Amherstia nobilis Seeds

[Really full garden]

Anyone have advise on germinating Amherstia nobilis seeds ?

[XYZ]

Scott:

Quite straightforward, but I'd bleach them first (10% solution for 15 min, followed by rinse and overnight soak in warm water). Orient seed edge up, just below the surface. I used steam-sterilized media due to high value of the material early last decade, but probably not necessary. I germinated more than 15 from different sources when they were still very rare from seed. Most of them found their way to La Concha, but I sold a couple others in country to other friends. There are also seed-grown trees down there that I imported as small saplings from Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Good luck,

J

[XYZ]

Found an old image of a newly-germinated Amherstia of mine so that you can see proper orientation...you can see that right away the strong emerging radicle walked the seed up out of the medium.

 

[Really full garden]

Thank you Jay, this is great information.

[Hillizard]

Here's a picture from today of an Amherstia seed that (unexpectedly) sprouted for me. I started out with 3 mail-ordered seeds on March 6, 2017. I didn't disinfect, I just soaked them for 48 hours in tap water, put them on the surface of a peat and sand medium, in a plastic food container, and kept that for a couple of months on a germination heating pad. When nothing seemed to happen, I put the container in my sunroom and forgot about it. The temperature fluctuates daily in that room between 60-98 deg.F. I checked on it last week and was shocked to see a radicle emerging from the largest seed! I threw out the other 2 seeds (one was putrifying, the other appeared inert) and am watching to see if this one progresses. I don't really have the conditions either in/outdoors to grow this species to flowering, but at this stage it's enough to have gotten it to germinate! It's a challenge I always wanted to take on. 

[Really full garden]

59 minutes ago, Hillizard said:

Here's a picture from today of an Amherstia seed that (unexpectedly) sprouted for me. I started out with 3 mail-ordered seeds on March 6, 2017. I didn't disinfect, I just soaked them for 48 hours in tap water, put them on the surface of a peat and sand medium, in a plastic food container, and kept that for a couple of months on a germination heating pad. When nothing seemed to happen, I put the container in my sunroom and forgot about it. The temperature fluctuates daily in that room between 60-98 deg.F. I checked on it last week and was shocked to see a radicle emerging from the largest seed! I threw out the other 2 seeds (one was putrifying, the other appeared inert) and am watching to see if this one progresses. I don't really have the conditions either in/outdoors to grow this species to flowering, but at this stage it's enough to have gotten it to germinate! It's a challenge I always wanted to take on. 

Great news. I still have hopes for one to sprout.

[The Silent Seed]

Very nice!!! This is new to me - where are you guys getting seeds lately? 

[Hillizard]

1 hour ago, santoury said:

Very nice!!! This is new to me - where are you guys getting seeds lately? 

I bought my three seeds (via eBay) from a supplier in Sri Lanka who ships worldwide. Also, air-layered Amherstia plants are occasionally available via these two suppliers in USA:

- http://tom-piergrossi.squarespace.com/buy-plants-a-b/amherstia-nobilis

- https://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/amherstia_nobilis.htm

[The Silent Seed]

Thank you very much! I saw the ones on Ebay - is $10 per seed reasonable? 

Best, Jude

[Hillizard]

14 minutes ago, santoury said:

Thank you very much! I saw the ones on Ebay - is $10 per seed reasonable? 

Best, Jude

Jude: I don't think there's one simple answer to your question. You need to ask yourself:

- If you feel COMPELLED to have this species in your collection, even if the seeds are somewhat pricey (though not as expensive as some palm seeds!).

- If you are OK running the risk of your international seed shipment being confiscated/lost in transit.

- If you are comfortable not knowing if the seeds you get are actually viable.

- If you can supply the necessary tropical conditions for this species to flourish.

- If you can wait for several (many?) years before there's any chance of seeing flowers.

Otherwise... you may want to spend big $$s and get an air-layered plant that will bloom sooner. 

Hope this helps with your decision.  

[Cindy Adair]

I too saw both of those US ads recently, but when I looked they were teasers as neither one was available.

I got seeds from both the Thailand offering and the Sri Lanka source and all sunk. However the seeds looked very different! The ones you showed are dark brown and irregular in shape. The others from Thailand were round, lighter brown and flatter. 

The trees grow just fine here so I just need to live a very long time to see blooms. I enjoy the leaves as well and happily are patient watching trees grow!

I had no trouble germinating the two seeds off the one pod I was given the chance to pick in PR, but have no memory of what the seeds looked like, only the amazing scarlet and yellow pod!

