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The MGS seed list

Chantal Guiraud from Montpellier, France is running a seed exchange for MGS members. Chantal has a good selection of seeds, a list of which appears below, mostly provided by herself but also now from our members. Please read the instructions carefully before you order and remember that although you are not obliged to send seeds in exchange, only by receiving seeds from members can Chantal add to the list of seeds on offer. Watch this page for additions to and deletions from the list.

Chantal writes: "What a wonderful trip we had to Australia for the AGM in October 2012, and what an amazing botanical discovery it was for me! I couldn’t help thinking of Joseph Banks, who, in 1770, discovered Australia when he landed at Botany Bay, south of Sydney. The welcome the Australians gave us was magnificent, the visits to gardens outstanding, the quality of the lectures most professional – and the whole meeting flawlessly organised by the two Australian Branch Heads, Merilyn Kuchel and Kaye Stokes, and by Trevor Nottle.

As I had expected, I didn’t collect as many seeds as at previous AGMs, yet seeing the spring flowering was an ample compensation. We also discovered plant families that were unknown, or almost unknown, to us, such as the Proteaceae and Myrtaceae.

At our visit to the Heronswood nursery in Victoria, Marcus Ryan, who had visited us in 2011 and given a lecture at Montpellier, donated seeds to the MGS. These were of edible plant whose pretty flowers we had noticed: Pisum sativum, with ornamental purple pink flowers followed by purple pods and green peas inside, and Vicia faba with crimson flowers. This nursery has a highly original organically cultivated potager.

Our visit to Barossa Bush Gardens, near Adelaide, was also a wonderful experience. Their objective is to help re-establish the biodiversity of the vegetation native to the Barossa valley. The project showcases the native species in Display Gardens to encourage people to make their own gardens using the native flora which is becoming endangered. Chris Hall, the coordinator for this project, gave us some seeds of them:

  • Dichopogon strictus or Chocolate lily. It tolerates temperatures down to at least -7°C, requires a sandy loam and leaf mould and succeeds in most soils. This species has a brief dormancy in late summer/early fall and needs moisture during its long growing period. Plants should be grown in light shade or morning sun and afternoon shade. It takes only 1-2 years for the plants to mature from seed.
  • Hakea carinata: I think that the genus Hakea should be used more widely in Europe, at least in the south, for these shrubs tolerate drought, light frosts and alkaline soils. This species has creamy-white flowers in spring and can reach a height of up to three metres. Germination presents no problems provided that the seeds are fresh.
  • Enchylaena tomentosa (Ruby Saltbush): this is a low-growing semi-succulent plant, coping with dryness, light frosts (-6°C) and salt winds. It can be propagated successfully by seed.

During our morning of lectures, Dr Greg Kirby spoke delightfully about the floral emblem of South Australia, Sturt’s Desert Pea (Swainsona formosa), and gave us seeds of it. It is a slow-growing, creeping annual germinating just after rain. A deep, well-drained soil in an open sunny position is essential under cultivation. Seeds are best sown in late winter or early spring. Soak seeds overnight in warm/hot water, then, because it is hard to transplant, sow in the position where the plant is to grow. This one is not so easy to germinate in cultivation.

I shall finish with our visit to Al-Ru Farm, followed by a memorable dinner organised by our charming hostess Ruth Irving. Her garden is perhaps not the tidiest but is so exuberant and full of spontaneity that we fell under its charm. Of all the gardens we visited, this was the most striking example of the way gardens reflect their owners. Ruth most generously gave the MGS seeds of her peony-flowered poppies (Papaver somniferum Paeoniiflorum Group), romantic and exuberant, in hues that are at the same time gentle and strong.

Here is a list of other seeds collected in Australia: Arctotis x hybrida, Callitris preissii (smoke treatment required), Cardiocrinum giganteum, Darwinia meeboldii, Dodonaea sinuolata, Dryandra praemorsa, Eriocephalus africanus, Erythrina acanthocarpa, Eucalyptus crucis, E. erythrocorys, E. megacornuta, E. platypus, E.  tetragona, E. torquata, Euphorbia rigida, Grevillea robusta, Hakea francisiana, H. leucoptera, Heritiera actinophylla, Melaleuca sp. (smoke treatment required), Olearia pannosa subsp. cardiophylla, Pimelea physodes (smoke treatment required), Puya mirabilis, Roldana petasitis, Salvia africana-lutea, Salvia coerulea, Santalum acuminatum, Schotia brachypetala, Thomasia sp. (smoke treatment required) and Ulmus glabra

I’d also like to mention a donor who gardens in Chile, who has sent us seeds of Eriogonum arborescens, Billardiera heterophylla, Dietes iridioides, Banksia integrifolia and Hardenbergia violacea. I take this opportunity to thank him, as well as all the other donors who have contributed to the diversity of our seed list."

