Imperata cylindrica 'Rubra'

14 years ago

Hello,

Looking to buy Imperata cylindrica 'Rubra' ( or 'Red Baron') seeds. Can't find anywhere. Can somebody advice any good ornamental grass seed nursery or online catalog. Interested in seeds only!

Thank you in advance!

Featured Answer

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

14 years ago

I would be very leery of purchasing Imperata cylindrica 'Rubra' or 'Red Baron' from seed. Most OG authorities concur these cultivars are very unlikely to flower and if they do, seeds are unlikely to be fertile or at the very least, not come true to form. You may be very well be paying out cash for something that will not produce what you desire and instead be an aggressively invasive species. Propagation of these plants for commercial purposes is virtually always accomplished by division.

Comments (9)

donn_
14 years ago
Two seed houses with the largest assortments of ornamental grass seed, Jelitto and Ivy Garth, don't carry them, so I would assume you can't grow it from seed successfully. Chances are, any germination would result in the very invasive basic species.
tomazas78
Original Author
14 years ago
I would like to start 200-300 plants of this grass that's why I was looking for seeds. Do you know what are the best way to start such quantity keeping costs down. I was looking for the nurseries in Netherlands and Poland who might carry this grass, but so far can't find anything in small sizes.
donn_
14 years ago
The cheapest way I know of is to buy liners, trays of small plant 'plugs' and grow them from there.

http://www.perennialmarket.com/grasses.html

They will have 50-sized liners next July, for $1.29 + shipping, per plant ($64.50 per tray). 50-sized liners are 50 plants in a standard tray. Each plant will have a rootball approximately 1.5" in diameter and a little over 2" deep.

The best way to deal with them would be to pot them on to larger cell trays or individual pots, and grow them on for a month or so before installing them in the ground.
tomazas78
Original Author
14 years ago
Dear Donn,

Do you by any chance know a nursery in Europe which might sell plugs. Since I'm in Europe, I do not think that I can not import anything from USA with the soil on it. Also, since I am in the zone 4 would not there be a problem introducing the plant from zone 6 (Netherland)? Will it survive the winter?
donn_
14 years ago
Sorry...your profile says you live in the US. I'm not familiar with any suppliers in Europe.
tomazas78
Original Author
14 years ago
Sorry, I was not able to enter any other country besides US when I was registering.
donn_
14 years ago
Try clicking on Member Services at the bottom of the main page of the forum. Then select Edit Personal Info. You should find a selectable list of locations, and you can also put your location into the Garden Zone area. In mine: 7b (My Hardiness Zone) GSB (Great South Bay), LI (Long Island), NY (New York).
tomazas78
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks a lot. I have changed it and finelly after a long search I have found Imperata cylindrica 'Rubra' seeds to buy. The site is http://www.gadar.pl/imperata-cylindrica-red-baron-p-787.html . It is in polish, but it can be translated via google translator.