by seeds of oleander
I have grown oleanders for decades and have never seen them go to seed. What a surprise to discover these tiny little gifts. Shall I try see if they will grow new plants? I usually start them from cuttings.
February 18, 2015 in Nature, Photoworks by Marja-Leena
I’d love to know if they would start new plants. My mom brought cuttings from Jamaica eons ago.
Just out of curiosity, I will have to plant a few seeds and see what happens. Jamaica, eh? I got my first oleander from my late mother-in-law but I don’t know where she got hers originally. Many other cuttings came from a keen gardener friend – we still keep exchanging cuttings. I generally have better luck with cuttings than seeds.
Delightful though the seeds are, my eye immediately went to – I don’t know the botanical term – the junction between main stem and the leaf.
Do you know of the late Rory McEwan, botanic artist and musician? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4Ow_fS94fo
I would definitely try growing some seedlings on – a lovely experiment.
That leaf seemed to have collected a lot of the seeds making it look almost like a large seedpod. I did not deadhead all the flower bud/stalks on some of the oleanders last fall, thinking they might still bloom before winter, but some of these did not. So one little tree decided to put forth these seeds as if to say, plant my seeds!
I don’t recall the name but recognize the botanical art. Will listen to it a bit later with my morning coffee – thanks!
It would appear that you must commit yourself to the role of a grower of oleander seeds. Would that qualify as midwifery? I await the results of that activity with interest.
Oh, if every seed was sown and every one germinated and grew, we’d need a big greenhouse! With the many non-hardy plants we overwinter, our solarium gets rather full. I will gather all the seeds today before they scatter all over the solarium, and plan to start a few soon as the weather warms up. Will report on any babies. Midwifery, heheh…. I’ll have to share that with daughter’s midwife friend.
The scans you made of them show just how spectacular they look as seeds (and pod). Not being familiar with them as plants (I’ve never enjoyed the delight of having a real garden), I looked up the process for growing them from seed. It appears to be a lengthy process, but definitely worthwhile results.
Susan, you can grow these as houseplants. If you have a sunny deck off your apartment, you can put them out for the summer. I don’t think you can leave them out in winter anywhere in Canada. They are so gorgeous in Italy!
Thanks for the excellent link – you have done my homework for me. Interesting that the seeds may not come true to their parent colour. I’m not even sure of the colour of this particular one that produced the seeds. I have different shades of pinks, a peach and white.
So beautiful!
Thank you, Meta!
Having finally found time to visit your blog via that of Olga, I’m mesmerised by your stunning photos. I so hope those seeds grow for you.
Margaret, welcome and thanks! Yes, we do meet regularly at Olga’s. I have picked the rest of the seeds, and hope start some about mid-March.
That top image has a pleasant Japanese lacquer-ware feel to it…
If it’s the same as what we call oleander down South, some types do not grow true from seed and have to be started from cuttings to grow true–but I’m sure you’ll get something!
Just don’t forget what they are and eat the poisonous little things! By husband once fed us daffodil bulbs I had stored in the veggie bin.
Marly, yes, I like that look about the top scan.
I’ve grown oleanders for 40 some years and no one has been poisoned, and neither did my mother-in-law’s and my friend’s oleanders.
Yikes, about those daffodil bulbs! I’ve heard that some Chinese have been poisoned by daffodil bulbs that would be on sale in their produce markets looking like a food item. I would suggest never store (or sell) them anywhere near vegetables or other food.
The depth in these images, especially the first one, is really amazing.
Yes, my scanner is so amazing.