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Hibiscus Seed Collecting...help???
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Posted by michiganalice Z5 MI (My Page) on Sun, Aug 7, 05 at 12:25
| Hi,
My best friend has a beautiful HIBISCUS, with big red flowers (I think it's a Mallow varierty). She said that I may harvest seed from it but I'm not sure what to look for.
Some plants, the seeds are so obvisous, others, like this one seem to be tricky.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Hibiscus Seed Collecting...help???
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| I haven't collected from a hibiscus before, but since it is in the mallow family, I would expect it to have a seed head that looks like one of those ring-arranged shimp cocktail platters, neatly packaged by the calyx almost like a flat gift basket wrapping. The seeds would be the shrimp, but fatter, if I remember hibiscus seeds correctly (some in the family really do look rather shrimp-like), and there would be a central disc where the dip would be. :) |
RE: Hibiscus Seed Collecting...help???
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| I have a large hardy hibiscus tree with dinnerplate sized pink flowers. After each flower is spent, look at the center of the cavity where the flower used to be. There should be a small green bump - thats the ovary. Be careful not to handle the plant too much, as the ovary falls off easily. The seeds are small and brown. Make sure to place them in a plastic baggie and seal it. Do this because sometimes a type of beetle emerges from the seeds - a JB I think. They'll die in the bag instead of escaping. Good luck! |
RE: Hibiscus Seed Collecting...help???
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| Thanks Brian and Magus for posting a follow-up to my question. I will look more closely at the spent flowers and be patient. Thanks for taking the time to help another gardener. Brian, thanks for the tip on the beetle, that's all I need is beetles running our house. Take Care and have fun in your gardens. |
RE: Hibiscus Seed Collecting...help???
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| Oh Thank you Magus and Brian!! I have been admiring a hibiscus with huge dark pink flowers in my neighborhood. It is on a corner by the street sign, so I hope no one gets upset with me for snatching a little from it:) Can I take flower as soon as it is spent (droopy and closed) or do I need to wait until it turns brown? Nan |
RE: Hibiscus Seed Collecting...help???
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No, don't take a flower. A seed pod will form and it will be obvious. It's fairly large. It will turn brown and start to open at one end. The seeds are brown and more round than not. Hope this helps.
Gypsea |
RE: Hibiscus Seed Collecting...help???
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| I just collected my hibiscus seeds yesterday. They'll be easy to see once they dry. You know the little green 'pods' that form before the flower blooms? After the flowers are spent for the season, a brown pod will form at the end of the stem in the same place. When it starts to "break open" at the end a la "Aliens" - that's when to get the seeds!! You'll get tons of seeds from a single pod. |
RE: Hibiscus Seed Collecting...help???
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| Thank you so much for all the replies! Again, it sounds like I've made something more difficult than it should be. I'm going out to my Hibiscus plant right now to take a look again. GWers are the best........thanks agian. |
RE: Hibiscus Seed Collecting...help???
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| If you have missed this round of seed pods, there will generally be a "round two" or a second blooming period, then you can watch more closely. |
RE: Hibiscus Seed Collecting...help???
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- Posted by veta z5 IN (My Page) on
Tue, Sep 6, 05 at 0:47
| Go to the FAQs at the top of this forum. The second faq,"Saving your own seeds is easy to do" has a good picture of the seed pods of a hardy hibiscus. Hope this helps. |
RE: Hibiscus Seed Collecting...help???
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| When I first sure a hibiscus Plants was in Amish country and I love then the moment I sure them I got some in red and yellow,white but They never grew back. We move and I have lot of space for my gardening and want to get all kinds of Hibiscus seeds to grow them. My last year plant didn't come back the deers kept getting at it but I think I got some seeds are the seeds the ones in the middle of the flower.Lillian |
RE: Hibiscus Seed Collecting...help???
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I live in zone 5. Is hibuscus annual or perrenial in my area?
Ranjana |
RE: Hibiscus Seed Collecting...help???
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| Ranijana, From what I understand there are annual and perennial hibiscus or hardy hibiscus. I too live in Z5. I bought a bunch of hibiscus and grew some from seed, thye all came back this year....I would say they're perennials. Anyone at a garden center or trading seeds/cuttings online should know if they're plants are perrennial or not. Alice |
RE: Hibiscus Seed Collecting...help???
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| Hibiscus moscheutos, H. syriacus (Rose of Sharon) and H. coccineus are all perennials (at least to zone 5).... If the foliage is variegated or the flowers are peach or yellow colored, there is a good chance they are an annual species in cooler zones. These are just general indicators, not rules. |
RE: Hibiscus Seed Collecting...help???
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| I live in Minnesota and I've harvested seeds the last couple years from a hardy hibiscus in the SPRING. And they germinate beautifully! I saved the 14 best seedlings to give away next spring to family and friends. |
RE: Hibiscus Seed Collecting...help???
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| I too have grown hardy hibiscus from seed and did so...sucessfully! Yes, they are great to grow from seed and the seedlings are easy to handle. Mine are going to bloom this year for the first time! |
RE: Hibiscus Seed Collecting...help???
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| I've read that the Hardy perennial is recognized by the large heart shaped leaves that are dark green. Mine also appear to have a hint of purple in them. |
RE: Hibiscus Seed Collecting...help???
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Which do you experienced folk recommend, planting seeds in the fall or germinating & planting in spring?
I just acquired many seed pods from a hardy 'dinner plate' hibiscus & am thrilled!
Thanx for your input. |
Hibiscu Seed Collecting...help???
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| Hi Chrysalisunfurled, I'm not experienced but might be able to share some good news. Hibiscus are extremely easy to grow from seed. I've never planted seeds in the fall but I have started them indoors in the spring and had a lot of luck. In fact, I just planted two seedlling today, permenately in the garden. I have a couple plants I started about two summers ago and they're huge! So, whichever way you go, you'll probably have some luck. Take care! Alice |
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