Thursday, November 21, 2013

Favourite Plant of the Week - Schefflera aff. chapana

Year in year out, every autumn it rewards us with generous sprays of flowers and consequently loads of seeds. Although the flowers in itself are rather nondescript, much like the blooms you see typical of other araliads and the related hedera (although if flowering en-masse they could look good), the abundance of seeds that follow are very impressive.


Schefflera aff. chapana
Schefflera aff. chapana
Now if only we are good at starting plants from seeds! Not that we are incapable, it's just we've both come to terms that we both actually prefer plants  that are 'ready made' - if you may call it that rather than start small from seeds. We're impatient gardeners perhaps, hence a penchance for instant impact? True to some degree but issues with free time and adequate space also comes to play.


I have no doubt the seeds that it produces are viable. But as we haven't tried ourselves and yet want to encourage others who have this plant already to try growing it from seeds, it's best I quote a 'trust' head gardener that we had a chat with before who's had success with them...

I have yet to see any self seeders around the main plant but sown indoors they can come up like cress. Harvest when it looks ripe but before the first hard frosts arrive. Sow the tiny seeds in a very free draining seed potting mix of choice (pure vermiculite he uses) and leave it in a cold frame/unheated greenhouse/gently heated greenhouse (depending on your location) throughout winter. Lots will damp off but eventually you'll get a few to thrive.

Sounds a fine advice to me but I've heard other variations of this too with similar success. There are more ways to skin a cat as they say and seed growing gardeners are no exception to this saying.


Schefflera aff. chapana our plant came from Crug Farm

With so many seeds perhaps we ought try this advice ourselves, at least once?? 

I'll think about it. Or perhaps just peruse the new catalogues that will go out early next year and check availability...

We join Loree of Danger Garden for the Favourite Plant of the Week meme!

Mark :-)

21 comments :

  1. Certainly a great plant, you must be tempted to try and germinate? I'm like you, starting things from seeds is very hit and miss, cuttings are more my thing although for Schefflera I'd certainly have a go.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cuttings is a good way of propping it too, the only thing is material can be limited by how big and branched the mum plant is. The temptation is there but...

      Delete
  2. You are going to have to give it a go one of these days, just to say you have! Its a lovely plant.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We ought to really, especially it's just there for the picking!

      Delete
  3. How lovely the seeds are! How long do they persist on the plant?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The seeds can stay there most of the winter and by spring only the bare branches will be left. Would have been better if they self seed, saves on the effort :)

      Delete
  4. The seed pods are really cool looking on it. It would be worth trying a few and maybe have them for gifts to friends later.
    Cher Sunray Gardens

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ah the beauty of the Schefflera, especially nice cozied up to that palm. I doubt the international seed police are reading this so I feel safe in saying I passed on the seeds you gave me to a local nursery man, one who will have much better success (should there be success to have) than I would have. Also I love reading that you to prefer your plants "ready made"...I really wish I were seedier but I just don't have the patience, or the space.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad to hear that Loree, keep us updated how that goes. I know you're a fellow ready made plant preference gardener :) I think its a great thing as it supports nurseries who produce wonderful garden plants for us plant lovers to enjoy.

      Delete
  6. A very impressive plant! I've developed more and more respect for what I think of as after-flower special effects.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Indeed Kris, sometimes what's left behind after the bloom can be pretty in its own right too :)

      Delete
  7. This is a new plant for me - I'm just used to the Schefflera that is grown as a houseplant. I too rarely grow from seed - space is my problem. Years ago I used to grow most of my herbaceous from seed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Rosie, its great that more and more Scheffleras are coming out now that are proving hardy in the UK, at least in the south anyway. And you're right, the association tends to be these plants are house plants so it makes it even enjoyable to see types now that can be grown out in the garden.

      Delete
  8. Seed starting is tempting. I do a bit of it just to get some unusual annuals in quantity. You guys have a perfect environment for giving it a try, but so much on your plate already that there is no shame in opting for 'ready-made'. I'm a firm believer in: if it ain't fun, don't do it.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Mark, this is certainly a fertile schefflera! The dark seeds are beautiful! I am with you guys, growing plants from seeds is also not my cup of tea. It takes time, space, constant attention (not to much water, not to little) and patience. All that together is simply too much for me to come up with. There is only one exception: Sweet Peas. Even I can grow those ;-)!
    Christina

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Christina, you got it spot on too and we share exactly your sentiments as to why we prefer ready made plants. Plus it supports nurseries too :)

      But yes sweet peas is a good exception!

      Delete
  10. What a beauty. Anything with flowers at this time of year is precious. Maybe it will self seed and just get on with the business itself without too much human intervention :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wish it did Anna, and it would have been fun to weed out such exotic plant in the spring :)

      Delete
  11. What a beautiful plant! And it looks like the seeds are purple. Very pretty! I think I am going to join this group!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to reply to our post, we love reading comments and hearing your views.

Due to the increased level of spam, please note comments on older posts are moderated and only published after approval. All new comments are read and any spam is deleted.