[Hillizard]

37 minutes ago, Cindy Adair said:

I too saw both of those US ads recently, but when I looked they were teasers as neither one was available.

I got seeds from both the Thailand offering and the Sri Lanka source and all sunk. However the seeds looked very different! The ones you showed are dark brown and irregular in shape. The others from Thailand were round, lighter brown and flatter. 

The trees grow just fine here so I just need to live a very long time to see blooms. I enjoy the leaves as well and happily are patient watching trees grow!

I had no trouble germinating the two seeds off the one pod I was given the chance to pick in PR, but have no memory of what the seeds looked like, only the amazing scarlet and yellow pod!

Cindy: Very interesting -- the difference in appearance you mentioned for the seeds from two sources. I guess yours from Thailand looked like this image below? Now I wonder exactly what it is I've got germinating? Oh well, maybe I'll know in a few years if it lives... and then blooms! 

[The Silent Seed]

I obviously didn't word my question in the way I intended. What I meant is whether that is the usual, or going price for seeds of this species. 

Interesting, though, that there are evidently two different seed types here. 

[Cindy Adair]

11 hours ago, Hillizard said:

Cindy: Very interesting -- the difference in appearance you mentioned for the seeds from two sources. I guess yours from Thailand looked like this image below? Now I wonder exactly what it is I've got germinating? Oh well, maybe I'll know in a few years if it lives... and then blooms! 

Yes! 

 

[Hillizard]

On 5/28/2017, 5:14:36, Hillizard said:

Here's a picture from today of an Amherstia seed that (unexpectedly) sprouted for me. I started out with 3 mail-ordered seeds on March 6, 2017. I didn't disinfect, I just soaked them for 48 hours in tap water, put them on the surface of a peat and sand medium, in a plastic food container, and kept that for a couple of months on a germination heating pad. When nothing seemed to happen, I put the container in my sunroom and forgot about it. The temperature fluctuates daily in that room between 60-98 deg.F. I checked on it last week and was shocked to see a radicle emerging from the largest seed! I threw out the other 2 seeds (one was putrifying, the other appeared inert) and am watching to see if this one progresses. I don't really have the conditions either in/outdoors to grow this species to flowering, but at this stage it's enough to have gotten it to germinate! It's a challenge I always wanted to take on. 

Just an update that a sprout has now emerged from my (presumed) Amherstia seed! Onward and upward! 

[Cindy Adair]

Congratulations! That seed looks just like one batch of seed I received so sure hope we both have the real deal and all of them sprout!

[Hillizard]

1 hour ago, Cindy Adair said:

Congratulations! That seed looks just like one batch of seed I received so sure hope we both have the real deal and all of them sprout!

Cindy: Thanks! At least yours that sprout will have a much better life to look forward to versus mine here in dry, temperate NorCal! If mine grows to any size I'll probably donate it to a conservatory!

[Hillizard]

On 6/10/2017, 10:00:02, Hillizard said:

Just an update that a sprout has now emerged from my (presumed) Amherstia seed! Onward and upward! 

For anyone interested, here's a progress report (as of June 18th) on the Amherstia (?) seedling that sprouted for me. Growth has accelerated in its plastic bag 'hothouse' and it's now put out multiple leaves and shoots. My local weather forecast is for six more days of triple-digit heat, so this plant stays indoors and protected from low humidity. 

[Hillizard]

ICYMI: How Britain’s love affair with ‘the world’s most beautiful tree’ blossomed in Calcutta: The story of Amherstia nobilis figures a governor general, a fairy tale, and a landmark day in labour history: https://scroll.in/magazine/839486/how-britains-love-affair-with-the-worlds-most-beautiful-tree-blossomed-in-calcutta

 

[Cindy Adair]

On June 19, 2017 at 1:51:23 PM, Hillizard said:

ICYMI: How Britain’s love affair with ‘the world’s most beautiful tree’ blossomed in Calcutta: The story of Amherstia nobilis figures a governor general, a fairy tale, and a landmark day in labour history: https://scroll.in/magazine/839486/how-britains-love-affair-with-the-worlds-most-beautiful-tree-blossomed-in-calcutta

 

Very interesting and timely as I stare at my 3 pots each with one seed of what I hope is the real deal...

[Hillizard]

17 hours ago, Cindy Adair said:

Very interesting and timely as I stare at my 3 pots each with one seed of what I hope is the real deal...

