I have beautiful hardy Plumbago plants blooming & hope to have seed to trade later. One problem. I pulled a dried seedhead off today. I don't know if it was seedless or if I tore the seeds up looking for them. I checked Plant Files but no pics of seed. Does anyone know what they are supposed to look like? I would appreciate any help.
Pam
CLOSED: Hardy Plumbago seed (leadwort)
Sorry Pam, so far I can't really find any visual information, however I did find this:
Children often make “earrings” with sticky Plumbago flowers—letting them stick to their earlobes. The Plumbago bloom produces sticky gland-tipped hairs on the flower calyx. The seed capsule retains the stickiness which presumably helps disperse the seed by attaching to animals. The top of the capsule splits opens and drops the seed out.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/57575/
This should help...
If you do get some seeds I would like to trade with you!
Sorry JanetS (& probably Kim,too). That's why I should have given the latin name (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides). The "hardy blue plumbago" is not actually a Plumbago at all. I probably mislead everyone unintentionally.
This message was edited Aug 31, 2007 12:47 AM
Pam, should you discover where the seeds are (it sounds like they form red seed heads), I would love to trade also :)
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/groundcover/cerato_plumbaginoides.html
is this what you have? It is pretty!
Yes, that's it but the pics don't do it justice. I just wish they would show the seeds. The flower heads are very obvious. But so far the seeds have not been. It was the first mature head I found so maybe it just didn't have any.
I have "found" seed UNDER the fluffy part of the the seed heads sometimes....like in a little base capsule under the spent flower blooms...if that makes sense..lol so maybe that is where they are hiding...it is amazing how hard it is to locate them on certian plants, and once you "know" where to look it seems so "obvious"! LOL Good luck and keep us posted! It is a beautiful plant!
I have that one... and I LOVE it... I have never seen a plant bloom more and with a perfect blue color to it... It is not suppose to be hardy here... but... I planted 2 last year (in the fall) one came back.. then I read this year they should not be planted or divided in the fall... lol, leave it to me to do it all backwards. I did a seed trade and have a bunch of seed someone else sent me, later today I will take a picture of the seed, maybe that will help you to identify it.
Fran
Thanks! Is there a possibility the person you traded with could be contacted to find out where she found them? A picture would certainly help but I'm not sure where to look. I thought I looked everywhere on the last one. I think I saw another mature head today. Maybe I can go on another hunt after I see a picture.
Finally a picture.
The seeds and pods remind very much of marigold seeds only there is no little black tip. This is the first time I have opened these seeds, they have quite a bit of garbage with them... need a little cleaning. The little black dots you see are actually the dried up blue flowers.
Pam I will dmail you the ladies email address.
Pam, this is just an idea. If you think you have a mature seed head, cut it off and put it in a brown paper bag for a couple of days. Sometimes on these stubborn headed plants it take a couple of days for them to "release" their seeds. I think that is what is happening to you. Notice Fran's picture contains alot of "garbage *lol*" along with the seeds? That is probably because that is what the person had to do in order for the seed to be "released".
I hope this helps :)
Kim
I think I might have torn the seeds up looking inside. I thought they were smaller. I found another mature branch yesterday but haven't had time to search. In the middle of a family crisis now (death in the family) so I'll probably be out of touch until next week. Thanks for the help.
Pam
I am SO SORRY to hear of your loss.
You take care of yourself and your family. The seeds will wait for you I'm sure :)
God Bless you and keep you close during your loss and pain.
Kim
Will you keep your family in my prayers, Pam...God Bless!
Well I got a chance to pick at another seed head & found what frans530 pointed out to be seeds. I actually had found these on the first one, too. They come right off with a little tug. But they have a slight opening at the top where the petals came off & I thought that was a pod & the seeds would be inside. So I tore the seeds open looking for the seeds. Really smart! I only have a few now but later I should have as many as anyone might want. I'll try to let you all know when they are ready. Thanks for the help!
Pam
Yaaaa!!! LOL Glad you found them!!
Well, bad news, I guess. I sent some of these seeds as an "extra" with one of my trades & I was warned not to trade them. PF says the seed can be stored but she said she has had this plant for years & they are sterile. :-( Sooo - unless someone has first hand info to the contrary I won't be collecting them after all.
Pam
Well if thats not a shot in the ,,,,,,,,, well you know.. I shared mine too. I will plant them this winter and see if I get anything.. but I had never heard that... wonder how God gets them to grow?
Fran
I am planning to winter sow some also. I guess then we will know for sure. I do know that they spread from the roots & can be divided in the spring. Mine are spreading pretty well so if anyone is still interested next spring maybe I could dig you some. Only problem is that I have daffodils interplanted with them. Might be a challenge.
Pam
Maybe you can take some cuttings in the spring I sure would be interested :o)
Well after some searching online I am not convinced that Hardy Plumbago seed is sterile. I found at least 2 sites that gave directions on planting. for example one site says "Propagation Methods: Sow seeds in sand at 40°F (4°C) for 6 weeks. | Softwood cuttings in spring. " And I found sources describing the seed location, etc.
My fellow trader who said it was sterile got her info from a commercial source. I guess it won't hurt for us to check it out. If anyone else wants to help test it out I'll send you some seed. They did say however that it should not be planted outside in winter for the 1st year.
I do want to try it...lol I will be happy to be a tester!!
Me to, I'll send you a sase:-) I have a perfect tree stump to plant it around and give it a good home lol
Are you in the address exchange? If not, dmail me your address. I think it will be a little more "scientific" if several different people try it. Theoretically, we should try sowing in different seasons, temps, light, etc. But at least if we all fail to get it to germinate we will know that it's at the very least "temperamental". But if anyone gets it to sprout we will know it's not sterile.
Thanks for helping.
Pam
That's OK LeBug. You don't have to send a SASE. Just dmail me your address. Or are you in the exchange? I only have a small amount to send so I'll cover the postage. I'm fairly new at growing perennials from seed so I just appreciate help testing it.
Pam
I am in the exchange, thanks so much! I love planting from seeds...so much fun seeing them grow!
Thanks Pam, I do have a trade list on my home page if you want to look at it, I'm updating it as I collect seeds, and yes I am in the exchange, thanks so much!
great idea Pam... Would you add a link here to the page that gave the explaination of sowing them in sand. I do have sand, but have never direct sowed in it before..
I actually use it as a top dressing to avoid the knats & damp-off.. seems they don't like sand and it keeps the moisture away from the stems, so when the itty-bitty plants pop their heads out, I add a little sand & cinnammon to the surface.
Fran
cool idea Fran!
Are those seeds kind of like Desert Rose seeds or are they bigger?
~Megin
I actually had to look up desert rose seeds to know what you were talking about Megan..
No, they are nothing like them... these are more in the line of merigold seeds...
But the desert rose seeds sure look cool. Heres a link where I found them... I need the younger version sometimes to understand.
http://www.dampier.wa.edu.au/Room13/seeds&germination.htm
Fran I copied all it said.