Among the hippeastrums I have grown so far, the species amaryllis H.papilio and H. aulicum v.robustum are the most diligent seed producers. However both need pollen from other gardeners amaryllis - self pollination simply fails. While H.aulicum v.rob. promiscuitely accepts the pollen from diploid species and hybrids as well as from tetraploid hybrids - and subsequently produces 80-120 seeds per pod, H.papilio tends to be more capricious and produces only chaff when pollinated with tetraploids (>100 seeds - but with a crippled - non viable - embryo) and sets rich seed but with the pollen from other diploids, for example up to 145 seeds when crossed with H.cybister "Chico". That was the greatest seed count I ever had the opportunity to experience. Some (diploid) species - and diploid hybrids (For example 'Giraffe' and 'Pink Floyd') - develop seed but very poorly. The just mentioned species amaryllis (H.cybister selection) 'Chico' produced seeds outdoors under my husbandry, after self pollination which had failed completely indoors on several occasions. So I was happy to observe these little Chico seed pods developing outdoors - and I did not care for that these tiny pods finally kept only 6 to 25 tiny seeds within (I had in wise forsightedness *g* self pollinated ENOUGH of these cybister blooms). The common mostly big blooming tetraploids are readily pollinated with themselves or among each other, and they yield typically 40 to 100 seeds per pod. It is sidereal hours if viable seeds are obtained from "impossible" crossings. One of this kind is the above mentioned crossing of H.papilio with pollen from "common" gardeners amaryllis. IF you finally find one or two viable seeds among the plenteously produced chaff you are holding potential treasures in your hands. H.papilio x 'Donau' href> href> click onto the th_ I regard the combining of H.papilio with the well known hybrids as the most rewarding hippeastrum breeding project. However this seems not so easy to be accomplished. I have not yet found any documentation of fhis kind of unification of "old" and "new" amaryllis. Hans-Werner

I'm interested in participating, but won't have seed for a while (most of mine are just now budding up). Also have some other bulbs on the way, so I can't say exactly what I'll have for seeding just yet. At the moment all I have setting seed is a White Dazzler x self, and I plan on using the seeds for experimentation with germination methods (unless someone wants some seeds from it). The cross I'd love to do the most but don't have the varieties would be a yellow variety crossed with RC's Grandeur. I adored Grandeur the moment I saw it :) And while I have a Grandeur on order, I have yet to acquire a yellow Hippy. Happy growing, Liltika

I'd say look for sprouts in 7-10 days, maybe less. It could take longer, but fresh seedlings sprout pretty quickly. Don't let the soil dry out. Seedlings like to be kept moist. K

I always make plans to try my hand at pollinating but never quite get around to it. So far nature has been kind, though, so I often just leave things outside. Sometimes I think I must have a particular insect pollinator specific to late fall, because for the last two years I've had seed on Griffinia as well. Only with the last few outdoor blooms of the fall though. At first I thought it was cross pollination between Griffinia species, but this year I got seeds when only one species was in bloom. The reticulatum striatifolium seed are unlike other amaryllids I've seen, so hopefully someone can help me out. It was very pretty when the capsule opened, orange on the inside with black seeds, and the color combination reminded me of a Korean sweetheart tree (Euscaphis).