Trilliums

[P. Kohn]

Having succeeded with Trillium kurabayashi at Kerrachar many years ago, we have left the genus alone for many years but last year sowed a number of species. We have had a certain amount of germination from T. chloropetalum (including a single germination from fresh sown seed sown last July) but there is no sign of life from any other species. How many years should I keep the sowings before I assume failure ?  The T. kurabayashi defied everything I have read by geminating in the season of sowing and flowering in the third or fourth year but I recognise I am going to need to be much more patient with other species.

[Carolyn]

I think 4 years seems reasonable, but I have read of seed germinating after 8 years in a pot. Just depends on how long you can bear to look at pots full of moss and liverwort! When I give up and empty old pots, it's always into a specific part of the garden - I keep an eye on this area for any late germinations.

[ArdfearnAli]

Hello there,
                I agree with around 4 years but I to tend to put the old seed pots around the mother plant in the border just in case. I have an area in my garden which we planted T. Chloropetalum rubrum years ago and it self seeds itself all over the border. This year we have quite a few flowering size self sown plants with loads of younger plants in varying stages an sizes. Getting some excellent leaf forms as well. I find if they are sown fresh and kept damp it germinates within 2 years but you quite often get secondary germination over the next couple of years.

Alasdair

[P. Kohn]

Many thanks Carolyn and Alasdair.  Obviously expecting germination after twelve months is being optimistic. Alasdair, still hoping to squeeze a trip north at some point so be good to see what you are growing at Ardfearn these days.

[ArdfearnAli]

If your coming up our way please give me a shout. It would be good to see you. We have had a few poor years growing wise but I am still trying. At the moment I am gutting our long border which is proving a much bigger task than I thought would be. It wasn't doing well due to large shrubs and a few large trees filling it with roots. Just removed a huge Sorbus huphensis self sown seedling today. The hole I had to dig is around 6 feet across but its out and the other bonus is I rescued around 40 trillium ovatum that were growing at the base. How they survived due to the dryness I don't know. Hopefully I will get it finished and get my collection of plants I have been keeping in pots planted soon.


Alasdair