Orders (without any closing date) should be sent to me at: 75 rue de la Vieille Poste, 34000 Montpellier, France or to: mgsseedlist@gmail.com. When you order your seeds, don’t forget to give me your name and address.

Members may order 10 packets, while donors may order 15 packets. There is no cost: this service is free for all MGS members. Don't forget to give me substitutes if you want to receive your full allocation. Most items are available only in very small quantities. All members are responsible for complying with their local laws.

It is a good practice to begin sowing in January/February/March (in the northern hemisphere); however, in a mediterranean climate, autumn sowing (in pots) is also a good choice.
Chantal Guiraud

Seed List - January 2013

(AGM = Award of Garden Merit, given by the Royal Horticultural Society)

AGM

NAME

ORIGIN

COLOUR

Abutilon theophrasti

Acacia farnesiana

Acacia iteaphylla

Spain

Acacia podalyriifolia

Mallorca

*

Acacia retinodes

Spain

Acacia terminalis

Acanthus sennii  

Sparoza

*

Acer griseum

France

*

Acer japonicum 'Aconitifolium'

Acer monspessulanum

France

Achillea aegyptiaca

France

Achillea coarctata

Achillea filipendulina

France

Achillea millefolium 'Cerise Queen'

France

Adansonia digitata

*

Agapanthus africanus

Albizia julibrissin

Greece

Alcea rosea

yellow/apricot

Alcea rosea

mixed colours

Alcea rosea 'Nigra'

black

Alcea rugosa

France

Allium ampeloprasum
(syn. Allium ampeloprasum var. babingtonii)

*

Allium cristophii

Greece

Allium schubertii

Allium sp.

Sparoza

white summer flowering

Allium tuberosum

Aloe africana

Jerusalem

Aloe buhrii

Jerusalem

Aloe ferox

Jerusalem

Aloe lutescens

Jerusalem

Aloe maculata

Jerusalem

Aloe marlothii

Jerusalem

Aloe plicatilis

orange

Aloe striatula

France

Aloe thraskii

Jerusalem

Amaranthus hypochondriacus 'Alegria'

*

Amaryllis belladonna

Amelanchier ovalis

Amsonia tabernaemontana var. salicifolia

France

*

Anemanthele lessoniana (syn. Stipa arundinacea)

Anemone coronaria

Sparoza

Angelica sp.

California

round purple heads

Anthyllis barba-jovis

France

Anthyllis cytisoides

France

Antigonon leptopus

Singapour

Antirrhinum majus

Greece

deep rose/red

*

Aptenia cordifolia

Araujia sericifera

France

*

Arbutus menziesii

California

Arctotis x hybrida

Australia

purple

*

Argyrocytisus battandieri (syn. Cytisus battandieri)

France

Artemisia dracunculus

Crete

Arundo mediterranea
(syn. Ampelodesmos mauritanica)

Asclepias speciosa

California

Asclepias syriaca

Asphodeline liburnica

Czech Republic

Asphodeline lutea (syn. Asphodelus luteus)

Asphodelus aestivus (syn. Asphodelus microcarpus)

France

Asphodelus fistulosus

Astragalus balearicus

*

Ballota acetabulosa

Greece

Banksia integrifolia

Chile

*

Baptisia australis

France

Bauhinia sp.

Spain

small white flowers

Bauhinia variegata

Mallorca

Bauhinia yunnanensis

Mallorca

Berberis glaucocarpa

Berlandiera lyrata

France

*

Billardiera heterophylla (syn. Sollya heterophylla)

Chile

*

Brunnera macrophylla

Buddleja glomerata

Spain

*

Buddleja officinalis

Bulbine frutescens 'Hallmark'

Mallorca

Bupleurum dianthifolium subsp. barceloi

Bupleurum fruticosum

France

Bupleurum gibraltaricum

Caesalpinia gilliesii

Greece

Caesalpinia pulcherrima

Burma

Calamagrostis ophitidis

California

Calendula officinalis

France

Calliandra sp.

