Sowing Paris - any advice ?

[Paddy Tobin]

Robin,

Referrring back to your question re seed on Paris japonica: I have grown this species for a number of years, certainly the most attractive of the flowers on any Paris, I think, but I have never had any seed. The plant has increased in size and I did lift and split it two years ago and each separate plant grew away well but only the older and larger portion of the rhizome flowered this year. Seed would be so welcome and hopefully my plants will set seed in coming years.

If my recollection is accurate I bought my original plant from Crug Farm in North Wales and it was a rather expensive purchase at the time, £30 - £40, but once it keeps growing and flowering I am happy to have spent so much.

The more ordinary and more common Paris quadrifolia grows very well for me here and has spread to make a nice clump about 50cm across.

Below is a photograph of Paris quadrifolia taken in Switzerland last summer.

Paddy

[Tony Willis]

Robin super pictures of your seedlings.

My seed seemed good and so I expect they will germinate next spring.I keep them frost free although quite cold

A couple of years ago I raised a batch of seedlings from what I think was delavayi and these are now planted out in the garden and growing away well.

here is a picture of a paris in France this summer

[Paddy Tobin]

Ah Tony,

A picture of a Paris in France!!! How could you?

Paddy

[Tony Willis]

Oh dear I have just stuffed my head under a cushion in order to hide my shame

[Paddy Tobin]

And you didn't even show any of the usual sights - the Eiffel Tower or the likes.

Paddy

[Maggi Young]

Don't worry, Paddy, this shameless behaviour will not go unpunished... I hereby fine Tony a large bar of chocolate as a penalty for his "paris in France"

[Tony Willis]

I shall buy one and eat it with glee tomorrow!

[Maggi Young]

I shall buy one and eat it with glee tomorrow!

no, no, Tony, that's not the idea at all.......

[Robin Callens]

Paddy,

I think chances are low that your Paris japonica will set seed unless you have more than one clone.

Robin

[Paddy Tobin]

Robin,

Would hand-pollination be of any help with my P. japonica?

Paddy

[Tony Willis]

Paddy I had no seed until I got two species in flower and crossed them.I was unable to get a single clone to set by itself even with diligent hand pollination.
I got the dysosma to set by storing the pollen in the fridge for a month until a flower opened on a second clone and then cross pollinating it.

[ichristie]

Hi all, I have never had seed on Paris japonica either, and only just had a few Paris polyphylla yunnanensis Alba some seedlings from 4 years ago are now growing well but it is a patient waiting game no wonder these plants are expensive. Paris have growing habits like Trilliums as at the moment they have big fat new shoots and I worry about the frost so have put another mulch layer over the shoots. The big trilliums are also growing well, another plant that needs time from seed, cheers Ian the Christie kind.

[Johan Nilson]

 I took this pictures at Gothenburg Botanical Garden this summer! a Paris japonica in flower

[Maggi Young]

Super photo odf a most elegant plant... thanks.



Johan, I have moved your post about the identiification to a more appropriate thread.... see it here:
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=1676.0

[Robin Callens]

Would hand-pollination be of any help with my P. japonica?

Hand-pollination would certainly do the job if you have another clone of Paris japonica to take pollen from.
It will probably be not possible to cross Paris japonica with another Paris species. We only experienced hybridisation between Paris species of the same section. Paris japonica is the only member of the section Kinugasa.