Propagate Sanguinaria

[mark smyth]

Does anyone know how and when to propagate Sanguinaria Canadensis?

[alanelliott]

My only experience was teasing apart a congested clump in autumn when I was a student at Branklyn when its leaves were dying back.
Seemed a sensible time and to treat like other herbaceous perennials.

[Brian Ellis]

I've always taken bits off in the Autumn and potted them up, then left them to their own devices in a shaded spot outside.  They always seem to take (famous last words).

[illingworth]

I divide the double ones in early fall here. If they are not divided every few years the clumps will get congested and decline.
The single ones are native to our area. I have never planted them but have them pop up here and there in our shade garden. I leave them if they don't interfere with anything else. Presumably for seed propagation you would sow it fresh.
Sharon

[mark smyth]

Thanks to you both.

For the first time ever I have seed pods on my Sanguinarias

[brianw]

There were several bags of divisions at an AGS meeting last year. The AGM I think. I would agree about congested clumps going backwards. Lost a large clump many years ago. Planted a congested pot-full out. Great first year almost nothing the next.

[Geoforce]

They grow all over my shaded land from self seeding, but never seem to clump.  Just got the multiplex form this year, so will have to treat it nice.  I think I read somewhere, I can't remember location, that seed germination requires gibberellin though not absolutely sure on this. I've multiplied rosy forms by breaking the back rhizomes as mentioned above.

[Karaba]

This paper can help :
http://www.vacadsci.org/vjsArchives/V44/44-1/44-59.pdf

It seems that elaiosome removal and long warm stratification before cold stratification can raise germination rate.

[Geoforce]

This paper can help :
http://www.vacadsci.org/vjsArchives/V44/44-1/44-59.pdf

It seems that elaiosome removal and long warm stratification before cold stratification can raise germination rate.

Interesting paper.  As my major garden interests (Hellebores and Epimediums) are both elaiosome seeders, I think I probably agree with most of the conclusions.  Somewhat disagree about an increased range of dispersal not being significant advantage to the plant however, as I have had many seedlings of both species appearing 50 m or more from any mature plants, so I suspect the ants disperse seeds further than implied in the literature.

George

[Diane Clement]

Very interesting information about Sanguinaria germination, and very timely.  Just harvested my seeds and I have tried to remove the elaisome.  Not as easy as it looks, I tried tugging with tweezers and rubbing with sandpaper but the seeds are difficult to keep hold of as they are slippery and small.
I have sown 2 pots, one batch keeping the elaisomes on, and one batch with the elaisomes off as best as I can.
 
I have spare seed if any one would like some.  I'll bring them to Bakewell show next Sunday.

First picture shows the seed out of the pod,
Second picture shows elaisome removed as best as I could.

[mark smyth]

Very interesting information about Sanguinaria germination, and very timely.  Just harvested my seeds

You made me run outside in case my seeds were ripe. Pods are still green. Does the pod change colour?

[Diane Clement]

You made me run outside in case my seeds were ripe. Pods are still green. Does the pod change colour? 

No, but they suddenly split without warning and deposit the seed all over the place    I think it would be better to remove the pods green and then the seed will finish ripening off the plant.

[Darren]

I've a potful raised from habitat seed from the AGS exchange a few years back. Germinated well (at least 80%) with normal sow-in-a-pot-and-leave-it-outside treatment.

[Tim Ingram]

I've never tried removing the elaiosomes from sanguinaria seed but get the same results as Darren so long as the seed is sown fresh. But removing the elaiosomes from trillium seed can be equally as tricky as Diane mentions, especially when you have a lot of seed, and one way round it is to soak the seed in hydrogen peroxide solution (3%). This is mentioned in the Case's book on Trilliums and it works very well. (Soak fresh seed  for about 15 minutes in hydrogen peroxide, then store seed for about five days on moist towelling in a plastic bag, then remove and wash gently in a sieve under running water. Sterilise the seed again briefly and then sow). I don't expect this is really worth doing with sanguinaria where the elaiosome is relatively small but in some trilliums it can be equal in size to the seed itself and there must be some risk from fungal infection of the seed after sowing if its left on?

[mark smyth]

I've never tried removing the elaiosomes from sanguinaria seed

Who removes it in the woods?