Liquid Amber seeds in Sydney

Homer911 · Post by **Homer911** » May 27th, 2015, 9:43 am

Anyone in the Sydney region know anywhere in the st. George area where I can collect liquid amber seeds?

Thanks in advance,
Regards
Steven

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Post by **kcpoole** » May 27th, 2015, 9:48 am

No but there is plenty around Norwest and Baulko

Just drive around and look for the red/ orange street trees.

Ken

shibui · Post by **shibui** » May 27th, 2015, 2:59 pm

I've never tried liquidamber seed. I'm sure they must grow from seed in their natural habitat but I cannot remember seeing a liquidamber seedling in a garden or roadside here - ever. Lots of maple seedlings, lots of Chinese elm seedlings but not Liquidamber. Does that mean we grow sterile varieties? Does it mean our conditions are not correct to get seedlings? Or something else?
Note that liquidamber produce root suckers quite a lot so when you see small ones under a tree these are nearly always suckers growing from the roots. English elm is another of these trees. Lots of suckers from the roots and they produce loads of seed but rarely self seed.

Has anyone ever grown liquidamber or English elm from seed?

On the + side liquidamber is reasonably easy to strike as cuttings and, because the roots sucker I assume they should also strike as root cuttings.

Naimul · Post by **Naimul** » May 27th, 2015, 4:08 pm

not sure where to find them around that area.
i have tried to grow some seeds (purchased from ebay as well as from pods from street trees) but havnt had any success yet, though i would pass that down to inexperience on my part. i just dumped a packet of seeds ive been holding on since last winter from a street tree into some pots, hoping something will sprout if the seeds are still viable.

bonborn · Post by **bonborn** » May 27th, 2015, 4:15 pm

I have my front yard full of liquidamber seeds. Those spiky ball things. When they dry out fully it opens up and releases the seeds inside. The previous owners simply piled them in one corner. Not once have i seen these germinate. However the suckers are thriving. 3 in the ground so far. Later on the suckers develop their own roots and become independent. That is the time to dig them out.

xIIRevoEvoS · Post by **xIIRevoEvoS** » May 27th, 2015, 7:26 pm

kcpoole wrote:No but there is plenty around Norwest and Baulko
Just drive around and look for the red/ orange street trees.

Ken

Must agree, NorthShore has tonnes of matured LA on the street and main road.

Homer911 · Post by **Homer911** » May 28th, 2015, 8:02 pm

Actually found a large LA just at the end of my street!! Picked up some pods on the way home today.

What are suckers??

Any suggestions with planting? Now should be a good time shouldn't it ?

I was thinking of planting in 50/50 sand/organic potting soil.

How many seeds should I place in each hole?

Should I keep in a propagator or maybe inside?

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shibui · Post by **shibui** » May 28th, 2015, 9:34 pm

Suckers are shoots that grow from the roots. They look like seedlings or little trees growing around the base of a tree. When you dig on you will find that they are attached to the roots of the tree.

Post by **kcpoole** » May 28th, 2015, 11:21 pm

I put 2 in each hole as some will not germinatte.
I keep mine outside in the sun thru winter / spring/
Pot up late winter.
I use propagating sand and peat, but anything should be fine.

Ken

Homer911 · Post by **Homer911** » May 29th, 2015, 12:02 am

Cheers guys appreciate the info. What about soaking? Should I soak for 48hrs before sowing?

Anything else I should know about these golden nuggets? : )

Raging Bull · Post by **Raging Bull** » April 17th, 2018, 6:10 pm

Hi Homer,
I only just came across this thread. Here's what I've learned about L.A. seeds from a bit of research and personal experience. By the time those spiky seed pods are brown they have opened up and dropped all their seeds, so it's too late.

I have found that even some still green seed pods I have found on the ground had already dispersed all their seeds. The little bits that fall out when you shake the opened seed pods are only chaff.
A couple of days ago I picked some green seed pods that are still closed from a tree in my sister's garden in the Adelaide Hills. Others on the ground under the same tree were already open and empty, even though they were still green. I'm taking the seed pods home and will leave them in a paper bag until they open and will plant whatever I get from them to try and germinate.

If I get a result from them I'll post it.
Cheers,
Frank

itsfullofstars · Post by **itsfullofstars** » May 17th, 2018, 10:06 pm

shibui wrote:I've never tried liquidamber seed. I'm sure they must grow from seed in their natural habitat but I cannot remember seeing a liquidamber seedling in a garden or roadside here - ever. Lots of maple seedlings, lots of Chinese elm seedlings but not Liquidamber. Does that mean we grow sterile varieties? Does it mean our conditions are not correct to get seedlings? Or something else?
Note that liquidamber produce root suckers quite a lot so when you see small ones under a tree these are nearly always suckers growing from the roots. English elm is another of these trees. Lots of suckers from the roots and they produce loads of seed but rarely self seed.

Has anyone ever grown liquidamber or English elm from seed?

On the + side liquidamber is reasonably easy to strike as cuttings and, because the roots sucker I assume they should also strike as root cuttings.

I am growing a liquidambar from seed. Too easy to germinate. Dont need months of stratification. I think it took 1 week in warm moist paper towel.

Like London plane, I have never seen liquidambar seedlings growing in streets.. Both these trees produce gazillions of seeds each year but nothing ever grows. However, in a controlled environment they grow from seed so easily.

Matthew · Post by **Matthew** » May 17th, 2018, 11:07 pm

My two liquid amber trees produce seedlings each year. Im forever pulling them out. Ive had several growing in the other side of the garden a good 40 metres from the trees. Ill get pics

AusBonsai