Free Candletree Seeds

I harvested over a quarter pound of seed from this one tree this year, and not wanting to see any un-planted, I want to give them to anyone who will send a self addressed stamped envelope to me. A regular envelope is fine, and just one 41 cent stamp is plenty.
My address is in the Address Exchange under "Extras" in the top menu of your home page.

These are beautiful trees, and here in 8a I grow them as annuals, in zones 9+ they are a perennial. The Cassia is an excellent host plant for Cloudless Sulphur , so you will also get lots of visits from the large yellow butterflies. The balance of protective features in this plant keep it looking lovely even with caterpillars eating some of the leaves. Most of them do not make it past the egg stage unless they are collected.

Here are are pics with a couple of the buttery Sulphurs ..

and ...Released on a rainy day he found shelter under one of the Cassia leaves

I am so excited that I am putting my envelope in the mail tomorrow. I live out in the country and have wanted that plant so long. They only sell them around here as large plants and I want to get a big semi circle going!!! Thanks so much............I assume you are in the members exchange.

Are you sure you don't want any seeds.......when I hurt my back I still have hundreds of packets I haven't opened..........would be happy to send you something..............
gail **edited to say I was so excited I didn't even see where you posted that you were in the exchange!!

This message was edited Feb 3, 2008 10:25 PM

Another newly released Sulphur on a candle bloom

I watch you and puddyprint with the butterflies and am fascinated...............have tried only one.......

Debnes - beautiful pictures!

I harvested MANY seeds as well this year. I just love this plant. Really, it's an annual here too (9a). If we have a freeze (which we usually have several each winter), we unfortunately lose the plant. The good thing is that it grows very easily from seed and if you give the seeds a winter head start, you'll have blooms by late July.

I have seeds to offer as well. So, if you have a huge response, send folks on my way!

I would love a couple of seeds if you still have any to spare.....I'll get the envelope in the mail tomorrow.
Thank you

Great Gessiegail! I will be looking for it!
And I never turn down a nice seed exchange here. If you like you can send whatever you choose.

?How many Cassia plants can your garden hold? I will send plenty, but more if you have a LOT of space. Each tree will get about 9-10+ ft tall, and will require a good 12 ft between them.

The foliage alone is striking, but mine began blooming in Late July-August and the blooms stayed nice looking about 2 months. Then petals fell off slowly and seed pods formed.
:o)
Debnes

You're welcome astcgirl! I will watch for it in my mail.

I have about 1/4 lb. of seeds... I think I will make packets of 25 seeds, unless someone needs more, just say how many. No probs!

:-)

Thanks knolan!
And it's good to know it grows as an annual there too, I suppose some winters are warmer than others. I am actually trying to overwinter mine this year with a lot of wrapping. We'll see how that goes, lol!

I would like to grow them along a fence line by the house where the cattle are. I will send you lots of annuals or perennials in exchange for 2 packets of candlestick............the fence line is long and this is one of my favorite plants................do you just want me to guess what you want in annuals.......I wouldn't know where to start......maybe give me a hint of what you want.............

I have noticed in town that they freeze back but come roaring back when the weather is warm..............they will really help with our southeast wind so much in the springs and summers...................
thanks again and let me know what you want................or i will guess.........

Is this something I could grow over here by Tyler?

Mibus - I think you could, as an annual. Plant it in a very sunny location. It really is a stunning plant. Sub-tropical.

cool I have several places that get sun all day ...so now to find a snail mail addy I guess to send to get seeds

debnes, I have nectar plants for the sulfurs, but not host plants. I would love to provide them with some. I'll mail a SASE tomorrow.

Debnes, if there any left, may I please have just a mere half of dozen seeds?
Kim

Deb, I would love to have a few seeds. I'll get a SASE in the mail today.

Thanks,
Carla

they sell these plants four feet tall at "its about thyme" in austin for 2.99 per plant. what a bargain.

I'm going to ask my local Nursery to stock them up. Or else! lol,lol.

Great Kim! I have you down for some.

The packets will have 25+ seeds unless you have a huge space and need more. If so tell me and I will send up to 100 seeds, No problem!!

That is a good price Jujubetexas! :-). We have a few places here that sell them for about that, but they sell out very fast.
1) Green Mama's~ on Davis Blvd, North Richland Hills
2 ) Suttons Nursery~ on 1709, Keller
3) Redenta's in Arlington probably carries them, but I am not sure.
None of them sell them before April, and most in May. If you have seeds you can start them earlier indoors. I am going to try using a little bottom heat in an aquarium with good ventilation, (among other ways)... just to see what works the best.