Burma

red

Callistemon citrinus (syn. Callistemon laevis)

France

Callistemon pallidus

France

Callistemon phoeniceus

Mallorca

Callistemon pinifolius

France

Callitris preissii

Australia

Callitris sp.

France

Camptosema rubicundum

France

Canna indica 'Indian shot'

Portugal

yellow/red

Capparis spinosa

France

Capsicum annuum

Portugal

Cardiocrinum giganteum

Australia

Cardiospermum halicacabum

France

*

Carex buchananii

France

Carissa macrocarpa  

Mallorca

*

Carpenteria californica

California

Carthamus dianius (syn. Carduncellus dianius)

Spain

Cascabela thevetia (syn. Thevetia peruviana)

Crete

Catalpa ovata

France

Celsia arcturus (syn. Verbascum arcturus)

Mallorca

Celtis australis

Ceratonia siliqua

Greece

*

Ceratostigma plumbaginoides

France

*

Ceratostigma willmottianum

France

*

Cercis siliquastrum

Cerinthe major

Mallorca

*

Chamaerops humilis

Mallorca

Cheirolophus intybaceus

France

Chilopsis linearis

France

Chimonanthus praecox
(syn. Chimonanthus yunnanensis)

France

Cimicifuga sp.

California

deep purple stems

Cionura erecta

France

Cistus albidus

France

Cistus creticus

Greece

*

Cistus ladanifer

France

*

Cistus laurifolius

Czech Republic

Cistus salviifolius

Cistus sp.

Crete

Citrullus lanatus ("citre" or "gigérine")

Clematis crispa

Clematis flammula

Greece

*

Clematis 'Princess Diana'

Australia

Clematis tangutica

France

Clematis terniflora var. mandschurica

France

Clematis vitalba

Greece

Cleome spinosa

*

Clianthus puniceus

Great Britain

Cneorum tricoccon

France

*

Cobaea scandens

purple

Consolida regalis

Convolvulus thunbergii (syn. Convolvulus altheoides)

France

Coreopsis grandiflora 'Mayfield Giant'

Coronilla valentina

France

Cosmos sulphureus

*

Cotinus coggygria

France

Crithmum maritimum

France

Crocosmia sp.

Sparoza

pale yellow

*

Crocus goulimyi

Sparoza

*

Cupressus sempervirens Stricta Group

*

Cyclamen coum

Greece

white

*

Cyclamen coum

pink

Cyclamen graecum

Sparoza

*

Cyclamen hederifolium

Cyprus

*

Cynara cardunculus

France

Cynoglossum creticum

France

Cytisus scoparius

Darwinia meeboldii

Australia

Dasylirion sp.

*

Datura inoxia

Datura metel 'Ballerina Purple'

Cyprus

Datura stramonium

Greece

Daucus carota

Mallorca

Delphinium sp.

dark blue

Delphinium staphisagria

Dianthus carthusianorum

Great Britain

Dianthus hyssopifolius
(syn. Dianthus monspessulanus)

France

Dichondra argentea

Mallorca

Dichopogon strictus

Australia

Dietes iridioides

Chile

Dietes robinsoniana

Australia

Dietes sp.

Mallorca

white

Diplarrena moraea

Australia

Dodonaea sinuolata

Australia

Dodonaea viscosa

France

Dolichandra unguis-cati
(syn. Macfadyena unguis-cati)

France

Dombeya burgessiae

Mallorca

Dregea sinensis

France

Drimia maritima (syn. Urginea maritima)

Mallorca

Dryandra praemorsa

Australia

Duranta erecta (syn. Duranta plumieri)

Mallorca

Ebenus cretica

Sparoza

Ecballium elaterium

Australia

Eccremocarpus scaber

Italy

Echinacea purpurea

Echinocactus grusonii

France

*

Echinops ritro

France

Echium boissieri

France

Echium plantagineum

France

Echium thyrsiflorum (syn. Echium gentianoides)

California

Eleusine coracana

France

Elsholtzia stauntonii

France

Encelia farinosa

California

Enchylaena tomentosa

Australia

Ephedra fragilis

Mallorca

Erica manipuliflora

Erica multiflora

France

*

Erigeron karvinskianum

France

Eriocephalus africanus

Australia

Eriogonum arborescens

Chile

Eritrichium canum

Australia

Eryngium maritimum

Eryngium variifolium

*

Erysimum 'Bowles Mauve'

France

Erysimum sp.

