First Flowering

[Paul T]

Howdy All,

I have finally flowered my first ever Hepatica from seed...... I've been closely watching a bud on some seed from Lesley a few years ago, waiting for the first pink bud to open (it isn't open yet, but it still is easily seen to be deep pink), when I discovered that another pot had snuck in a flower while I wasn't watching.  While this is just a "normal" blue, it's still pretty special as I only have 2 adult Hepaticas that flower, well up until now anyway.  The seed of this came from Mark S.  Thanks Mark!!!!!    I am very chuffed with it, even if probably very mundane to those of you who grow scads of these.

[David Nicholson]

Well done Paul, I have never had any success with Hepatica seed

[Paul T]

I don't think I've yet sown any Hepatica seed that hasn't had at least some germination.  I've lost a few plants at times when a pot has dried out, but the majority in that particular pot just went into early dormancy and came back fine the following spring.  it just slowed them down a season or so.  I have a few different pots of seedlings coming along from the wonderfully generous people here on the SRGC forums.... and as they come into flower it will be so exciting just to find out what the differences in the flowers will be, and excitement for every new colour or shade.     All great stuff. 

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Congratulations Paul !  I don't think they're that easy to cultivate in your climate ! 
They're wonderful things aren't they

[Maggi Young]

Well done, Paul, on the arrival of this little treasure!

[Paul T]

Luc,

It's just keeping them cool that can be a problem, and keeping the water up to them of course.  The seedlings have now survived for 3 years in some cases, so I'm doing something OK. 

I'm a proud parent! 

[Magnar]

Congratulations with that first flowering. You've done a good job there 

[Paul T]

Thanks Magnar.

I discovered another one with a flower opening today as well (but haven't photographed it as yet).... and it is the first non-nobilis that I have flowered..... it is a blue H. americana, also from seed from someone here on the forums.  I'm even MORE chuffed now! 

[Luc Gilgemyn]

I'm a proud parent! 

So you should Paul, so you should ! 

[mark smyth]

Happy to help you out! How long from you sowed the seeds to the flower? I have some flowers out now with lots of buds swelling

[Paul T]

Mark,

Will have to check when they were received and sown.  Written on side of the pot, so easy to access.  Have now had 3 seedlings flower this year....... one from you, one from Diane Whitehead of H. americanum and one of the seedlings from Lesley's deep pink, which was actually a mid pink and not as strong as I expected.  I hope this means there'll be some variability in her seedlings, as that would be great.  I think they were all sown about 2004, but I'd have to check.  haven't been game to repot them until last year (and that was an almost complete loss of them), so they weren't grown to maximum advantage, that is for sure.  Thankfully this year's repotting seems to have gone much better and new leaves are unfurling and all doing well so far.  I expect a lot more flowers next year... a lot more!!

[Joakim B]

Nice growing Paul but where are the other two pics?
I am thinking on bringing some normal ones from Sweden (from our garden) to Portugal but have not seen any good shaded spases for them yet. Maybe I should look harder when I see Your result.

Kind regards
Joakim