Grow American barrenwort from seed by sowing the seed as soon as it is ripe and never letting it dry. Set the pot in a cold frame through winter. Division of a garden rhizome is faster if you already have a clump.
Sow the seed as soon as it is ripe, and never let it dry
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Freshness | Sow the same day the follicle is ready, usually from midsummer | Do not let the seed sit bone dry on a shelf |
| Depth | Press it onto moist mix and barely cover it | Do not bury the seed deep |
| Winter cold | Leave a moist pot in a cold frame or an unheated place through winter | Do not keep the pot in a hot room and expect a quick crop |
| Time | Wait until the next spring; sprouting often starts in March and runs into May | Do not throw the pot out after one quiet month |
American barrenwort comes from small black seed inside a follicle. Collect it when the pods have browned, and sow it the same day. Press it onto moist, well-drained mix and barely cover it. If you cannot sow at once, keep the seed slightly moist in a sealed bag of mix — dry storage is what kills it. [1] Set the pot in a cold frame, or leave it in an unheated place through winter so the seed gets cold. Keep the mix just moist, never bone dry and never sitting in a saucer of water. [2] See How to Grow American Barrenwort for the grown plant. Do not collect seed from wild stands; use a garden plant or a nursery packet. [3]
- Collect the seed when the follicle is brown, usually from midsummer, and sow it the same day.
- Press it onto moist mix and barely cover it. If you must wait, keep the seed slightly moist, never bone dry.
- Set the pot in a cold frame, or in an unheated place, and keep the mix just moist through winter.
- Wait until spring. Seedlings may show from March into May. Leave the pot for a second spring before you give up.
How deep do I sow American barrenwort seed?
Barely cover it. Press ripe seed into moist mix and do not bury it.
Divide a rhizome in spring or fall, and replant it the same day
If you already have a garden clump, you can split a piece of rhizome instead of waiting on seed. Lift a mature clump in early spring or in fall and cut it so each piece has at least one bud and some roots. Plants from those pieces settle faster than seed. [4] Replant the same day, at the same depth it grew, in a shady, moist, humus-rich bed. Space the pieces as you would a nursery plant, water them in, and mulch with leaves. A moved piece may sit still for a season. Do not divide a small plant, and do not dig American barrenwort from the woods.
- Wait until early spring or fall, on a clump that can spare a piece.
- Lift the rhizome and cut it so each piece has at least one bud and some roots.
- Replant at once, at the same depth it grew, in a shady, moist, humus-rich bed.
- Water it in, mulch with leaves, and leave it alone while it settles.
Is division faster than seed?
Yes. A rhizome piece is already a plant, while seed may take a year in a pot. Use division on a mature garden clump, not a wild stand.
If the seed never comes up, it probably dried out, or the pot missed winter cold. Next time sow it the day the follicle is ready and keep that mix moist.
FAQ
Can I store American barrenwort seed?
Only briefly, and never bone dry. If you cannot sow the same day, keep the seed slightly moist in a sealed bag of potting mix and sow it as soon as you can.
Why didn't the seed come up?
It probably dried out, or it did not get winter cold. Leave the pot for a second spring before you give up.
Can I grow it from a stem cutting?
No. American barrenwort grows from a rhizome. Raise it from fresh seed, or divide a garden clump in spring or fall.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center -
https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=VAHE - [2] Royal Horticultural Society -
https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/18751/vancouveria-hexandra/details - [3] Washington Native Plant Society -
https://www.wnps.org/native-plant-directory/432:vancouveria-hexandra - [4] Oregon State University -
https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/vancouveria-hexandra
This note is part of Vancouveria Guides.
More notes on making another plant live in Propagating Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors