Seeds: The good, the bad & the ugly
The Good: This is my favorite seed, that of ‘Duchess of Albany’ clematis. I love the color, the texture, and the shape of these tousled-hair seedheads. Don’t you just want to reach out and ruffle it?
The flowers that precede them are pretty, but I believe I enjoy the seeds even more.
Here’s the best of both worlds, with flowers and seedheads sharing space on the vine.
The Bad: Look at this bad boy that recently appeared in my garden in two places—poison ivy. I’d reached down to pull it up and almost had hold of it when I realized what it was. I yanked back my hand as if I’d almost grabbed a snake. (If you are fortunate enough to live where poison ivy does not occur, check out this site for pics of the rashes it can inflict on the unwary.) Why am I lumping it into my “seed” post? Well, it grew from seed, didn’t it? I certainly didn’t plant it. I expect it’s the birds’ fault. I’ll have to use Round-Up on this bad seed.
The Ugly: The seedpods of the Texas mountain laurel (Sophora secundiflora ) win the ugly contest. These tan pods—soon to turn black—result from the gorgeous, purple flower clusters that appear in March.
Here’s a reminder of how pretty they were in spring. They scent the whole garden with a smell of grape Kool-Aid.
The actual seeds inside are lovely—kernels colored bright red, as if to warn you how toxic they are. Children must be taught never to put one in their mouth, as it could mean death.
But the lumpy seedpods certainly do not entice, and they win the ugly seed contest in my garden.
I can’t leave you with “the ugly,” so here’s something lovely I grew from seed: moonflower vine (Ipomoea alba ). The flowers on this annual vine open at dusk, scenting the garden with sweetness. First they appear like unicorn horns, the long, spiraling buds promising a sundown show.
You can almost watch them unfurl into these palm-sized, silken flowers. In another month or so, the vine will set seed in little, brown husks, easy to collect for next year.
All material © 2006-2008 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
I like the bud of the moonflower – tropical hibiscus swirl in that way as well. Very pretty even before they unwrap into bloom.
Isn’t it great when the bud is as fascinating as the flower? —Pam
Poison ivy seems to grow everywhere. I have it in my garden, too, occasionally. I put an old plastic bag from the store over my hand, pull the ivy out, and then wrap the ivy up in the bag and toss it. So far, I’ve not gotten a rash from doing that, but I don’t have a big infestation. And I agree those Texas mountain laurel seed pods are in sharp contrast to the beautiful flowers they once were. Between those poisonous seeds and the poison ivy, we do have to teach little ones that there is great beauty in a garden, but danger, too.
Thanks for the poison ivy–pulling tip. I’ll have to try that after my next watering day, when the ground is soft. —Pam
Whoops I was going to say those seedpods have got to have a second life as a crafting item! Maybe kids could paint them, attach pipe cleaners and make giant ants or caterpillars!! Then I saw your note about them being poison. So maybe not.
They do look craft-able, don’t they? But since they contain toxic seeds, it’s best not to make them seem like fun to kids. Mine love to play with rocks best, anyway. —Pam
Love your photos. Question from your experience w/your Texas Mountain Laurel. How tall is it, and how long did it take to grow that tall? I have one 6-inches tall that I’ve grown from seed. I was curious how long it might take it to become a nice little shrub rather than a shrub wannabee.
Thanks,
Rick R.
http://www.mostlytexasnatives.com/
Hi, Rick. This tree is about 9 feet tall. I planted it from a 3-gallon pot around 2001, I’d say. Because it’s in my front garden, it has gotten regular water and therefore grown pretty fast for a Texas mountain laurel. I have another one in a lonely part of my back yard that I have never watered, and it’s only about 4 feet tall, but it actually has a better form, not having put on all that lanky, fast growth. —Pam
Nice seeds! I was just looking at my Mountain laurels trying to decide who’s eating them and thought how interesting the seed pods are. The Clematis seed head is so pretty – almost as pretty as the flower itself!
I didn’t notice any caterpillars on my mountain laurels this year. Did you, Diana? Usually I handpick a bunch of them in late spring or early summer. But this year? Nothing. And no webworms on other trees either. Interesting, huh? —Pam
Love the clematis seed head, that is the coolest! I just looked online for chemical-free poison ivy control and this link seems to say that RoundUp doesn’t work: http://poisonivy.aesir.com/view/control.html
Good luck, that doesn’t sound like a fun one!
Thanks for the additional poison ivy link, Karen. It seems to say that Round-Up will work, but it usually takes more than one application. Still, not using chemicals is best, if possible. I’ll try Carol’s method, discussed in her comment above, to see if I can pull it up before I go nuclear. —Pam
When I first saw the leaves, I thought “leaves of three leave it be” or “Berries of white, danger in sight”. Poison Ivy I thought. Never saw the big brown bags or the red seeds when I lived in Texas. It’s pretty but I sure wouldn’t pick it up. Altogether a very good post & pretty pics. Even the poison ones.
Thanks, Lola. I’ve heard “leaves of three, let it be” also, but never the one about berries. To clarify, the brown seed pods and red seeds are from the Texas mountain laurel, not poison ivy. —Pam
Clematis has some of the best seed heads in the garden. Perfect for wind dispersion. Too bad Poison Ivy is so toxic to many of us, it is loved by birds and colors up beautifully each fall! Pam, the Moonflower looks like I can reach up and take a sniff of tis marvelous fragrance. Gail
The birds will have to find other feasts in my garden. That poison ivy has got to go! But ah, moonflower vine is lovely and smells so good, doesn’t it? —Pam
As always, lovely pictures and informative text. Thanks for the great Poison Ivy picture. It’s coming up in many places in my NE Alabama garden and I keep wondering – how does it get here? Is it really Poison Ivy? Now I know for sure.
