Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Seedy Subjects! => Grow From Seed => Topic started by: Claire Cockcroft on May 24, 2021, 01:00:32 AM

Title: Penstemon from very old seed now flowering
Post by: Claire Cockcroft on May 24, 2021, 01:00:32 AM

Betty Lowry collected the seeds of this plant in Arizona in 1989.  I sowed the seeds in 2019 and today the first flower opened.  It came as "Penstemon sp." and I believe it's Penstemon palmeri.

Seeds are amazing!

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Title: Re: Penstemon from very old seed now flowering
Post by: Rick R. on May 24, 2021, 01:19:07 AM

Panayoti Kelaidis always said older Penstemon seed germinate better, but I'm not sure he meant 20 years old!

Yes, that's P. palmeri.  Nicely scented, too.
[attach=1]

Title: Re: Penstemon from very old seed now flowering
Post by: Maggi Young on May 24, 2021, 01:17:14 PM

Crikey!!  :o :o :o :o 8)
Never too late to try, eh??!!  ::)

Title: Re: Penstemon from very old seed now flowering
Post by: Claire Cockcroft on May 25, 2021, 12:46:09 AM

Check your math, Rick.  The seeds were 30 years old!

Title: Re: Penstemon from very old seed now flowering
Post by: Rick R. on May 25, 2021, 02:12:46 AM

Oops! ;D