skip to main content

Australian Native Plants

Blackboy - Grass Tree propagation from seed

21 years ago

Hi,

I have just been given 10 fresh Blackboy "Xanthorrhoea Preisii" seeds. I would like to propagate the seeds unfortunately I have no idea how to go about it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Vicki1655

Featured Answer

funnelweb

12 years ago

I agree with Jane, I have 2 xanthorrhoea's that send up spike of flowers every year - they've been in approx. 10 years. The flower spikes feed the lorrikeets and when the flowering is over I usually have to cut the spike off at the base and leave it lie on the garden by the plants. After a month or two the seedling spring up from the fallen stems and, well, I have to pull them up as I do weeds! (see photo),

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (12)

danili
21 years ago
I hope you are patient. They can take 20 years to develop stems and longer to flower, that is why they are expensive. Propogation by seeds in a coarse free draining mix is fine in spring or autumn.
kearnage
21 years ago
I've had a X quadrangulata flower after approx. 7 years from seed. That's not much longer than for many Banksias from seed, and much better than digging them out of the bush and subjecting them to a lingering death.
A little patience is very rewarding with Xanthorrhoea, go for it. They are not difficult with fresh seed and don't usually need any special treatment.
Also, try a search of the forum past posts. These chaps seem to be the subject of every tenth post or so...
Related Discussions
Propagation of Sycamore tree by seed
Q
Comments (4)
Additionally, are the seed part actually the little fuzzy things on the outside of the ball or is it inside the ball? I dissected one but the inside seemed to be solid kind of like a nut.
...See More
propagation from a lemon seed? needed fast
Q
Comments (3)
Nope! Citrus cannot be propagated by leaf cuttings. Why don't see why you can buy from seed. Also, smaller trees are available for a lot less money. Try ebay. I have purchased a number of citrus from ebay merchants over the years. Just got a 3 foot Orange tree for around $30 (which is about what I am willing to pay for one of similar size when they are sold in local nurseries in the Spring). You can get them much smaller as well and will end up paying much less when it comes to shipping (which is sometimes QUITE considerable). Well tended to, citrus grew reasonably fast so a small plant is not a bad idea. Good luck!
...See More
How to propagate Michelia Champaca, and Alba from seeds?
Q
Comments (8)
M. alba I believe is normally propagated by grafting (onto M. champaca I think). Don't know whether this is due to the difficulty of propagating from seed or growing from cuttings, or whether the alba doesn't come true from seed. Possibly all of the above. M. champaca is grown on its own rootstock and is not too difficult to grow from seed, provided the seed is fresh enough and the temperature is warm enough. I tried numerous times to grow it from ebay-bought seed but had always sowed them in spring or early summer, when nights can still occasionally be fresh. (I don't have a heat mat.) It was only when I sowed seed in mid-summer, when night temperatures hover around 20-20 deg C (about 70 deg F) that they germinated. So they need 24-hour warmth (ie no cool nights), and humidity (I misted them with water and covered with plastic) to germinate. I believe that the champaca DOES come true from seed. Unless, perhaps, there are other species of michelia in the vicinity with which it has hybridised ...
...See More
cabbage palm propagation from seed help?
Q
Comments (3)
Definitely wait for them to be as ripe as possible. Falling off of the tree ripe is the best. Clean them. Clean them well. Any fruit left on the seed will cause rotting. Soak your seed in warm water for two days. Change the water after 24 hours. They will germinate in a pot. However most palm seeds like temperatures in the low 90s for germination. Since the heat isn't on in your house, a garage or even attic would be good. On top of a computer monitor, cable box, refridgerator (unless the compressor is at the bottom), anything else in your house that puts off heat would be ideal. Keep your growing medium moist, but not too moist. If they are in a pot, put plastic wrap over the pot. Check on them every few days. If your seeds are fresh and you prepared them properly you should have GREAT SUCCESS!!!! Also try the search function on this forum. many questions for first time palm growers have been asked before. Good luck!!!
...See More
Vicki1655
Original Author
21 years ago
Thank you Danili & Kearnage,
I have heaps of patients when it comes to growing plants, I have all sorts of things growing from seeds that are long term. Mostly I do it just to see firstly if I can do it & then to watch them grow bit by bit & I enjoy getting to know the plant.

