Hepatica Seed

[Norman Rigby]

I understand that Hepatica seeds need to be sown fresh and that now is the time . Does anyone have any spare seeds I could use -I am prepared to buy .

[Kristl Walek]

Norman,

Yes, Hepatica seed is ephemeral and needs to be sown fresh. If you are interested in the North American species (I know there are nomenclature issues)....but mine would be what was once called H. americana (acutiloba), I am more than happy to send you some (gratis) when the time comes. Still buried in snow here, so it would not be for another few months. Let me know and send me your shipping address.

I routinely collect the seed and immediately moist-pack them in vermiculite to preserve viability.

[Norman Rigby]

Dear Kristi
That is very kind of you and I would be interested in any seeds you can spare my address is 17 Nyes Close, Henfield,West Sussex.BN5 9JZ UK
Is there anything I can send in return
Thanks for the reply

[Kristl Walek]

I have said it before, Norman, and I will say it again here---you really *don't* want "all the Hepatica seed I can spare"---but I will forward ridiculous amounts from mixed wild populations--the predominant colours are white to all shades of pink, with the occasional bluish clone. It is one of the earliest seed I collect (right after Dicentra cucullaria) but even at that, we are talking June in my part of the world.  I am not needing anything in return.

[Paul T]

Now if anyone has any seed from their doubles or semi-doubles I'd love to beg, trade or buy some.  I realise that the doubles only rarely produce seed or only after transplanting, but I thought I would still ask just in case.  I figure that most of you who would get seed on their doubles would be sowing them yourselves, but Iit doesn't hurt to ask.  Just in case!! 

[gote]

Norman,
I will try to remember you but if you really want some, send me a private mail mid-May. My memory is worse than a sieve.

Paul,
I have never had any seed on any double - not even on semi-doubles.

Göte

[Norman Rigby]

Thanks for the reply, I will get back to you in may.

[ThomaS]

Hi Norman, near my area of central Sweden we have large populations of H. nobilis in all kinds of colours from blue to purple-red-pink, rarely white. variations of size and shape of flowers as well. Inmost of my country they are usually blue. I grow some of these in my garden, as well as a few other species/kinds, and now they have bloomed and the seeds are growing. I could send you some in a few weeks, if you send me your address (my email is thomas.schultze@telia.com).
Kindly, ThomaS

[Norman Rigby]

Thanks for your reply I have sent my reply by normal E mail

[Anastasia]

Hello! I from Russia. We too grow up Hepatica. 
Whether It is possible to ask for you a few seeds? I can offer an exchange of seeds. 
At us a greater collection of rare plants:
FRITILLARIA, GLAUCIDIUM, TRILLIUM, ERYTHRONIUM
I Shall be very glad, if you will respond to my request. I am sorry for illiteracy. I do not know English language. 

E-mail: ptaha-vorobey@mail.ru

[Maggi Young]

Hello, Anastasia. welcome to the Forum.  We can understand your English quite well, thank you and I hopethat you will find here someone to send you some hepatica seeds.

[Anastasia]

Thanks for kind words, Maggy! 

It is I English language - is an electronic translator. 

But now I with you, and I shall be very glad to show you the plants and to exchange different seeds.

[Rodger Whitlock]

Hepatica seed is ephemeral and needs to be sown fresh.

Hepatica seed is not a true ephemeral unlike, say, seed of willows, which requires that you place the seed flat under the tree so it is "sown" as soon as it ripens and falls. The word "ephemeral" is widely misused wrt seed these days. Much seed termed "ephemeral" is merely short-lived, or does not tolerate drying well, but will germinate with reasonable freedom if treated decently.

I have more than once had good results with hepatica seed from various exchanges. It appears that as long as it is fully ripened before collection, stored cold, and fully rehydrated by soaking before sowing, hepatica seed germinates satisfactorily. Exchange seed may take an extra year to germinate, but where does it say that gardening is a hobby for the impatient?

Nonetheless, if you are breeding doubles of H. japonica, it is important to sow the seed as soon as it is ripe. While not "ephemeral" by my definition, it is on the short-lived side and the finest plants will come from the weakest seedlings: the very ones where the seed is most prone to dying early, I suspect.

[Regelian]

Ephemeral or not, can Hepatica seed be sown while still green, but fully formed?  In Iris, this tends to speed germination.

Also, is gibberelic acid of use or simply superfluous in this case?

[Ulla Hansson]

Jamie,
I have sown green seeds of hepatica once and they germinated fine. It is best with fresh seeds, but seeds from seed exchange germinate pretty good, but they must be in water a day or two before sowing.
I have never try Ga-3 on Hepatica seed.
Ulla