Meconopsis punicea - fresh seeds

[goworho]

Hello,
I'm cultivating quite a few (especially blue) Meconopsis. Being impressed by the overwhelming M. punicea I would like to start them growing from seeds. However,  I had not succeed yet, probably due to old seeds that are not viable any more. Seeds that come from commercial sources as well as those from seed exchanges are not fresh enough. Does anybody know, where fresh material can be achieved?
Cheers
Gotthelf

[Lesley Cox]

I'm sorry I can't help with that. Maybe you could ask Ian Christie or someone in Scotland where it grows so well. Having said that, once you have a plant or two, the best seed is from your own and even sown right away, in my experience it takes 8 months to germinate. Almost 8 months to the day, at the beginning of spring, so don't assume it's like say grandis and many others and will be up in 2 or 3 weeks. Good luck with finding a source.

[Lesley Cox]

PS Have you tried Jellito's in Germany? Large quantities of M. punicea were sent there a couple or 3 years ago from a NZ source and they may have plants for seed growing on. Worth a try anyway.

[goworho]

I'm sorry I can't help with that. Maybe you could ask Ian Christie or someone in Scotland where it grows so well. Having said that, once you have a plant or two, the best seed is from your own and even sown right away, in my experience it takes 8 months to germinate. Almost 8 months to the day, at the beginning of spring, so don't assume it's like say grandis and many others and will be up in 2 or 3 weeks. Good luck with finding a source.

Hi Lesley,
thanks for your answer. I know that M. punicea is trickier than other Meconopsis. As you said, I just have to cultivate one plant and to harvest its seeds. Unfortunately Cox (Glendoick) does not provide it presently. I had already inquired Jelitto. They believe that one should have even success with older seeds when treated as frost germinators.
Cheers
Gotthelf

[ichristie]

hello please send me message with address then I can send you some M. punicea seed we do sow some when ripe but get every bit as good results wen sown early January, cheers Ian the Christie kind.

[Maggi Young]

There can be  Meconopsis punicea seed in the SRGC Seed Exchange  - you need to be a current paid up  member to access that, or course.