Looking for Scoliopus bigelowii or other

[Simon Elcomb]

I was down at Kew last week and "discovered" a plant new to me. Having been an avid plant grower for years it is always a delight and exciting to find something new! Once my eye was "in" Scoliopus was all over the place and I could not believe I had not noticed it before!
Looked about on the internet and there seem to be very few folk offering it. I understand that it can be easily raised from seed.
Does any body have any that they could send my way??

[Rodger Whitlock]

I understand that [Scoliopus bigelovii] can be easily raised from seed.

My experience with Scoliopus bigelovii is that it's very slow to reach flowering. Sadly, my specimen of it, raised from seed, succumbed to being left out during the winter of 2008-2009, when we had a couple of unseasonably cold days in December when everything was soaking wet. I won't say it's frost-tender, but it probably appreciates a somewhat protected site.

[Lesley Cox]

Mine grows and flowers well but has never set seed, perhaps because I have just a single clone. But many other forumists have reported seed set. It also appears sometimes in the seed lists but I suspect should be sown as very fresh seed so a private source would be best.

[Rodger Whitlock]

It also appears sometimes in the seed lists but I suspect should be sown as very fresh seed so a private source would be best.

I grew mine from exchange seed and got pretty good germination. But every year another one or two would disappear over winter. Perhaps it's one of those plants best sown in situ?

Sowing in situ would probably solve a lot of cultural problems. Truthfully, this may be a plant that is not happy in a pot.

[Lesley Cox]

Mine is in a raised bed with small rhodos, trilliums, primulas and the like. Seems happy there. I know someone who grows it in a half barrel and the ground at the base of the barrel and all around it is a solid mass of seedlings from many years. I've hinted from time to time but without result..

[Darren]

I have both species in pots without any problems here. I may or may not have some seed this year - I will let you know in a couple of weeks Simon. Certainly there will be some flowering sized seedlings around.

[Simon Elcomb]

Thanks to you all!

[WimB]

Simon,

Green mile nursery in Belgium (from forumist Robin Callens) has it for sale: http://www.greenmilenursery.be/

[mark smyth]

Mine are going down in number. Only one biglovii remains and only 3 halii. All seedlings of the latter have died out

[Rodger Whitlock]

Mine are going down in number. Only one biglovii remains and only 3 halii. All seedlings of the latter have died out

I'm going to stick my neck out (what else is new?) and assert that your plants are in too damp a location. Google reveals this webpage which names several localities in which the plant is found. It's found in the central California coast range, and experiences a dry summer, though perhaps in shaded locations. It may also be tender, given its native range.

The climate of  San Rafael, the county seat of Marin County, is summarized at weather.com. Precipitation can be described as dry April to October, extremely dry May to September, wet November to March. Warm summers and mild winters. Seeing this climatic data makes me think, yes, Scoliopus bigelovii probably is frost-tender, and definitely sensitive to overwatering in summer.

[Anthony Darby]

Mine grows very well in the garden, on a damp north(ish) slope. PM me your address Simon and I'll send you some when it starts dying back.