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Syneilesis palmata |
 |
| | see how cute the young seedling is? |
| Common name |
palmate umbrella plant |
| Family |
asteraceae |
| Life cycle |
perennial (Z5-8) |
| Flowers |
white (summer) |
| Size |
15" |
| Light |
part-full shade |
| Cultural notes |
ordinary soil (drough-tolerant) |
From seed  |
germinate at room temperature
detailed seed-starting info below
|
| Seed ripens | mid-October |
15" tall stalks topped with umbrella-shaped divided leaves. Silky new growth in spring. In summer, fuzzy white flowers. Distinctly different. We grew it from seed a few years ago, and even as seedlings they're a curiosity. The second year, we got to witness that silky new growth - almost like a Q-tip emerging from the soil. The third year growth was much stronger, and one of the plants bloomed. By year four, the nice full display above was attained - an asset to our shade garden! Plants emerge cautiously in mid to late April, then quickly grow to their full stature.
|
| | In its third year, an odd bud... |
| 
| | ...growing into a splattering of pinkish, odd-looking flowers |
|
| Seed set is tricky for this genus - I've received packets full of duds even from society seed exchanges. It appears that the plants are only very seldom self-fertile, and require neighboring flowering plants to produce seed. I collected two viable seeds the first year I had flowers (on just one plant), but lots more the next year, when more plants bloomed. Once you've seen them, the blimp-shaped seeds are easy to recognize and distinguish from the flattish, floppy duds that are produced in profusion.
|
| | Seedhead, collected in late November |
| 
| | Fat seeds |
| 
| | Lots of floppy duds |
|
In our garden, this plant grows in the following areas: side garden, shade garden, patio area, orchard nursery area Seed for this plant is included on my seed trade list About my plant portraits
Visitors to this page have left the following comments| Susan Johnston | Dec 04, 2005 | Your site does not mention, but I'm curious to know if these plants go dormant in warm weather? I bought a tiny plant last year, but when it warmed up, it "went away" I prefer to call it. Any comment is welcome.
I've not had enough experience with this plant yet to say for sure, but you may be right - I haven't actually noticed the plant from mid-summer onward. |
- Seed from '03 trade. Baggy 70F (50%G, 9-21d)-35F (5 wks)-70F (2 wks - no further G).
- Same seed as above. Baggy 70F (no G in 23d. moldy)
- Seed from '06 garden. Baggy 70F (100%G, 8-19d)
- Seed from '07 garden. Baggy 70F (53%G, 8-18d)
Apparently the seed has low long-term viability. Our plants set very few viable seeds, surrounded by lots of somewhat convincing duds. Only the really plump, blimp-shaped ones are really seeds. I've received trades, and even society seed exchange lots, with nothing but duds.
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Last modified:
February 18, 2008
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