Blue Spruce. I've gathered up all the pods I can reach and have sent my son 6 ft tall with really long arms out to get the rest. I have quite a pile to work with. So I can try all of your really good suggestions I really appreciate the help thanks. Holly
P.S. Anyone know where I can get Dogwood seeds?

What I've done with success, is *drumroll*.
Put the seeds in a coffee cup and put it in the microwave, to 190 degrees F, check with a liquid thermometer.
I got the idea from my Michael Dirr/Charles Heuser Jr. book also The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. After where he mentions acid scarification, he mentions hot water to 190 degrees F. I wouldn't do acid either, too much could go wrong, from ruining the seeds to getting acid in your eyes! I'd leave the acid to veterans and/or people in the business. Oh, and the cold period of 3 months must still follow. All the hot water and acid soak does is loosening up that impermeable seed coat.
Will
editted for typo
editted for another typo

This message was edited Nov 23, 2006 7:22 AM

This message was edited Nov 23, 2006 7:23 AM

hollyann- come to my house. I seem to have good conditions for dogwood seedlings. I don't have room forthem all to grow up, unfortunately. Remind me later in winter and I could probably send them bareroot, unless somebody knows they wouldn't do well that way.

Sally, Thank you for such a thoughtful offer. I do have a friend with a lot of Red Bud seedlings that is where the one I have came from and I can easily go to her house and dig. I just wanted to try starting them myself. I will tell you that Red Buds have a tap root and even the small ones are hard to dig up. Holly

um, it's dogwoods that I have a bunch of-- if you can't locate dogwood seeds to try

Oh Sally, I misread that and I would love some dogwood seedlings. I'm sure we can work something out. Holly

It's really nice here today. I think I'll pull some out (so they don't get stuck in frozen soil later) and give them a temporary home. Then they'll be easy to prepare to send when it's convenient. (I'm just hesitating to get too involved in a fun thing like this, when I should be getting Xmas in order!) Would you be ready for them soon? I'm thinking I'd send them pretty bare root and they'd be dormant, and you could either plant, if it's not frozen, or do something temporary too.

Sallyg, you have D-mail