Aconitum from Seed

[sokol]

I did nothing special with them, sowed them in pots and put them out in my sand bed. Yesterday I noticed another pot from 01.2017 without any germination.

[Véronique Macrelle]

Gabriella,
you talk about germination in the second year: you mean that you dipped the seeds in the GA3 in 2017, but they did not germinate until 2018?

[Rick R.]

As Gabriela already mentioned, aconitum seeds are recalcitrant to varying degrees.  (They may or may not tolerate dry storage.)

Therefore, it is very important to know how seeds were stored and for how long before planting.

Please, please, could you give us that information, Stefan?

[Gabriela]

Gabriella,
you talk about germination in the second year: you mean that you dipped the seeds in the GA3 in 2017, but they did not germinate until 2018?

Yes Véronique, the seeds were coll. in 2016, I received them in mid Jan. 2017, treated with GA3, kept at warm for a while (I thought they may germinate) and the cold and then outdoors the whole time.

GA3 treatment in some Aconitum species has been shown to promote embryo growth, even if it will not induce germination.
Aconitums have underdeveloped embryos and germination will occur only after they reach a certain size.

[sokol]

As Gabriela already mentioned, aconitum seeds are recalcitrant to varying degrees.  (They may or may not tolerate dry storage.)

Therefore, it is very important to know how seeds were stored and for how long before planting.

Please, please, could you give us that information, Stefan?

Rick, I have sown them at the same day, when I have got them. The first two I have got from the SRGC seed exchange 2017 and their storage seemed to be fine.

The other three are from two Czech sources. I have no information about their storage but it must be good. All seed germinated very well.

But like you I have also had seed without any germination from 2009 - 16 from three different seed exchanges:

Aconitum   alboviolaceum
Aconitum   anthora
Aconitum   jaluense
Aconitum   lamarckii
Aconitum   lasiostomum
Aconitum   tauricum
Aconitum   variegatum

And there are still some others that didn't germinate and I am still waiting.

Aconitum anthora:

[Véronique Macrelle]

do fresh seeds, not stored, germinate better?

[P. Kohn]

This is one of the genera where our success from seed is poor. Does anyone have any advice on how to get higher germination rates please /

[Maggi Young]

I'm no help to you, Peter - my  Aconitum lycoctonum seeds itself around the garden so well the germination rate must be about  150 % !!

[Carolyn]

The seed needs to be sown fresh. When do you sow it?
If the seed is old, I would try GA3, it might be helpful for aconitum.

[P. Kohn]

Yes, we do sow fresh but still have poor germination. I am envious of your lycoctonum, Maggi.  As I recently discussed with Ian Scott, what self-sows is very specific to each garden - certainly very different between Kerrachar and Sheffield or Fife(Ian) and Sheffield but Aconitums have never self-sown for us in any of our gardens.

We usually rely on natural germination - expose to winter temperatures and wait for germination to happen in its own time with only a few particular seeds given heat. I read somewhere that one grower starts Aconitum in damp tissues in a poly bag. Has anyone tried this ?

[Véronique Macrelle]

sowing aconite is very difficult for me too.
 3 year cosecutif that I order Aconitum seeds hemsleyanum and still nothing!
I would like climbing Aconitum ...

 of Aconitum alboviolaceum, sown 2 years ago, I got 1 seedling this spring (on a very large number of seeds), which gives this now: a stocky plant and really oily
 is really Aconitum alboviolaceum, according to you?

[Gabriela]

The leaves resemble A. alboviolaceum Véronique, but just after one character with so many Aconitum species it would be hard to say 100%.
By the look of it should flower next year and you will know for sure

[Véronique Macrelle]

so I am very happy if it is indeed Aconitum alboviolaceum!
thank G

this winter I will order new seeds of A. hemselayana, if there is one in the seedlist, and I will deal with GA3, this time.

[kris]

I have  Aconitum hemsleyanum flowering now in the garden. The picture was taken three days ago

[Véronique Macrelle]

it's very beautiful  , kris

it flowers in how many years after sowing ?