How to Plant an Oklahoma Redbud Tree From Seed
The Oklahoma redbud tree is a tree indigenous to the southwestern portions of the United States. Although it is a short-lived tree, the Oklahoma redbud tree makes for an attractive specimen tree thanks to its abundance of very showy, spring-blooming, pink-to-lavender-colored flowers and its brightly colored fall foliage. Growing an Oklahoma redbud tree from seed should be done from freshly gathered seeds in the fall. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Oklahoma red bud seed pods
- Pliers (optional)
- Bowl
- Hobby knife or sand paper
- Paper towels
- Wire basket or colander
- Heat proof bowl
- Sphagnum peat moss
- Zipper top bag
- Seed starting planting mix
- 6 inches of 1-gallon pots
Instructions
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Preparing Oklahoma Redbud Seeds
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Remove the seed pods from an Oklahoma redbud tree in early to late fall. You will know they are ready for harvesting when the pods turn brown and start to split open.
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2
Split open the seed pods to remove the Oklahoma redbud tree seeds. If you are experiencing difficulty in cracking open the seed pods, use a pair of pliers to gently pry open the pods.
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3
Drop each of the seeds into a bowl of water to test their viability. Remove the seeds that float and dispose of them since they will not germinate. Keep all the seeds that sink.
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4
Cut, knick or scrape off a section of the seed coat from each of the Oklahoma redbud tree seeds. You can use a hobby knife, a nail file or a piece of sandpaper to accomplish this.
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5
Place the seeds into a wire basket or colander. Rinse the seeds off using cool tap water. Then spread them out onto paper towels to dry for about 1 to 2 hours.
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6
Place the seeds into a heat-proof ceramic or metal bowl. Bring approximately 2 cups of water to boil. Pour the boiling water over the seeds. Leave the seeds in the water for approximately 12 hours, or overnight.
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7
Gather about a handful of sphagnum peat moss. Dampen it down until it is moist to the touch. Set the moss into a zipper-top bag. Place the seeds into the moss and seal the bag closed.
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8
Set the bag in a refrigerator with the temperature set to remain between 35 and 41 degrees F. Leave the bag in the cold storage for no more than 8 weeks. Check the bag every 2 or 3 days to ensure the moss is moist, and mist it with water whenever it starts to feel dry to the touch.
Planting Oklahome Redbud Tree Seeds
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Mix together a good quality seed starting planting mix with water until it's damp.
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Scoop the mixture into either 6-inch or 1-gallon planting pots.
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Poke 2 -1/4-inch-deep holes in each of the planting pots that are approximately 1-1/2 to 2 inches apart.
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Plant 1 Oklahoma redbud seed into each of the holes. Cover the seeds with no more than 1/4 inch of seed-starting mix.
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Move the pots to a location that can provide 8 to 10 hours of ambient light every day. But avoid any location in direct sunlight. Keep the seed starting mix moist; mist with water as often as needed. Germination of Oklahoma redbud tree seeds can take approximately 30 to 60 days, depending on conditions.
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