Cindy: When your seeds germinate -- stand back! Their growth rate seems phenomenal, but then that's true of many tropical plant species. I understand Amherstia seedling growth is much more robust than that of the air-layered plants, although you'll wait longer for flowering to occur. Below is a picture I took this morning (06.21.17) of my sprout. Tomorrow I'm taking it as a donation to the botanical conservatory at the University of California, Davis. At least there it can grow with more heat and humidity year-round. And if it gets too large for their facilities someday, I'm sure another public conservatory will be happy to accept it. At least now I can check off one more successful seed germination on my life list! 

[Cindy Adair]

What a beauty and so nice of you to donate it. Surely you have earned lifetime visitation rights!

[Hillizard]

2 minutes ago, Cindy Adair said:

What a beauty and so nice of you to donate it. Surely you have earned lifetime visitation rights!

I pass the torch to you now, so please share with us pictures of your own germination results when they happen!

[Cindy Adair]

If I have success I will photograph the results...

[Cindy Adair]

On June 21, 2017 at 6:51:17 PM, Cindy Adair said:

If I have success I will photograph the results...

These two have grown very rapidly but I kept forgetting to photograph them in the Handkerchief stage. Now the leaves have turned green and are not so limp. I have a third seed that looks fine except nothing above ground yet. 

I am happy to have these and the leaves look like the real deal to me, versus one of the other handkerchief trees like Brownea or Saraca. I hope your donated ones are growing well in their new home!

[Hillizard]

20 hours ago, Cindy Adair said:

These two have grown very rapidly but I kept forgetting to photograph them in the Handkerchief stage. Now the leaves have turned green and are not so limp. I have a third seed that looks fine except nothing above ground yet. 

I am happy to have these and the leaves look like the real deal to me, versus one of the other handkerchief trees like Brownea or Saraca. I hope your donated ones are growing well in their new home!

Cindy: Thanks for sharing your germination results! It looks as if you've got the real deal. You'll know in a few years when they bloom. Congratulations!

[Cindy Adair]

Thanks!

Not so sure it will be a "few" years, but however long I hope I will still be around to see them bloom.

If not, whoever lives here next! If everyone in the world planted just one special tree a year, just imagine! 

I believe I am doing my share and more as are most of us here on this forum.

 I am guessing I know adults, especially in the states, who have never planted a single tree of any kind.

[Hillizard]

24 minutes ago, Cindy Adair said:

Thanks!

Not so sure it will be a "few" years, but however long I hope I will still be around to see them bloom.

If not, whoever lives here next! If everyone in the world planted just one special tree a year, just imagine! 

I believe I am doing my share and more as are most of us here on this forum.

 I am guessing I know adults, especially in the states, who have never planted a single tree of any kind.

Cindy: I agree with you! Maybe this person and his story will inspire others: http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/short-film-showcase/india-man-plants-forest-bigger-than-central-park-to-save-his-island

[Hillizard]

In case you're interested -- for those of you who live in the Bay Area/Northern California -- I've just been notified that the Amherstia nobilis at the SF Conservatory of Flowers is in bloom for the first time. It's on display in the Aquatics section. It was a rooted cutting I had shipped to them from http://tom-piergrossi.squarespace.com/buy-plants-a-b/amherstia-nobilis  This is a nice opportunity for those of us on the West Coast to see this plant in flower.  https://scroll.in/magazine/839486/how-britains-love-affair-with-the-worlds-most-beautiful-tree-blossomed-in-calcutta

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

Hoping for viable seeds this year.

 

[Hillizard]

Jerry: I've been told that birds (at least at Foster Botanical Gardens) will eat the seeds, so you might consider putting that precious pod in some kind of net bag while they ripen.

[Cindy Adair]

I think the pods are as amazing as the flowers!

Congratulations! Fresh seeds seem quick and easy to germinate and grow quickly.

I wish you much success and many progeny from your mother tree!

 

[Cindy Adair]

Sadly the three very healthy seedlings I germinated are clearly not Amherstias. 

Maybe Saracas?

So back to searching for trees or seeds of this beauty. 

[Plantsman05]

hello. I want seeds of it for a long time, but there's not any tree of it where I live. so if you know any worldwide shipping source, I'll be grateful to know.

[Hillizard]

For those living in NorCal/Bay Area, you now have the opportunity to see Amherstia nobilis in flower at the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers. A staff member there told me this plant has been blooming a couple of times a year and is growing well from the original cutting shipped from an Hawaiian nursery.