Getting seeds from Penstemons?

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Author Message   Marvie  Posted on Wednesday, June 06, 2007 - 09:15 am EST :    Here's a newbie question... how do you collect the seeds from Husker Red? I've got one that was given to me, it's in bloom now and I'd like to collect some of the seeds but I'm not sure what exactly to look for. And would the seeds of penstemon barbatus be the same? Both seem to drop the spent flowers voluntarily, are the seeds left on the stalk or in the dropped flower? I can't seem to tell. Marvie - Virginia, Zone "8"   Abgardeneer  Posted on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 - 05:24 pm EST :    The seeds of penstemon are in woody, beaked structures that remain on the stem (the remains of the ovary? - someone please correct me if I'm wrong on this); this is generally the same for all flowering plants. You can just shake the seeds out of the "pods" when they are dry, and you can also break the pods to release more seeds. Be careful if you try to crush the pods, as the "beaks" are very sharp. All penstemons are pretty much the same as above, and they are generally quite heavy seed producers. As 'Husker Red' is a selection of Penstemon digitalis }that was chosen for leaf color (and propagated vegetatively, rather than by seed), the offspring of your plant may not all have the same coloring, although the flowers will be equally nice. Abgardeneer - Alberta, Zone "3"   Loretta  Supporting Member Posted on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 - 06:20 pm EST :    I do get some green plants with pinkish flowers from Huskers Red but most of the seedlings have darker leaves. The seed pods are very musky and if you store a bag of them in the house, it is enough to scent the room. It does reseed so if you collect the seed, throw some on the ground too and let nature take its course. You will notice dark red spinach looking leaves popping up in places far from where you sprinkled the seed at various points during the following season. Just lift them and plant where you want. At a garden where I volunteered a little, there was a very vigorous patch of Huskers Red putting out loads of seedlings without anyone's help. So much so that we spoke of deadheading the plants before seed production. Loretta - NJ, Zone "6"   Marvie  Posted on Wednesday, June 13, 2007 - 06:59 am EST :    I'm out of luck unless it grows another bunch of flowers... either the wind snapped it or something bit the flower stalk off! I can't even find it on the ground =( It looks like a clean break, almost as if it had been snipped with scissors. I have a couple of much smaller ones around, but they aren't growing as fast as that one did and show no signs of blooming anytime soon. I'm bummed because I was really hoping to get some seeds from it. Marvie - Virginia, Zone "8"   Loretta  Supporting Member Posted on Wednesday, June 13, 2007 - 03:50 pm EST :    I have both plants, Marvie. I will send you some seeds when they ripen. They are both blooming now. Email me your address and I will mark my calendar. Loretta - NJ, Zone "6"   Marvie  Posted on Wednesday, June 13, 2007 - 04:10 pm EST :    Wow, thank you! I just sent you a message. I have a question (ok two), should I cut back the stalk of the one that bloomed or just leave it alone? Will it bloom again? Sorry to bug, I just want to be sure I treat her right =) Marvie - Virginia, Zone "8"   Flowerfreak  Supporting Member My Garden Journal My Weather My Time Posted on Monday, June 16, 2008 - 07:41 am EST :    I'd like to know the answer to that one too, Marvie. I was not sure, so I cut mine back just the other day. I hope someone reading this post might know the answer :) Flowerfreak - Ky, Zone "6a"

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