Please point me to the place where I can get information on what to do with my sweet shrub seed pods.
This is a first for me and I need some guidance. Pulled them today (three different varieties) and they are really wet but the thinner ones in the container on the far right (tag blew off in storm so I do not know the name) are showing signs of the seeds beginning to want to come out the tops. Really nice looking seeds.

I do know the ones on the far left are Michael Lindsey and one of the others is a Venus, but those are two I am not sure of.

All I can remember is the seeds need stratification - 4 months of cold I think.

I will correct myself:
They should be placed in damp sphagnum moss and kept in a plastic bag or plastic container in the refrigerator for 3 -4 months. Then plant in good quality soil (a plastic bag tent to keep the humidity up) and you should have good luck.

[I still want to know what gardeners did before plastic was invented.]
[Or refrigerators!]

I should add that the time the seeds spent on the plant out in the cold and damp does count toward the total time needed for stratification.

I only have the one type with the lime green flowers which I received from a generous seed swapper (who actually works for the USDA). [Edited to add: the lime green variety is called 'Athens' and has a different smell/aroma.]

The plant is also called 'sweet bubby' by some people in the south. Before deodorant was invented, women would place a blossom of 'sweet bubby' inside their blouse so they would smell good at church.

When I was a little girl we had a sweet shrub at our farm.....very big and tall and wide and just full of those wonderful little flowers. It was my job daily to get Grandma a shrub to tie in her linen handkerchief for her pocket. This went on for many years and that is why I decided I wanted my kids to remember me when they look at my sweet shrubs. I am now 85 and holding. I have three and the most fragrant one is Michael Lindsey.


Thank you so much Greene for your information. I thought I was on the right track but I was leaning toward Winter Sowing instead of the refrig. What do you think about that?

I would hedge my bet: winter sow some, use the frig method for some, and send some to a really experienced gardener (not me) with their promise to return a portion of those which successfully germinate. Ooh, it's getting too late at night for me to be using big words. G'night.

I just realized I said 'hedge my bet' while talking about a shrub, sorry, no pun intended.

---- Dr. Norm Deno: seed collected in January germinated 84-87% at 70F in second week and 81-93% in third day with 3 months cold conditioning prior to 70F using fresh seed or dry seed stored for 6 months at 40F or 70F.
--- Dr. Michael Dirr: mature seeds planted while seed coat is still soft germinate 90% within 3 weeks. Dried seed with bullet hard seedcoats planted, germinated 1%. 3 months cold stratification (cold conditioning) is recommended. He speculates it is the probably the hard seedcoat, rather than internal seed dormancy that delays germination.

So you could try weakening the seedcoat with sandpaper to allow for water absorption, and I'll bet you have good results.

My exprience:
I've sprouted seed of Calycanthus floridus and C. fertilis. Here in Minnesota, if I get them planted in the fall, and overwinter outside, they sprout in late spring the following year. I've planted dried seed from Athens twice, once in early January.. the other in early Feb. Both soaked for a day and planted inside for a week , then finish the winter outside. Both sprouted in the second spring.

This information is extremely helpful. First I need to get those seeds out of the pods and into some colder conditions. Then I have time to decide what to do. Thanks so much for your help. I will try my best, but I am a cuttings propagator and seeds just never seem to like to grow for me. Have a wonderful day and Rick and Greene, you are really helpful to an old lady.

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