What's cool is to get some good healthy seedlings started and then give away what there's no room for.
I would love to see them more of these in our Texas landscapes. They grow well all over the south, and my SIL in Nebraska is going to try them by starting early indoors. When she lived here in FW she had many of them them every year spaced out across her huge lawn. She always started them from seed. (We will see how that goes in Nebraska. :-). I will post her results.

My garden is small, I'll be graceful just to receive a few seeds. Thank you. I can send you some SSBE. Or will be glad to send you some Passi in the spring.
Kim

I'd like some of both the cassia and the candlesticks if you still have enough. I will try to send the SASE tomorrow, but I'm terrible about mailing things so it might take longer. I wish I had something to offer in exchange, but I'm just starting my garden here, so I have nothing I didn't just plant in the past few months.

Are there some varieties of flowering Senna that are hardier than others? I was afraid to plant the one I bought in the ground this year because someone told me not all of them are hardy in my zone. Is that true?

Thats right PK, They aren't hardy in our zone, but I enjoy planting them right in the ground every year because they grow very fast and bloom so beautifully.
They will do alright in a pot, but in order for them to get big and spectacular the roots need to be free to tap down as deep as they will go.
I have Senna too, yes! It might be a little hardier, not as "tree like", and smaller lanced leaves, but still very nice for the butterflies.

Send an SASE and I will send you some of each.

Debnes

Yesterday I received the following SASE's
astegirl
bettydee
loonie1
dallasdad
sitabrothers

They went right out in today's mail...:-)

debnes

Thanks Deb!

Carla

Thank you Deb, I can't wait to plant them. I've always admired them in other gardens around here.
Samantha

Thanks Deb. I'm looking forward to adding them to my garden.
Veronica

Your very welcome! Thank you all for planting them!

gessiegail~ Yours went out tonight... :-)

Thanks, Deb!

YW! I am looking forward to seeing them in your garden too Veronica..:-)

Do you grow Veronica? I love that one! I set seeds out last year and they keep coming up .. I have two different kinds, :-).

I'll have to try growing Veronicas. Are Veronicas annuals? I planted some Butterfly Weed, Asclepias tuberosa, about two years ago, and it has established itself nicely.

Deb,

Got the seeds, thanks. Do you recommend soaking them for 24 hours before planting? Any other instructions?

Thanks!

Glad they made it Jeffry!
If you have a bottom heat seed starter that is ideal, bc they germinate best in warm moist soil... Then there is the thin layer of kleenex in a baggie method in a warm spot. Keep vented but don't let it dry out completely. When the tails come out place them downward into a 4" pot with just enough soil to cover. Keep in a warm sunny window until last frost.
Notice how the seeds are pointed like a spade? The point end is where the root tail emerges from. You can run a nail file across it a couple times before either of the two ways above.
____

Yes Veronica!
The A. tuberosa is an excellent perennial ....
Veronica (aka Speedwell) is a perennial too..

This is one kind (Veronica longifolia)
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/4027/

... the purple spikes here with Nasturtums and Gulf Fritllaries:

Hello... If you still have seeds available I would like some. I'll plan on getting the envelope in the mail Monday. If I'm too late just let me know. We completed a backyard pool renovation last summer and are in need of some plants for a tropical look. It's pretty barren right now. I remember admiring these plants growing wild in a sandy/rocky creek bed when growing up just North of Fort Worth. I've liked them ever since.

I have a few bearded iris seeds from crosses I made last spring. These should have been planted around Thanksgiving in our area. However, germination is normally just as good the second year, so you could plant them next fall. I'll be glad to send some if you are interested.

Thanks, Dan

Hi Dan!
I'm not out, not even close, lol! Just send the SASE.. I'm fine with what plants I have now, and lots of seeds to plant. Honestly, I'm running out of room, LOL!

Debnes

Debnes, my seeds arrived today! They are soaking in water right now before I plant them. Thank you!!
Veronica

You're very welcome Veronica!

Hey Debnes...got any left? I wasn't going to do any seeds but do love these, and you are right that I won't be able to find one here until late! If you don't, no biggie.

Sure Paige I have plenty! :-) You can send a SASE I have bubble sheets to put in your envelope with them.