Thursday, January 14, 2010

Spring Seed Selections!

So I know we're in the depths of winter but I just can't stop thinking about spring!  Unfortunately there are thousands of amazing plants and it's impossible to find all the gems.  So I would like everyone's help in making my spring seed list.  I have decided that a five variety limit is incredibly unrealistic.

I'm a huge fan odd plants or those that have a tropical/exotic feel.  I think this year I would like to focus on flowering as opposed to foliage varieties.  That being said, I'm open to all suggestions.  If there are tropical varieties it would be better if they were easy to overwinter or go dormant.

If you'd like an idea of what I like you can take a look though my blog.  Some plants that I'm considering are Brugmansia, Bee Hive Ginger, Echium wildpretii, Musa 'SiamRuby', New Zealand Flax, and maybe some other Adenium variety.  I know these all don't fit into my 'qualifications' but when I see something I like, I can't get it out of my mind.  I'm interested in any plants that have distinct characteristics.  Vegetable suggestions are also welcome!  Especially stranger ones like purple spinach.

13 comments:

  1. Well, I hear Pandanus utilis is nice. And I've contemplated Brugmansia myself, actually. This is kind of a hard question.

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  2. Any odd succulent would be nice...I have always wanted a plant (like an Adenium), with a large caudex...I love Pachypodium sandersii. I think I spelled it right. Those would be neat to try and grow from seed, if you can find any. A lot of the Euphorbias are so awesome too, as long as you are not afraid of their sap, which is toxic. Good luck! What you have so far on your list are nice!!!

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  3. That Pandanus looks very interesting! I'm pretty sure I'm sold on a Brugmansia. I've wanted one for years and I can't put it off any longer.

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  4. Those Pachypodium are very interesting. I really like those plants with an interesting caudex. No worries about toxic plants, pretty much all the best varieties are.

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  5. How about Lithops and other Mesembryanthemum? All easy from seed. Spectacular in bloom.

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  6. I really like those Lithops because they won't take up very much space. I'll have to look more into the Mesembryanthemum. I don't know every much about it but I really like the colours.

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  7. Bomarea 'Fiesta'! I have been wanting to grow one fore a while but have yet to get seeds. It is one cool vine with striking flowers.

    For tropicalish plants you should check out J. L. Hudson Seedsman. Good prices and lots of selection of interesting things.

    For veggies, Baker Creek Seeds (USA) & Heritage Harvest Seeds (Manitoba) for interesting heirlooms. Also Wild Boar Farms (USA) breeds some really strange tomatoes.

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  8. One plant I'll be trying to track down this spring is Amorphophallus bulbifer. Similar to its massive cousin (A. titanum) it stays fairly small and has a flower that's actually fairly attractive. Look for a 1 year growth tuber instead of seeds though, apparently more reliable that way.

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  9. Thanks for all the suggestions. Those Bomarea really are incredible! It says they should be hardy down to -4C which means I can keep them dormant for the winter.

    I thought we had an Amorphophallus bloom but it was actually a Voodoo Lily. That is a very interesting plant that I would be excited to have. The flower is very nice and although I would like to have the giant one, I figure bulbifer is a little more practical.

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  10. Hmm... it seems that several different plants are referred to as 'Voodoo Lily'. The one from the greenhouses is 'Sauromatum venosum' I think.

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  11. I just came upon a site that sells Chilean plant seeds. It's Fabulous stuff.. looks like it could be expensive.

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  12. I was lucky enough to obtain a potted tree form Brugmansia last year for free from the garden center where I work. The buds would start out a lucious raspberry pink then open to white. I planted it in a large planter next to the swing in front of my pond...in the evenings the heady scent was amazing!!! Unfortunately, I was unable to bring it in for the winter due to space constraints. But I would definitely grow it again.

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  13. I've heard they smell really nice in the evening. I'm excited to grow them from seed!

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