Growing Lewisia rediviva from seed

[David Sellars]

One of our favourite native wildflowers,  Lewisia rediviva can be found in semi-desert areas throughout western North America.  In early June, the flowers carpet dry, rocky grassland like water lilies.

The life cycle of the plant is unusual.  The flowers unfurl in spring after the narrow leaves shrivel up and disappear. After insect fertilization, the withering flowers form papery capsules which enclose the black shiny seeds (see photo below). The capsules then disengage from the plant and are carried away in the wind. The plant then becomes completely dormant so that it can survive the summer drought conditions in the semi-desert with the short thick stem (caudex) totally below ground. Cool weather and rain in the fall trigger the plant out of dormancy and the thin leaves appear above ground with growth continuing throughout the winter.

[David Sellars]

We grow Lewisia rediviva in raised sand beds in full sun.  This ensures that even with summer rainfall, the plants remain dry when dormant. Once the leaves appear in October the plants need no special protection all winter as they are in full growth and are quite happy to receive heavy rain, freezing and snowfall. This is quite the opposite of most alpine plants which are not in active growth in winter and have trouble tolerating our wet, cold conditions on the BC coast. The cultivation requirements of Lewisia rediviva are similar to dryland Fritillaria. They need to be dry when dormant in the summer and start growth with the fall rains.

[David Sellars]

Lewisia rediviva seed is best planted in the fall and the first leaves will emerge in very early spring.  In May the leaves wither away and the seedlings become dormant. During the summer period of dormancy the seed pots should be kept cool and only slightly moist. The seedlings resume growth in October and the seedlings can then be potted on. Planting out is normally possible in early spring the following year. In our garden, Lewisia rediviva flowers around the middle of May.

The photo shows a seedling of Lewisa rediviva during transplanting in October with new leaf growth, the developing caudex and withered leaves from the initial spring leaf growth. The seed was planted the previous November.

In recent years we have been able to donate wild seed of Lewisia rediviva to the SRGC seed exchange.   We did not find much seed this year but we have sent in a small packet.

[Rick R.]

Thanks so much, David!  Seeing the whole circle of life is a real treat.  I don't think the ground ever freezes where you are, but I wonder how cold a temperature the leaves will withstand?

[David Sellars]

Rick, it does freeze here on the coast.  I have been growing Lewisia rediviva for about 10 years and we have had temperatures down to at least -12C (10F) in that time.  They grow in the wild in semi desert conditions where there is often very little snowfall or snow gets blown off by the wind.  So I would think they would experience very cold conditions in the winter in places like Montana and Wyoming.

[Carolyn]

David,
Very interesting and clearly explained. I love that photo of the lewisia with the mountains behind. I have grown L rediviva from seed for several years - I keep them in the greenhouse to protect them from the rain. My main problem is with aphids in the winter. They nestle down between the leaves and are difficult to squash ( - this being my pest control method, I'm reluctant to use insecticides). Reading your post, I now wonder if I should put the pots outside for the winter. There will be fewer aphids there than in the unheated greenhouse. I think I will risk a couple of pots outside this winter and see what happens! The west coast of Scotland probably has a similar wet winter climate to yours in coastal BC.

[David Sellars]

Carolyn
Our climate is very similar to the west cost of Scotland though I believe we have even more rain in the winter. 40 days and nights of rain is not uncommon here!  As I am sure your pot mix will be free-draining, putting Lewisia rediviva outside in the winter should be OK. When I first grew Lewisia rediviva I used pots and kept them outside in the winter but under cover. I then experimented with growing them in sand beds and found they are very long-lived in the open garden. Being in active growth, they seem to love the winter rain, hard frosts and occasional snow.

[Carolyn]

Thanks, David, I will let you know if they survive the winter outside.

[Rick R.]

Thanks, David!