2012 list

Updated 28 October 2011

Seeds offered in this section are $4.50 per packet. Actual cost of shipping may be charged if seeds cannot be shipped fresh with your order. Ordering information is on the home page at How to Order.

If fresh seed is not available, interested persons can request notification by email when a new crop is available.

Perishable seed – these seeds are stored carefully and sent moist. They must be planted immediately. There may be some delay in shipping perishable seed, and it may be shipped separate from your order, according to availability.

Hydnophytum formicarium - Rubiaceae. An epiphyte from tropical South East Asia that produces a fascinating swollen stem with hundreds of internal hollow chambers. These are designed to recruit ant colonies that defend the plants in nature. In this species the swelling starts out low and with many ridges. The blunt, rough-surfaced, leathery leaves are widest near their tip. The stem is called a "domatium" or home for ants. These plants grow well without their protectors under warm, humid conditions such as can be achieved in a terrarium. With maturity they flower and produce tiny white flowers and bright orange fruit year round. Seeds must be fresh. Sow immediately by pressing onto a moist layer of sphagnum moss over a small pot of epiphyte mix and keep in a closed, clear container. Seedlings have swollen bases from the first. Feed regularly with the first true leaves. Fresh seed has a very high germination rate. 10 seeds per packet. Seed currently available

Hydnophytum moseleyanum - Rubiaceae, Queensland Australia and New Guinea. Similar to H. formicarium except the smooth, somewhat succulent leaves are more pointed and widest in the middle. The stem swelling is smooth and taller in young plants, but tends to become much wider than tall in mature plants and wider than in H. formicarium. The tiny flowers and orange fruit are a bit larger as well. 6 seeds per packet. Seed currently available

Mymecodia platyrea - Rubiaceae, New Guinea. Ant plant developing swollen basal stems with many hollow chambers as in Hydnophytum, but with larger, blade-shaped leaves, fewer branches with thicker stems developing sunken crypts in which flowers, fruit, and young plants can all be found. The fruit are longer and softer than in Hydnophytum, and translucent orange in color. The tuberous stem in this species becomes covered with tubercles and 2-3 inch long spine-like extensions. Seed handling and plant culture as in Hydnophytum. 6 seeds per packet Seed currently available

Myrmecodia solomonensis(Myrmecodia tuberosa var. salomonensis), Rubiaceae, Southeast Asia. Ant plant. As above, but the tuberous stem is smoother and tends to creep sideways with one to several pendant, leaf-bearing stems. Also differs in the minute flowers being a bit larger and the fruit paler. 10 seeds per packet Seed currently available

Lapageria rosea, the beautiful national flower of Chile, comes in a variety of colors from deep red through purest white. Offered are seeds that will yield mixed colors. Lapageria seeds become difficult to germinate if allowed to dry, so these seeds are fresh and will arrive damp and ready to sow. If you must store, keep them damp and refrigerated. Seedling development is slow, so patience is required. Typically no seedlings bloom before 3 years of age and many will take longer. Good snail control is a must. An excellent growing mix is American Soil Products Rhododendron blend cut with ¼ in. fir bark and pumice. Hardy to at least 16 deg F, probably colder. 8 seeds per packet
Fresh seeds available now, mixed colors

Philesia magellanica - Philesiaceae. Chilean Coicopihue is a shrub with small, stiff, elliptical, glaucous-backed leaves that slowly spreads into a wide clump by underground stems. The spectacular flowers are almost as large as those of its climbing relative, Lapageria rosea, at three inches and range from deep red to a translucent magenta pink. Mature plants are covered with flowers in late summer. Sow seedlings in a layer of milled sphagnum moss over a well draining acid mix and keep covered and away from slugs and snails. Seed sent when fresh before drying. Limited, 5 seeds per packet

Seed currently available

Scadoxus nutans  - Amaryllidaceae, Africa. One of the rarest species of the genus, once thought extinct, but very easy to grow. Small (to 1 ft.) herbaceous plants with thickened rhizomes and clusters of pale green, fleshy leaves. Leaf bases are stippled with red spots. Watch for the fascinating inflorescences emerging from the base with thick spotted stems and a brush of salmon pink flowers that all hang straight down. Briefly goes dormant from time to time, but may be watered year round and can flower several times each year (with or without leaves) developing clusters of bright orange seeds. This plant makes an excellent and tough house plant, flowering well indoors. Grow outdoors with protection. Seeds should not dry out, sow upon receipt by placing on top of a coarse, free draining soil mix. If you must store, surface sterilize and refrigerate moist. Flowers in 2 to 3 years from seed. Pkts. contain 6 seeds. Seed currently available