Crete

Erythrina acanthocarpa

Australia

*

Eschscholzia californica

France

Eschscholzia californica 'Mikado'

California

red

Eschscholzia californica 'White Linen'

California

white

Eucalyptus bicolor (syn. E. largiflorens)

Spain

Eucalyptus crucis

Australia

Eucalyptus diversifolia

Eucalyptus erythrocorys

Australia

Eucalyptus leucoxylon subsp. megalocarpa

Spain

Eucalyptus leucoxylon subsp. megalocarpa 'Rosea'

Eucalyptus megacornuta

Australia

Eucalyptus platypus

Australia

Eucalyptus populnea

Spain

Eucalyptus sideroxylon 'Rosea'

Spain

Eucalyptus tetragona

Australia

Eucalyptus torquata

Australia

Eucalyptus woodwardii

Spain

*

Eucomis bicolor

Czech Republic

Euonymus europaeus

Euphorbia antiquorum (syn. E. arborescens)

France

*

Euphorbia rigida

Australia

*

Euryops pectinatus 

Mallorca

Eustachys distichophylla 

France

Fallugia paradoxa

France

Ferraria crispa

Ferula communis

Festuca californica 'River House Blues'

California

Festuca 'Doe Bay Blue'

California

Foeniculum vulgare 'Purpureum'

France

Fraxinus angustifolia

France

*

Fraxinus ornus

France

*

Freesia laxa (syn. Anomatheca laxa)

Freesia leichtlinii

Freesia sp.

yellow

Freylinia lanceolata

Sparoza

Fritillaria pluriflora

California

Fuchsia regia subsp. reitzii

Mallorca

Gaillardia aristata

*

Gaura lindheimeri

France

*

Gladiolus communis
(syn. Gladiolus communis subsp. byzantinus)

France

Gladiolus illyricus

Greece

Gladiolus orchidiflorus

Gladiolus sp. dwarf

red with white edge

Gladiolus tristis

Sparoza

Gladiolus uysiae

Glaucium corniculatum

France

Gleditsia triacanthos

Globularia alypum

Mallorca

Globularia punctata

Globularia salicina

Mallorca

Gloriosa modesta (syn. Littonia modesta)

Gloriosa superba 'Rothschildiana'

France

Glycyrrhiza glabra

Gomphocarpus fruticosus

Mallorca

Goniolimon speciosum

France

Goniolimon speciosum var. speciosum
(syn. Limonium speciosum)

France

*

Grevillea robusta

Australia

Habranthus martinezii

Habranthus sp.

blue

*

Habranthus tubispathus

Hakea carinata

Australia

Hakea francisiana

Australia

Hakea leucoptera

Australia

Halimodendron halodendron

Hamelia patens

Mallorca

*

Hardenbergia violacea

Chile

Hebe buxifolia

France

Helianthemum canariense

Mallorca

Helianthus annuus

bronze

*

Helichrysum italicum

France

Helichrysum obconicum

Mallorca

Heliconia psittacorum

Panama

Heracleum sosnowskyi

Heritiera actinophylla

Australia

Hertia cheirifolia
(syn. Othonopsis cheirifolia)

France

Hesperaloe parviflora

Mallorca

Hesperoyucca whipplei (syn. Yucca whipplei)

California

Heteromeles salicifolia
(syn. Heteromeles arbutifolia)

Hibiscus coccineus

France

Hibiscus moscheutos

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

Mallorca

white

Hibiscus syriacus

Great Britain

Hibiscus tiliaceus

Bali

Hibiscus trionum

France

Hippeastrum sp.

