I'm really happy. My inside-out flower set seed this year!
I don't think it's ever done that before. Maybe the plants are finally big enough or old enough?
So, uhhh, now what? Anyone know how to start these from seed? OR, does anyone want some seed?
This message was edited Jun 28, 2007 5:12 PM
I have some stuff like that in my woodland garden (can't remember the name of it..... starts with an 'e'.... but don't remember it being called inside-out flower!) This is their 3rd spring/summer, and have really spread and done well. Ya think it spreads well by seed?
Sannajane
This is a plant that's native to PNW, I dunno, maybe even to as far south as you are. There's another variety, Vancouveria planipetala that is definitely from your area up into Oregon that is also sometimes also known as inside-out flower. I guess it depends on which plant book you have.....
Both the Vancouverias are related to the more common epimediums, though, which is what most gardeners have.
Here's a nice link about it: http://www.rainyside.com/features/plant_gallery/nativeplants/Vancouveria_hexandra.html
I have no idea how to grow it from seed. I found a tiny bit of it growing where that giant plot of it is now when we bought the house and discovered it was a native. I had to dive in front of the weed whacker a couple of times! Ever since then, I've babied it and carefully tended it every spring. I've carefully transplanted bits of it and even bought several really overpriced 4" pots to fill in with, but I've never noticed seeds until now. They don't look like much on the plant. They bloomed quite a bit heavier than usual this year, too.
I might try some seeds Susybell. I have the habitat described at your link here and am trying to expand native shade beds. I'm wondering if I haven't already seen those delicate hanging white flower heads in the woods, though I don't recognize the leaves.
Could it be an issue of maturity on the seed-setting? Sanna and I have discussed reproduction of the beloved trillium before, and I am convinced new young stands start from dropped/shed seeds: I took the dog bushwhacking again tonight Sanna, and little baby trillium leaves are popping everywhere deep in their patches in the woods, but only two mature enough to bloom. Perhaps the same applies to your inside-out plant?
If you harvest seeds let me know and we can perhaps swing a trade for something.
Susybell, after looking at your link, I can see mine isn't quite the same. I guess it's more of the more common epimedium. Love the stuff tho! And Annie, I have been watching my trillium seeds pods carefully and am going to experiment with them. I read a lot about how ants actually assist with the seed spreading.... but I'm going to try to take a pod and propagate the seeds in a controlled setting. I can hardly wait!!! :o)
Sanna
Hi,
This is the first year I've seen the "really big" leaves (2"x2"-ish) so maturity would make sense. When doing a little research since I found the seed pods, I found one study that thinks this is another type of seed that is spread by ants. They kind of look like little tiny clamshells with red-brown seeds in the middle. The outside stuff (can't remember or spell what they called it) is what made it interesting to the ants. They'd carry off the seed with it's coating, eat the coating and conicidentally plant the seed. Of course, now I can't find the page I read this on....
I have harvested some seeds already and there are more pods that still haven't opened yet.
This message was edited Jul 5, 2007 9:17 AM