My brother-in-law helped me clear along the edge of the woods bordering the back of my property so that I can see into the trees. Unfortunately, about half the cleared length now has poison ivy growing in it. It likes to come up in disturbed ground from what I’ve read.
Birds eat the berries, Barbara, and spread poison ivy wherever they visit your garden afterward. It doesn’t hurt them at all, which I find interesting. I’m sorry to hear about your stretch of poison ivy. I hope you can eradicate it over time. Vigilance is the key, I think. —Pam
That seed head of the clematis is very pretty and as you say almost prettier than the flower. Are you sure that is poison ivy? It looks a little different from the usual leaf shape but maybe there are variations to the leaf that I am not aware of. I’d better watch out.
It sure looks like poison ivy to me, but I’d love to be wrong. I’m not willing to touch it to find out though. —Pam
I had no idea Clematis was that beautiful; it definitely needs to be on my list. However, I have to admit I find the mountain laurel seeds rather interesting, not ugly at all. The strong shape hanging from the glossy leaves…I kinda like it! Robin
Those mountain laurel seedpods are certainly unique. I wondered whether anyone would say they liked them. I have to admit they look better now than when they blacken. —Pam
I thought the TX Mountain Laurel seed pods were peanuts when I first glanced at the seedpods. They don’t look so bad one clump at a time but when you see them all hanging on the tree it sure isn’t very attractive. No wonder you don’t like them. That red of the seed sure is striking though.
I love that red seed too, Lisa. —Pam
Those clematis flowers and seedpods are indeed quite striking, and a welcome sight in my garden!
Actually I think the seedpods of the Texas mountain laurel (at least from your pictures, as I have never seen them in real) are quite lovely. I like the smooth tan shell and the way the pods are like a beads on a necklace. It has a simple, sculptural shape that hangs elegantly. Maybe it doesn’t look so good in the context of your style of garden, but I can imagine it fitting in mine, the same way I found some very bright flower colors, which look fabulous in our bright tropical light, quite garish in the duller light of the North.
You describe them so nicely you almost make me like those seedpods, Nicole. Almost. 😉 —Pam
Very interesting to see and read about Pam. I think I like the hairy one best too. It is strange that the nature in several times makes seeds who is dangerous to eat not only for us humans. But they seem to survive anyway.
Nice pictures as always.
Ken
They survive just fine without us, don’t they? I’m glad you enjoyed the pics. Thanks for popping by, Ken. —Pam
I’m another one who likes the Texas Mountain Laurel seed pods – I like contrast in the garden, and they certainly provide it. They are so unusual, at least to this mid-Atlantic gardener, that they’d make me stop and take a second and probably third look. I like that. The clematis seeds are lovely, and I agree, better than the flower. Isn’t it wonderful that we can have these other lovely things to delight us and not just the flowers? Oh, and I’d say that’s definitely poison ivy. On our half acre, we have it all over the place, and two plants growing a foot apart can look very different. I think you are wise to be very cautious.
Thanks for the confirmation on the poison ivy, Kim. You are right that it can assume several different guises, the sneaky thing. I appreciate too your enthusiasm for those odd mountain laurel seedpods. I’ll have to look at them with a fresh eye to see if I’ve been too hard on them. —Pam
I just spent a little time researching the poison ivy and I think I’d better watch out. Apparently the leaf can take on several different shapes. I had always thought it had the mitten shape with a small lobe on the lower part of the leaf. I am glad to have discovered that it masquerades in many forms.
There’s a poison ivy poster at my kids’ doctor’s office that shows the different guises of this nasty plant. It can look pretty different depending on location and circumstances. Tricky, eh? —Pam
Maybe the seedpods look good when one cluster is seen in closeup, but I’ll vote ‘ugly’ with you, Pam, once you step back and see trees so covered in dull clusters that you can barely see the foliage. I’ve also heard this shrubby tree called “Mescal Bean”, reflecting its place in the pea and bean family. [used to be Leguminosae but looks like Fabaceae and/or Papilionaceae are also in the running].
Sorry about the poison ivy! I’ve had terrible experiences with it both in Illinois and in Texas and hope you can get rid of it safely.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
I hope so too, Annie. Then again, I’m moving soon. 😉 —Pam
I think they’re both interesting, if in opposite ways. The clematis is engaging and delicate, looking even better up close than from far away. The laurel, is big, bold and not at all subtle, or delicate. I rather like the way they hang so robustly and with such fearless fecundity, hiding that deep red seed in a dull brown coat.
Wow, Nancy, what a ribald description. 😉 I’m more intrigued by these seedpods than ever. —Pam
I liked the clematis seed head – it’s a new look for me but then clematis always surprises. Now I have 3 competing for my favorite – “Radar Love”, Wild Clematis (Old Man’s Beard) and now your ‘Duchess of Albany’
The seedpods of the Texas mountain laurel are just ugly enough to make them really interesting. I wouldn’t mind them growing here if only they would.
‘Radar Love’ intrigues me based on the name alone. I hope you can grow all three, Wiseacre, as I know you can’t grow the Texas mountain laurel up in New York. —Pam
Hi Pam, is there any use at all for the seed pods of the Texas Mtn Laurel? Or the seeds? I thought them very unusual, pretty in a way. The poison ivy, I dealt with that in N.C. running up a tree & it about 3/4 inches around. That’s some Bad stuff either way you look at it.
The seeds are pretty, but I don’t know what you’d do with them besides plant them. Yikes, 3/4 inch poison ivy vines sound very scary. —Pam