Sparoza

Hippocrepis emerus (syn. Coronilla emerus)

Holboellia coriacea

Hyoscyamus albus

France

Hypericum balearicum

Mallorca

Inula helenium

Ipomoea nil 'Roman Candy'

Mallorca

Ipomoea purpurea

double pink

Ipomoea rubriflora

Burma

Iris domestica (syn. Belamcanda chinensis)

France

*

Iris douglasiana

California

*

Iris foetidissima

France

*

Iris graminea

France

Iris Louisiana hybrid

Australia

*

Iris missouriensis

California

Jacaranda mimosifolia

Mallorca

Jasminum fruticans

Juniperus oxycedrus

France

Kniphofia ritualis

France

*

Koelreuteria paniculata

 

Lablab purpureus 'Ruby Moon'

France

Lachenalia ensifolia (syn. Polyxena ensifolia)

Lathyrus odoratus

Lavandula angustifolia

Spain

Lavandula buchii var. buchii 

Lavandula dhofarensis

Portugal

Lavandula latifolia

Czech Republic

Lavandula multifida

Czech Republic

Lavandula viridis

Czech Republic

Lavandula x heterophylla

Leopoldia comosa (syn. Muscari comosum)

Greece

Lepechinia hastata

Mallorca

*

Lilium henryi

Mallorca

Lilium martagon

Norway

Limonium caprariense 

Mallorca

Limonium pruinosum

France

Linum narbonense

Greece

Lomatium californicum

California

*

Lophospermum erubescens

France

*

Luma apiculata (syn. Myrtus luma)

Lunaria annua

Great Britain

Lunaria annua 'Variegata'

California

Lupinus albifrons

California

Lycoris aurea

Lysimachia minoricensis

Mallorca

*

Macleaya cordata

*

Mandevilla laxa 

Manihot esculenta

France

Matthiola sp.

Great Britain

Maurandya barclaiana (syn. Asarina barclaiana)

Great Britain

blue

Maurandya scandens

Mallorca

white

Medicago arborea

France

Medicago arborea subsp. citrina

Mallorca

Melaleuca linariifolia

France

Melaleuca sp.

Australia

Melanoselinum decipiens

Mallorca

Melia azedarach

Melianthus dregeanus subsp. insignis
(syn. Melianthus comosus)

Melianthus major

Sparoza

Mespilus germanica

Greece

Metrosideros excelsa

Metrosideros 'Springfire' 

Mallorca

*

Mimulus aurantiacus

California

Mirabilis jalapa

red and yellow

Mirabilis jalapa

white

Mirabilis jalapa

cerise pink

Molinia caerulea

France

Moraea fugax

*

Myrtus communis

Mallorca

garden grown

*

Myrtus communis

Mallorca

wild

*

Nandina domestica

France

Nicandra physalodes

France

*

Nicotiana langsdorfii

Great Britain

*

Nicotiana sylvestris

France

*

Nierembergia linariifolia

France

Ocimum basilicum

Greece

Oenothera glazioviana
(syn. Oenothera erythrosepala)

Great Britain

Oenothera odorata

France

Olearia pannosa subsp. cardiophylla

Australia

Origanum sp.

Crete

Ornithogalum umbellatum

Sparoza

Ostrya carpinifolia

France

Otanthus maritimus

*

Paeonia daurica subsp. mlokosewitschii  

Mallorca

Paeonia officinalis

France

Paeonia ostii

Australia

Paeonia rockii

Norway

Paeonia sp.

white

Paeonia x suffruticosa

Australia

Pancratium maritimum

Pandorea jasminoides

Mallorca

Papaver orientale

France

double red

Papaver rhoeas 

Sparoza

Papaver somniferum

mixed colours

Papaver somniferum Paeoniiflorum Group

Australia

big pink

Papaver somniferum Paeoniiflorum Group

Australia

lavender/ pink/ purple

Papaver somniferum Paeoniiflorum Group

Australia

lavender

Papaver somniferum Paeoniiflorum Group

Australia

red

*

Paraserianthes lophantha
(syn. Albizia lophantha)

Great Britain

Parkinsonia aculeata

Mallorca

Passiflora edulis 'Possum Purple'

Greece

Pavonia lasiopetala  

Mallorca

Pavonia missionum

France

Pavonia praemorsa 

Sparoza

*

Pennisetum orientale

Perilla frutescens var. frutescens
(syn. Perilla frutescens var. purpurascens)

France

Phaenosperma globosa

France

Phaseolus coccineus

Portugal

Phillyrea angustifolia

Mallorca

Phillyrea latifolia

Phlomis cretica

*

Phlomis fruticosa

Greece

Phlomis leucophracta

Portugal

*

Phlomis russeliana

Phoenix threophrasti

Crete

Photinia melanocarpa (syn. Aronia melanocarpa)

*

Phygelius capensis

France

Physalis peruviana 

Sparoza

Pimelea physodes

Australia

Pimpinella bicknellii

Mallorca

Pinus brutia

Crete

Pistacia lentiscus

Mallorca

Pittosporum rhombifolium

France

Pittosporum undulatum

Spain

*

Plumbago auriculata

Podranea ricasoliana

Greece

Polygonatum biflorum

France

Psephellus bellus (syn. Centaurea bella)

France

Ptilostemon chamaepeuce

Sparoza

Puya alpestris

California

Puya mirabilis

Australia

Puya sp.

