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Germinting Arkansas Ironweed (Vernonia arkansana)

greenwoodphilgreenwoodphil Posts: 1
in Plants
Hi, does anyone know how to germinate Vernonia arkansana (Arkansas Ironweed) from seed? I've tried the usual techniques (buried seeds in trays and left seeds on the soil surface), and have searched for any that might have self-sown near to the parent - all of which have yielded no positive results. It's a perennial, so the two examples that I bought are regrowing, but surprisingly, the plant doesn't seem to be that commonly sold in garden centres or nurseries, so I'd like to cultivate more. Any help would be greatly received. Thanks.

Posts

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I'd be interested in any answers to this one. I bought some seed of Vernonia gigantea (from Chiltern Seeds, so I'm confident the seeds aren't duff) and tried them twice - autumn and spring. The autumn ones sown in a tray outside germinated (well some did) but then withered and died. The spring ones haven't germinated - sown indoors, left for a month, put in the fridge for a month, back on the windowsill for a couple of weeks, and now the tray has been stuck outside and left to its own devices. There's still some seed left so I might have another go in summer - see if it wants to be treated like a biennial - or another autumn attempt.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Update: Over the last few days some seedlings have appeared in the tray that had been in the fridge and then put outside. It's too soon to tell for sure whether they're the vernonia, but they don't look like any of the usual suspects that appear in seed trays and pots outside. Maybe what they need is cold then hot (we had high 20s to low 30s C for several days last week).
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    I had some Vernonia (lettermannii?) seeds on the go a couple of years ago, the slugs ate the lot on the first night I put them outside. So watch them carefully!
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    There's gravel on the top of the compost and they're on a high-ish shelf (blowaway without the cover), and I routinely squish any slugs that I see, but that's all the help they're getting. 
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
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