Fremontodendron germination


I seem to have a bumper crop of Fremontodendron seeds and am wondering how
to go about germinating them.  The seeds are rather hard, so I am
wondering whether they should be scarified first, or maybe otherwise
treated (acid/boiling water/fire, etc), or should I just dump them on some
well-draining media in free-standing pots and wait for the winter rains.
Also, as far as I know, there are no other Fremontodendrons within 1/2
mile of this one, so I am wondering whether there even is any chance that
the seed is viable.

BTW, this shrub has amazing growth rate.  Planted in May 1998 as a single
twig with four leaves, 15 months later it is about 6 feet tall and wide.
All this on the winter rains and supplemental 4 gallons of water once a
month during summer (to be discontinued starting next spring).

Does anyone have other favorites with similar growth characteristics? I
have one more: Malacothamnus something or other that I'll have to look up,
also planted as a small twig at the same time, same watering regimen, now
with a 6-inch thick trunk at the ground level and 7x7 feet in size.

KK
====================
"Microsoft is to software what McDonalds is to gourmet cooking"

Krzysztof Kozminski
kk@netgate.net
http://u1.netgate.net/~kk/
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