*

Quercus ilex

Ranunculus cortusifolius  

Ratibida columnifera f. pulcherrima

France

*

Rehmannia elata

France

Retama monosperma

Italy

Rhodanthemum gayanum

France

*

Rhodanthemum hosmariense

France

Rhodotypos scandens

Roldana petasitis (syn. Senecio petasitis)

Australia

*

Romneya coulteri

France

Romulea diversiformis 

Romulea hirta

Romulea obscura var. obscura

Romulea ramiflora

Romulea saldanhensis  

Romulea tetragona

*

Rosa glauca

*

Rosa x alba 'Alba Semiplena'

France

*

Rudbeckia triloba

Ruellia tweediana (syn. Ruellia brittoniana)

France

Ruscus aculeatus

Mallorca

Ruta graveolens

Crete

Salvia africana-lutea

Australia

Salvia barrelieri

*

Salvia candelabrum

France

Salvia coccinea 'Coral Nymph'

Mallorca

Salvia coerulea

Australia

Salvia cyanescens

Salvia greggii 'Alba'

Salvia officinalis

Salvia pratensis

Mallorca

Salvia scabra

Salvia sclarea

France

Salvia stenophylla

Salvia verbenaca

France

Sandersonia aurantiaca 

Santalum acuminatum

Australia

*

Saxifraga stolonifera

France

Scabiosa cretica

Greece

Schinus molle

Schotia brachypetala

Australia

Scilla peruviana 

Sparoza

Securigera varia (syn. Coronilla varia)

France

Senecio sp.

Senna corymbosa (syn. Cassia corymbosa)

France

Senna septemtrionalis

France

Senna sp.

Crete

Sesbania punicea 

Setaria palmifolia

California

Sideritis syriaca

Crete

*

Silene coronaria 'Alba' (syn. Lychnis coronaria 'Alba')

France

Silene coronaria Oculata Group
(syn. Lychnis coronaria Oculata Group)

France

*

Silene flos-jovis (syn. Lychnis flos-jovis)

Sisyrinchium striatum

France

Solidago virgaurea

Sophora macrocarpa

Sparaxis elegans 'Coccinea'

France

Sparaxis tricolor

Czech Republic

*

Spartium junceum

Staehelina dubia

France

*

Styphnolobium japonicum (syn. Sophora japonica)

Swainsona formosa (syn. Clianthus formosus)

Australia

Sycopsis sinensis

Symphoricarpos orbiculatus

Tagetes patula

Tamarindus indica

Thailand

*

Tecoma capensis

Greece

Tecoma fulva subsp. garrocha

Mallorca

Tecoma stans

Sparoza

Teucrium capitatum

Teucrium dunense

Teucrium flavum

Teucrium hircanicum

France

*

Thalictrum speciosissimum
(syn. Thalictrum glaucum)

France

Thomasia sp.

Australia

purple

Tigridia pavonia

Tipuana tipu 

Spain

Tithonia rotundifolia

France

*

Trachelium caeruleum

Mallorca

dark blue

*

Trachelium caeruleum

*

Trachelospermum asiaticum

Crete

variegated form

*

Trachelospermum asiaticum

France

*

Trachelospermum jasminoides

France

Tritonia securigera

Tropaeolum azureum

Tulbaghia violacea

Czech Republic

*

Tulipa turkestanica

France

Ulmus glabra

Australia

*

Veltheimia capensis

Italy

*

Verbena bonariensis

France

*

Verbena rigida

Viburnum carlesii

*

Viburnum farreri

France

Viburnum rhytidophyllum

France

Viburnum tinus

Mallorca

Vigna caracalla 

Mallorca

Vitex agnus-castus

Greece

Vitex trifolia var. purpurea

Mallorca

Watsonia sp.

