Most plant species make small embryos that dry out just after they reach maturity. This Dry-Seed Habit vastly increases the dispersal of progeny in time and space. Even seeds with floatation devices usually contain dry embryos inside.

Buckeye seeds often exceed 2 cm in diameter and within their thin seed coat is an embryo with enormous cotyledons. Cotyledons are the embryo organs which store energy and other goodies for seedling growth before root systems and photosynthesis can sustain the seedling. They are in fact so large that they die from mechanical damage if allowed to dry out. During their lengthy development inside their 'dry' fruit, a thick leathery capsule wall prevents water loss. But when the capsule opens and the mature seed inside fall to the ground there is a race between certain death by water loss and possible life by burying. If buried, root growth and sometimes shoot growth start even though winter is just a month away. It is very strange to see robust shoots with several expanding leaves erupting from newly-planted seed just weeks before they lose their leaves and become dormant for the winter. Other plants have similar seed habits, especially trees with true nuts (acorns) or pseudo-nuts (pecan, walnut). Larger cotyledons allow faster seedling establishment in hostile environments, but it requires longer development time on the plant (with an increased risk of predation), probably making fewer seed per season, predation of the buried seed (tasty cotyledons remain in the buried seed), and at some embryo size the abandonment of the Dry-Seed Habit.

So this is the reason their seed are not usually available for sale. The exact time that seed mature and the number of seed cannot be predicted, the seed cannot be stored for more than a few weeks, they must be protected during shipping, and the client must plant them immediately upon arrival.

So of course we try to do it and we invite you to participate. We have seed of three species of SouthEast Buckeyes: Aesculus parviflora (Bottlebrush Buckeye); Aesculus pavia var. pavia (Red Buckeye); and Aesculus sylvatica (Painted Buckeye). For each species, there is a limit of three packets of seed for 10.00 USD per packet per species. There will be at least seven seed in each packet and all of them should germinate this autumn with reasonable care. The standard 2.00 USD shipping fee per order will be charged regardless of the number of packets of Buckeye or other seed in your order.



Image by Wayne Hughes ©SparkleberrySprings.com