Penstemon Seed etc.
- To: propagation@mallorn.com
- Subject: Penstemon Seed etc.
- From: L* P*
- Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2000 21:08:11 -0700
>>>>>Are Penstemon seeds supposed to look all shriveled up or is there
something wrong with mine? I collected them off a prairie remnant and the
pods where already dry when I got them.>>>>>>
Hi, Sydney: Almost all viable penstemon seeds do indeed look shriveled
up. When viewed with a hand lens, they generally look like rough stones or
tiny dried-up dull raisins. Most pents require a cold period, but it is ok
to plant them and see if they germinate without it. Germination behavior
is erratic even within a single species, so keep the pots through a winter
or two if they don't germinate. Penstemon seeds keep especially well.
Since your odds are much better with a period of exposure to cold you can
wait until fall to plant them if you wish. I have some "old seeds" (good
stuff from years back!!) from the American Penstemon Society seedEx that
are germinating just fine.
Penstemon grow long roots very quickly, so it is a good idea to separate
seedlings and pot them on when the first true leaves appear. If you do wind
up waiting too long --as occasionally happens when things get ahead of me
--then separate them as best as you can. Even with a tangle of long roots
to worry with, they are tough and can stand some abuse. Naturally though
the less handling the better.
I like Bob Nold's approach of simplicity with regard to penstemon seed
germination. All species can do fine when sown in pots outdoors in the
fall or very early spring. Nold has written a wonderful book on penstemons
with stunning color botanical illustrations by his wife Cindy. Here is the
info on the book:
PENSTEMONS, by Robert Nold, Portland Oregon: Timber press, ISBN
0-88192-429-6 September 1999. Hardcover, 308 pp., illus: paintings. line
drawings, photos US $29.95.
Timber's website is at:
www.timberpress.com
Members of the North American Rock Garden Society can buy Timber Press
books at a 20%
discount by writing to the bookstore manager Roy Dicks at nargs@pagez.net
or visitng the webpage at:
www.nargs.org
There is also a penstemon discussion list for enthusiasts that is small and
very quiet lately, but it has wonderful collective expertise. As a
co-listowner I consider myself more of an enthusiast than an expert :-)
Those who are interested can just drop me a line at my e-mail and I can add
you to the list. Actually I prefer to do this "by hand" anyway.
Cheers, Louise
Co-listowner, Penstemon-L
Siggie WhizDom...
Being right is highly overrated. Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.
unk.
Siggie Humor...
I haven't lost my mind...it's backed up on tape somewhere. Aditya
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