Hepatica seeds

[Kristl Walek]

Helen,
I would absolutely vote for moving them to the garage and second Ulla's comments.
Can't tell you how many thousands of pots of seedlings I have lost over the years in premature winter warmth. We are in Canada, and not in the Alps. And I would guess, Lori, that those Hepaticas in Alberta (as elsewhere in really cold climates) are NOT emerging at this time of the year. February is traditionally the coldest month.

[maggiepie]

Thanks Kristl, am happy to say I did move the tray of seedlings, the next day the temps dropped to -20.
It stayed very cold for a week and is currently +2C.

[mark smyth]

My seeds also sown in April or May havent appeared yet.

[annew]

Nor mine.

[Diane Clement]

My seeds also sown in April or May havent appeared yet. 

I think it's a bit early yet in the UK, considering the weather we have had.  They normally germinate when the weather warms up a bit more, which can be February, but for me the most usual time is mid March

[mark smyth]

Fingers crossed for mine in a few years. I had a good seed set on H. nobilis Prickle

[annew]

Fingers crossed for mine in a few years. I had a good seed set on H. nobilis Prickle

What's that like, Mark?

[Paul T]

'Prickle' sounds like an unusual name for an Hepatica.

All the Heps are in leaf here at the moment of course..... some lovely seedlings coming along from various people on the forums.  I'd love to have access to all the ones available in the northern hemisphere..... so many interesting flowers and leaf forms.    Pics please as they develop!! 

[Gunilla]

'Prickle' sounds like an unusual name for an Hepatica.

I saw this Hepatica last summer when I visited a garden friend and she told me the story about its origin.

A wild growing hepatica, white with blue dots, was found by Tomas Josefsson in the vicinity of Hamburgsund, Bohuslän, Sweden. He started to propagate it from seed. After four generations when he was sure it came true from seed he donated one plant to Gothenburg Botanical Garden and one plant to Mr Schlyter in Lund.    Mr Josefsson called this plant Prickel.   "Prick"  is the Swedish word for dot or spot.

[gote]

I have found (very few) hepaticas with blue dots on white also here in Nerike. The distance to Bohuslän is about 300 km. One can speculate if this is a reoccuring mutation or wether the gene is very rare but widely distributed.
Personally i believe in the mutation. A gene inherent in the population should be expressed more often if it pops up with that geographical distance.
Göte
trying to move 40 cm of snow.

[Gunilla]

Göte, lots of snow here too, for a change
I know that blue spotted hepaticas also have been found in Finland. I received seed from a plant with flowers that reminded me of the Geranium 'Splish Splash'.  

[Ulla Hansson]

I have a few plants of hepatica prickel. The flowers do not look alike from year to year. Sometimes they are spotted, sometimes one half white other blue. They can also be white with blue stripes. Leaves are normally green.
Ulla

[Stephenb]

Didn't Severin Schlyter donate his collection of Hepaticas to RHS Wisley when he died?

[Maggi Young]

Yes, Stephen, he did donate his collection..... very kind gift.

[gote]

I have a few plants of hepatica prickel. The flowers do not look alike from year to year. Sometimes they are spotted, sometimes one half white other blue. They can also be white with blue stripes. Leaves are normally green.
Ulla

My experience as well.
Göte