I can't believe the little that is written on the blackboys, I'm off to our local forestery commission to find out what info they have on them.
Cheers
Vicki
Jane_23
21 years ago
Fresh seed usually germinates within 12 months but it could take longer and, in this politically correct climate, they are now referred to as grasstrees or xanthorrhea not blackboys. :)
AmeliaLouisa
12 years ago
I am awaiting my seeds to arrive, desperate to get started on them but looking now into how to get those seeds growing into beautiful plants.

thanks for the tips given on here
funnelweb
12 years ago
By the way, mine are seed grown and haven't yet put on stems below the leaves. Both have multiplied their heads and are not quite as attractive as when they had single stems - what they really need is a good fire through them. Alternatively cutting way back, but I reckon fire is better, it's more natural for them. Also, a purchased 'bush' collected specimen (anything up to $200 plus) by a licensed collector, can take up to 2 years to die: they can be transplanted but care needs to be taken to disturb the roots as little as possible.
B.
tropicbreezent
12 years ago
There's quite a few different species of Xanthorrhoea (only one in the genus Kingia), and they come from all sorts of climates and conditions. Some don't ever form trunks, others get quite tall. I've seen large ones for sale in the thousands of dollars, but I reckon they're most likely dead now. Seeds and patience are the surest way to go.
HU-601577613
7 years ago
Hey funnelweb, any chance you have photographs of what the seedlings look like when they are first growing please? Can’t seem to find any anywhere...?
tete_a_tete
7 years ago
I believe they look a bit like grass, but it would be very nice to see a photo.
tete_a_tete
7 years ago
My comment above could be misinterpreted I reckon. I mean that newly sprouted grass trees look like grass.
HU-138801538
7 years ago
Just received an order of grasstree and kingia , going to try them out Florida, USA. I too would like a pic of the seedlings, funnel, so I know what's not a weed..,

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES How to Plant a New Lawn From Seed

By J. Peterson Garden Design

Choose from more grass varieties and save money over sod by starting your lawn from seed

GARDENING GUIDES 10 Top California Native Plants, Trees and Grasses

By Debbie Ballentine

Enjoy a fuss-free, water-wise garden in the Golden State by growing plants naturally in tune with the climate and wildlife

WINTER GARDENING Inspiring Winter Scenes From the Denver Botanic Gardens

Use seed heads, bare branches and grasses to design lovely garden displays when the ground is frozen

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Purple Needle Grass, California’s State Grass

By Debbie Ballentine

The long-lived, drought-tolerant Stipa pulchra is as admired for its benefits as for its good looks

GRASSES 10 Ways to Use Ornamental Grasses in the Landscape

By Laura Gaskill

These low-maintenance plants can add beauty, texture and privacy to any size garden

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Tree: The Dove Tree

By Annie Thornton

With distinctive fluttery flowers and a height that towers over the landscape, the dove tree provides a respite from the summer sun

GARDENING GUIDES How to Keep Your Trees Healthy

By Falon Mihalic

Ensure your trees’ vigor for years to come with these tips for protecting roots, watering effectively and more

RED FOLIAGE Great Design Plant: Japanese Blood Grass

This dramatic, ruby-tinged grass bridges the gap between red and green, short and tall plants

GARDENING GUIDES 8 Spectacular Grasses to Energize a Fall Garden

By J. Peterson Garden Design

Dancing in the autumn wind or flowing along a flower bed, these ornamental grasses bring wonderful movement and color to the landscape

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Old School Green Design: Add Texture With Grass

Ornamental grasses capture the breeze and ripple like water in the landscape

Sponsored

River Mill Construction

2 Reviews

Delaware County's Customer Focused General Contractor