I Got Seeds!

12 years ago

Woo-hoo, I managed to finally collect seeds from my h. niger. I also have a few seeds from a really dark red/purple h. hybridus. That one's seeds are ripening very sporadically, so I hope to have more over the next month.

I missed getting any seeds last year because the seed pods dropped all their seeds when I wasn't looking. This year I cut up nylons and tied little hoodies over the seedpods so I wouldn't lose the seeds again.

I am experimenting with some of the H. niger seeds. I folded them into a damp paper towel and then put that in a plasic baggie with a few holes punched in it and am monitoring it at room temp. Trying to simulate the warm phase needed before the cold phase of seed germination.

Comments (5)

sheryl_ontario
12 years ago
Sounds interesting! I grew one from seed that I got two falls ago. One came up last spring! I was so pleased! It's growing and healthy now. It's so rewarding, especially considering how difficult it is! I hope all goes well!
loisthegardener_nc7b
Original Author
12 years ago
Experiment #2: I stored a few of the seeds in a dry ziplock, but the seeds started to look all wrinkly after only a couple weeks. So I put them in their own damp paper towel and they plumped up again. Note to self: Don't store seeds dry!
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Ament
12 years ago
I was wondering if anyone happened to have extra hellebore seeds they'd be willing to share? Send me an email to chat about it if anyone is willing to trade or has any to spare for a SASE or a bubblie. :)

~Bright Blessings
Tina Marie
claysoil
12 years ago
So, what is the update Lois? Niger might take 2 years to sprout, not sure. I finally had several seedlings around one plant last fall and I moved them around. Have yet to see how many made it. But, once your plant starts producing viable seed, you should get plenty of babies. If you missed getting seeds in 2010, I wouldn't be at all surprised if they are popping up now around the parent plants.

And those dark hellebore? My experience has been that less than 10% of their progeny will be dark too....I just got 30 seeds of dark doubles from Tasmania with an 80% true to parent rating. They are in the fridge for a few weeks.
loisthegardener_nc7b
Original Author
8 years ago
Oh my goodness I am so sorry for not responding... My experiment did not work all those years ago, but it was fun to try... And then my company moved me to Raleigh and I am learning to garden all over again! I am starting out from scratch so it might be a while before I have seeds to work with again. I did get another h. Niger macro. from pine knot, so when that produces seeds I will try again.