Wild Seedlings

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Author Message   Jeffnz  Posted on Monday, April 14, 2008 - 02:03 pm EST :    This is directed at those lucky individuals who are fortunate to visit wild populations of hellebores. There was a recent thread which tried to unravel the mystery surrounding the relatively low germination rates of wild compared to garden collected seed. What is the incidence of seedlings in the wild? Most of the photos of wild sites seem always to show clumps of mature plants with no sign of younger plants, is this the case or at the time does it reflect the focus on the flowering plants? Jeffnz - Wellington, Zone "?"   Matthias  Supporting Member Posted on Tuesday, April 15, 2008 - 10:05 am EST :    Jeff, I often see younger or older hellebore seedlings in the wild, but they are in most cases not the main focus of the photographer. Here is one photo my son Niklas took this year in north Italy in a colony of Helleborus viridis. Germination rates can be high but survival during hot and dry summers is the crucial point which normally eliminates most young plants. Matthias - South Germany, Zone "7"   Jeffnz  Posted on Tuesday, April 15, 2008 - 02:06 pm EST :    Matthias thanks for confirming what I suppose was a question to which the answer was obvious, so for that I apologise. Jeffnz - Wellington, Zone "?"   Jgwoodard  My Garden Posted on Monday, April 21, 2008 - 06:43 am EST :    Hi Jeff, It would seem the difference is wild sown vs. garden sown. The seedlings here are from seed of wild provenance. I put these in a spot that dries out slower than every other place in the garden since I can't give them supplemental water. I didn't keep statistics, but 'enough' germinated to not be too worried about it. i think the key is consistent moisture, but it doesn't have to be much moisture. This spot gets no sun at all from around Nov-Feb, thus limiting dessication during portions of the critical time. And also keep in mind that many sites in the wild have few bare spots on the ground and are covered with grasses and other plants which can shade young seedlings and also suck up moisture. Jgwoodard - TN, Zone "7"   Jeffnz  Posted on Monday, April 21, 2008 - 10:10 pm EST :    Joseph I have never been quite game enough to sow precious seed directly into garden soil, but your experience does show that there is no reason why this will reduce germination rates compared to sowing seed into pots. There is the added advantage with direct sowing that provided the seed bed is shaded drying out will not be as rapid as in pots. My results with germination of wild seed continue to frustrate me as my interest in species has continued to grow after seeing pictures of wild hellebores posted on this site. Jeffnz - Wellington, Zone "?"

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