Sowing Paris - any advice ?

[Robin Callens]

Michael,

I don't see any difference in growth rate or spreading between the hybrids and their parents. Except maybe for the sterile Paris hybrids who seem to grow faster and taller.

Some more photos of Paris hybrids:

[Maggi Young]

Robin, you have a delightful selection of Paris etc there and you show us very good photos of them, which are making me very envious of your plants!!

[Paul T]

I am SO jealous of all those Paris.  Wish they were available here in Aus but unfortunately very rare.  Thank you SO much for showing us your photos.  A real pleasure to view.

[mickeymuc]

I think those smashing Paris are not available at all anywhere....what a pity !

[Maggi Young]

I think those smashing Paris are not available at all anywhere....what a pity !

What a pity, indeed, Michael.... if I knew where to buy these wonderful plants I would be forming a queue to spend Ian's money 

[Tony Willis]

Maggie

I think a lot came in through Chen Yi  but Crug farm have a super selection although the prices are beyond my pocket

I have an interesting but boring one that I got from Jim Sutherland when I was at Ardfearn.He told me he had bought it in China on a vegetable stall

[Maggi Young]

He told me he had bought it in China on a vegetable stall

Good grief... I hope you won't be reduced to munching that along with the crocus and alliums, Tony??!!

Crug farm have a super selection although the prices are beyond my pocket

I did not know that... may have a browse and just do a bit of window-shopping, then...

[Stephen Vella]

Hello Robin,

Nice picks

Interesting that they hybridise, was this an accidental discovery? These hybrids may become more desirable than the species, they look great.

Cheers
Stephen Vella

[Robin Callens]

I think a lot came in through Chen Yi  but Crug farm have a super selection although the prices are beyond my pocket

I have an interesting but boring one that I got from Jim Sutherland when I was at Ardfearn.He told me he had bought it in China on a vegetable stall

Tony,

I don't think Paris species are boring, overpriced vegetables  .
I consider Paris an intriguing genus with a strange kind of charm and it should be grown more often in gardens.

Robin

[Robin Callens]

Stephen,

At first we handpollinated all our Paris plants. We also tried crossing different Paris species and we found out that some species (Euthyra section: Paris species with a thick rhizome, dehiscent capsule and seeds covered with a red/orange aril) hybridise easily, while others (section Paris: species with a slender, narrow rhizome, non dehiscent dark berry and seeds without aril) don't.

Robin

[Maggi Young]

At first we handpollinated all our Paris plants. We also tried crossing different Paris species and we found out that some species (Euthyra section: Paris species with a thick rhizome, dehiscent capsule and seeds covered with a red/orange aril) hybridise easily, while others (section Paris: species with a slender, narrow rhizome, non dehiscent dark berry and seeds without aril) don't.

Robin

Robin, does this mean you will have these plants in commerce soon? 

[Paul T]

Robin,

Well if you have spare seed of any of them (be they hybrids or species) that you aren't wanting can I start the queue for them?  I'm sure there are a LOT of us (particularly in areas with stricter quarantine conditions) that would absolutely jump at the chance to grow some of these from seed.

[ichristie]

Hi Robin and all, I also agree that the pictures and the information is fantastic, I just want to let you all know that Robin is a super young man 6ft or so tall and he with his father and brother are also very interesting plant people. I have known the family for several years Clint, Robins  brother is interested in Meconopsis when they visit here some years we spend as much time looking at plants. I know that this is a very special family.   I have managed to grow some of the Paris shown from seed plus Paris polyphylla yunanensis alba , Paris  Tibetica and Paris polyphylla variations,   cheers Ian the Christie kind.

[Tony Willis]

Hi Robin as a group they are not my favorites but i find  some are very lovely.

My paris luquanensis had a seed pod on it this year which was probably fertilised by my unknown one(the vegetable). They were flowering at the same time and I dabbled around with a paint brush.

The plant went dormant before the pod ripened and so I put it in water on the windowsill until the stem rotted. When I opened the capsule there were several seeds which looked fully formed but had not hardened their coat. I planted them same day and live in hope.

Another species which came as a bit from China has still not produced a shoot after three years but the bit of rhizome still seems alive.

[Maggi Young]

..... he with his father and brother are also very interesting plant people. I have known the family for several years Clint, Robins  brother is interested in Meconopsis
cheers Ian the Christie kind.

Aha, memory rings bells.... does Clint also have an interest in Arisaemas?......I'm  recalling ancient posts on Arisaema-L