Ranzania

[Maggi Young]

Thanks Steven - almost as  much chance of me visiting you as there is of my getting to Kew - but I'll bear it in mind!

[Leena]

Thanks Stephen.

Leena sorry to hear.. Pricking out anytime I don't think they like it at all as I had been careful and thought I was doing the right thing in autumn..

I should have known they are not easy, I got these seeds from Gothenburg Botanical Garden last winter and when they arrived a few of the seeds had already formed roots in the moist sand in the seed bag, and those seedlings came up when planted but died shortly after, where as the seeds that hadn't germinated in bag came up in pot and survived fine until I now pricked them apart individually.
With most plants I don't have time to prick them early and they grow in the same pot sometimes for too long, but of course with these ones I was too hasty.

[johnw]

Seeds sown in the summer of 2014 are just coming up now despite being sown fresh.  I swear the self-sown ones here sprout the following year.

johnw

[Garden Prince]

My Ranzania seeds started to germinate a couple of weeks ago. Seeds were fresh (own plants) and were sown in late May 2015.

In my opinion Ranzania is one of the most overrated plants 

[Maggi Young]

It has its charms! 
This photo from sewhere in the Forum, by Robin Callens

[Garden Prince]

The flowers are indeed pretty but in many years get frosted in bud. Even a temperature of only -1 C. at ground level can ruin the flowers.  I keep my plants (sown from seeds from Yuzawa Engei) in pots in a polytunnel but even here the flowers can get damaged by light frosts. I prefer Erythroniums and Trilliums over this plant.

[Lesley Cox]

But over-rated? I don't think so!

[t00lie]

It has its charms! 

Yes I think so as well Maggi

But over-rated? I don't think so!

Lesley here's a pic taken today of my plant in a pot ,raised from seed many moons ago, showing a couple of growth buds .Might have a go at dividing next year although It looks to have an imposing root system .

Cheers Dave.

[Lesley Cox]

Looks really good Dave and strong. Treat it tenderly.

[Carolyn]

www.yuzawa-engei.net have got fresh ranzania seeds for sale now! (And lots of other tempting fresh seeds)