I collected a bunch by pulling them off the tree from the past season. soaked a day to twist them out of husk. Put all the beans in a container with some water for a couple days then I took a hand electric drill with a small drill maybe 1/8th or less about .094 and carefully held it by hand its back on the table on a cloth and drilled the belly button a bit till you start getting nervous you may break through and then stop. then soak them in water and they will germinate and send out the white shute in less than 24 hours. I did that as a test with 6 and ALL popped out the white first shute at exactly the same time about 24 hours of soaking in water with about 1/4th hydrogen peroxide the standard trick to germinate seeds. I will do a video in next days but getting ready to go to work in LA for an event. but yes ive seen the videos filing etc--its FAR easier to simply cautiously drill the belly button a bit
I came across one in New Orleans, collected seeds, planted those seeds, and a year later…nothing. Then, one sprouted. A rat nicked the hull. You have to take a metal file, and put a nick in the thick hull. Thanks rat. It’s the toughest plant. Five years old, and it’s only a foot high, because I neglected it.
Thanks for your video. The Texas Mountain Laurel is a beautiful plant and one that the cutter ants here in South Texas seem to leave alone. What people may need to know is that the seeds are highly poisonous. So if you have small children or grandkids (that tend to put things in their mouths) you need to beware. The flowers, however, are lovely and about the closest thing we have where I live that comes close to resembling the wysteria. I am trying a new technique for starting seeds... I used my vice grip locking pliers, set to where it would apply just enough pressure to crack the outer shell without damaging the seed inside. It was a lot easier than trying to scar it with sandpaper or a rasp. I'll see in a few weeks if it worked.
@@npsotclearlake most of the seeds are already sprouting and it's been only a few days! The others are quite swollen and look like they are ready to sprout. I am thrilled! These are seeds that recently fell from my existing plant. [[Update 3/28/22, some sprouts are now visible above the soil. The first green shoots. :-) ]] The key is to apply pressure with the vice grips just enough to crack the shell without crushing the insides. Because the vice grips is adjustable, that was not difficult. I found this method much easier than using a file or rasp. I'm glad I thought of it. I wonder if anyone else has ever tried it?
How do I plant Texas mountain laurel in heavy clay soil . I'm afraid my clay soil will hold too much moisture during rainy season . How do I amend my soil for planting. I'm in suburb east of Houston tx
I’m in northern Manitoba Canada. I’m going to plant some of these. I’m wondering if it will take being frozen for 6months at a time in winter. Or am I going to need to keep it indoors
Have you tried planting the seeds when the pods are still green or half way grey before seeds harden and turn red? Have tried to plant but no success yet. Thanks
I just got some seeds hoping to grow this beautiful flowering tree in Indiana ( zone 5) , my concern is the snow and the freezing temperatures it gets in winter, so my question is how many years should I keep it in the pot to bring it inside before it's strong enough to take the freezing temperatures? Thanks for the information.
Good question. Texas Mountain Laurel is hardy down to 5 degrees F (-15 C), but we don't deal with snow or extended periods of freezing temperatures. We'll ask around and see if we can find an answer for you.
Does anyone know how to get rid of catapillars? They are eating all the new growth. I have tried Neem oil but that doesn't do anything. Picking them off, but every day there's more! Any help would be greatly appreciated.
@@laurarick5713 If putting on something you're *not* eating, you can get the regular diatomaceous earth (as opposed to the food grade), unless you're doing purely organic gardening.
I just found out I have one of these in my front yard and the amount of butterflies and bees was heaven-like! Can't wait to try and grow more of them!
That’s an awesome discovery!
thanks for info . loved the description of fragrance so spot on of grape koolaid.. lovely smell!!
I collected a bunch by pulling them off the tree from the past season. soaked a day to twist them out of husk. Put all the beans in a container with some water for a couple days then I took a hand electric drill with a small drill maybe 1/8th or less about .094 and carefully held it by hand its back on the table on a cloth and drilled the belly button a bit till you start getting nervous you may break through and then stop. then soak them in water and they will germinate and send out the white shute in less than 24 hours. I did that as a test with 6 and ALL popped out the white first shute at exactly the same time about 24 hours of soaking in water with about 1/4th hydrogen peroxide the standard trick to germinate seeds. I will do a video in next days but getting ready to go to work in LA for an event. but yes ive seen the videos filing etc--its FAR easier to simply cautiously drill the belly button a bit
I came across one in New Orleans, collected seeds, planted those seeds, and a year later…nothing. Then, one sprouted. A rat nicked the hull. You have to take a metal file, and put a nick in the thick hull. Thanks rat. It’s the toughest plant. Five years old, and it’s only a foot high, because I neglected it.
Thanks for your video. The Texas Mountain Laurel is a beautiful plant and one that the cutter ants here in South Texas seem to leave alone. What people may need to know is that the seeds are highly poisonous. So if you have small children or grandkids (that tend to put things in their mouths) you need to beware. The flowers, however, are lovely and about the closest thing we have where I live that comes close to resembling the wysteria. I am trying a new technique for starting seeds... I used my vice grip locking pliers, set to where it would apply just enough pressure to crack the outer shell without damaging the seed inside. It was a lot easier than trying to scar it with sandpaper or a rasp. I'll see in a few weeks if it worked.
We'd love to know if you have success with your experimental technique!
@@npsotclearlake most of the seeds are already sprouting and it's been only a few days! The others are quite swollen and look like they are ready to sprout. I am thrilled! These are seeds that recently fell from my existing plant.
[[Update 3/28/22, some sprouts are now visible above the soil. The first green shoots. :-) ]]
The key is to apply pressure with the vice grips just enough to crack the shell without crushing the insides. Because the vice grips is adjustable, that was not difficult. I found this method much easier than using a file or rasp. I'm glad I thought of it. I wonder if anyone else has ever tried it?
@@CliffBell I have tried it and had 4 germinate. Only one survived, it was my first time working with these seeds.
How do I plant Texas mountain laurel in heavy clay soil . I'm afraid my clay soil will hold too much moisture during rainy season . How do I amend my soil for planting. I'm in suburb east of Houston tx
I’m in northern Manitoba Canada. I’m going to plant some of these. I’m wondering if it will take being frozen for 6months at a time in winter. Or am I going to need to keep it indoors
Can you give advice on trimming one? Mine is leaning with the weight trying to grow away from the house. What can I do?
How much does it grow each year if conditions are good?
What do you do when your tree is turning yellow? It is about 4” long .
Have you tried planting the seeds when the pods are still green or half way grey before seeds harden and turn red? Have tried to plant but no success yet. Thanks
I just got some seeds hoping to grow this beautiful flowering tree in Indiana ( zone 5) , my concern is the snow and the freezing temperatures it gets in winter, so my question is how many years should I keep it in the pot to bring it inside before it's strong enough to take the freezing temperatures? Thanks for the information.
Good question. Texas Mountain Laurel is hardy down to 5 degrees F (-15 C), but we don't deal with snow or extended periods of freezing temperatures. We'll ask around and see if we can find an answer for you.
Do you know where I can buy one of these in the Clear Lake area?
Does anyone know how to get rid of catapillars? They are eating all the new growth. I have tried Neem oil but that doesn't do anything. Picking them off, but every day there's more! Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Tried diatomaceous earth?
@Mandy138Cool no I haven't but I'm going to look for it! Thank you.
@@laurarick5713 If putting on something you're *not* eating, you can get the regular diatomaceous earth (as opposed to the food grade), unless you're doing purely organic gardening.
@@Mandy138Cool thank you!
I appreciate your help!