Clematis marmoraria seed germination

[brianw]

Bought a plant of Clematis marmoraria with lots of seed just ripening at yesterdays plant fair. the first is still green but falls off easily. Will it germinate quicker if sown in this state or should I wait until I get more ripened as it will take until next spring regardless?

[Maggi Young]

I'd  "sow as you go", Brian.  If it will literally be only a day or two till all is ready, then you could wait, but I'd sow it in batches if need be to have it sown fresh as possible.

[Palustris]

Definitely needs to be sown fresh if it is to germinate. You can tell the live seeds from unfertilised ones by the thickness of the seed itself. Flat ones are no good, plump ones should germinate. Never tried sowing green ones, but had a lot of success in the past with properly ripe, ie pale brown, ones.

[Lesley Cox]

I agree with the above. If the seed is at the falling off the plant stage, sow it now. Many if not all Ranunculaceae germinate best from greenish seed. Clematis is no exception. If you wait until spring it may not germinate at all or there would likely be a much smaller percentage of germination. You are lucky to buy a plant with seed on it. Of course it may have been pollinated by a species other than marmoraria.

[hanninkj]

Let your seeds drying for 2 weeks and put them in a soil mixture with 15% sand or perlite. I do this always with all my Clematis seeds from species and own crossings.
Keep your young plants not too wet because the New Zealand Group does not like it is my experience.

Ton