Webbia canariensis (syn. Hypericum canariense)

Yucca brevifolia

California

Zephyranthes candida

Australia

Zephyranthes citrina

Zephyranthes 'La Buffa Rose' 

Sparoza

*

Zephyranthes minuta
(syn. Zephyranthes grandiflora)

Zephyranthes smallii

Great Britain

Even if the ideal periods for sowing perennials are spring or early autumn, late August is a good season for beginning to sow. The trick is to learn how the plant would germinate and grow in nature. So try to sow the seed at the same time that it would be sown naturally.

For seeds needing cold stratification, like acanthus, the easiest way is to sow them and put the pots outside for the winter, letting Mother Nature do the work. You just have to make sure the pots don’t dry out. Seed only starts the germination process in the presence of moisture; once this process has started, drying out is fatal to the seed embryo.

Most perennials will need at least two growing seasons to reach flowering size, while some require more time. So, if germination occurs in autumn, over-winter the seedlings in a greenhouse or a cold frame. Don’t throw out a seed pot just because nothing seems to have happened, sonce some plants take two or three years to germinate.

Here is a list of some perennials to sow in late summer: Alyssum saxatile (syn. Aurinia saxatilis), aster, campanula, catananche, centaurea, gaillardia, gaura, geranium, gerbera, perennial grasses, nepeta, dianthus, papaver, salvia and scabiosa.

Biennals are best started in late spring or summer for transplanting to their permanent homes in late summer or autumn: violas, Cheiranthus cheiri (syn. Erysimum cheiri), Bellis perennis, Hesperis matronalis, etc.

Fast-growing hardy annuals are usually sown in spring but they can be sown in July and will flower later in the season, as for example: Eschscholzia californica, Centaurea cyanus, Delphinium ajacis (syn. Consolida ambigua), Dimorphotheca aurantiaca, Iberis amara, Linaria maroccana, Reseda odorata, Calendula officinalis, Chrysanthemum carinatum, Alyssum maritimum (syn. Lobularia maritima) or Tropaeolum majus.

Sowing in autumn
Some hardy annual flowers can be sown early in the autumn outside and stand the winter season without any protection; they will be stronger and will flower earlier. Generally they are meadow flowers that germinate in autumn and stay as seedlings during winter before flowering in summer. Others, less hardy, may be sown either in situ, covered with a light protection in case of frost, or in pots over-wintered in a garden frame.

Many perennials, most shrubs and trees from temperate or cold regions and some desert plants need a period of cold to break dormancy and encourage them to germinate. Sowing seeds outside in the autumn, usually in pots, allows them to experience the ups and downs of winter temperatures and encourages them to germinate in the spring. If germination occurs in autumn, over-winter the seedlings in a greenhouse or a cold frame. Don’t throw out a seed pot just because nothing seems to have happened, for some plants may take two or three years to germinate.

If you want to have a try, here is a selection from our new seed list of plants that can be sown in autumn:

Achillea

Agapanthus

Albizia julibrissin (Greece)

Alcea

Allium tuberosum (Montpellier-France)

Asphodelus

Bupleurum

Caesalpinia gilliesii (Greece)

Callistemon sp.

Carissa bispinosa (Blanes-Spain)

Centaurea bella

Ceratonia siliqua (Greece)

Cercis siliquastrum

Cistus

Clematis tangutica (Montpellier-France)

Colutea arborescens (Montpellier-France)

Coronilla valentina

Cosmos sulphureus(Oregon-USA)

Cyclamen

Dianthus barbatus (Great Britain)

Eryngium

Eschscholzia californica

Ferula communis

Glaucium corniculatum

Gleditsia triacanthos (Tourettes-sur-Loup-France)

Hypericum

Hyssopus officinalis (Montpellier-France)

Incarvillea arguta (California)

Iris douglasiana (California)

Juniperus phoenicea (Greece)

Kniphofia sp.

Lathyrus odoratus

Lunaria annua

Lupinus arboreus (California)

Lychnis coronaria

Macfadyena unguis-cati

Melianthus

Myrtus communis (Greece)

Phlomis russeliana (Tourettes-sur-Loup-France)

Retama

Rhamnus alaternus

Ruta graveolens (Clapiers-France)

Salvia

Scabiosa hymnetia

Sesbania punicea

Sisyrinchium striatum

Stipa pulcherrima

Styrax officinale

Talinum paniculatum

Verbena rigida (Greece)

Yucca whipplei (California)

Chantal Guiraud

 

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