Does anyone have an abundance of seeds of this specie or experience growing it?
Cardiocrinum giganteum seeds
If it had been a year ago I had an abundance, I threw most of it away! I have some offsets growing from 2004 and 2005 (the last ones are still in their original spot), I may have some seed this year but more likely next year. I won't know if the biggest will fower until it starts to grow and sends up the flower stem, one of the first offsets I had flowered in it's 4th year.
To save me explaining it all here, it can be lengthy, I left comments in PF which I think should expain the growth habits of it. I just read it and it sounds a little double dutch, there was a lot to type so I probably shorthanded it in a fashion.
A summary:
Seeds must be sown when fresh, I let them dry and sowed November to December.
Sow in a mix of gritty soil, leaf compost and moss peat.
Seeds germinate over winter the following year, some in 2 years.
Leave all in a tray in a shady spot for the first 2 years.
The first leaves will die back in a short time, they can only grow for as long as the bulb will let them.
The bulb can only grow as big as the leaves will let it!
Keep moist while in growth, they shouldn't dry out altoghether at any time.
They say 7-8 years from seed, I would say at least 10 years if lucky but that may depend on length of growing season.
Offsets will make but from a mature flowering size bulb it won't make many, the bulb needs at least 2 years in the ground before flowering to establish. The stem will be short also if not established.
They like lots of organic matter and some shade, kept moist.
You should get more and different size offsets from an established plant as they start to make probably 2 years before flowering, I got 3 large and 4 small offsets from my first flowered one of 2 offsets which grew from a bought bulb.
The scent is strong, with a hint of vanilla.
Well worth growing for the challenge but I would buy a bulb, once you have enough offsets they should start to flower in staggered years and you should get some every year.