Would you consider other trades? I have no feeders to trade but I am interested in the red buckeye. How long before a seedling tree will bloom?

Red Buckeye needs to be at least 3-4 ft/ tall before it starts to bloom Depending on where you are located and the growth rate of the plant, it could be 5 yrs before it reaches three feet.
They are not fast growing trees especially in zone 6

Penny

The seeds also need to be sown fresh and kept moist until they are sown for best chance at germination.

Penny

Thank you, Penny, for the excellent information. You are right, the seeds should not be allowed to dry out. These are being kept vernalized in moist sphagnum moss at 40F, and will also be shipped moist. I'd also be happy to trade for things other than hummingbird feeders, just thought some enthusiast may send me one!
The only hummer we have here in Z7b, VA, is the Ruby-throated. I have noticed it on my perennial blue Salvia sylvestris, as well as my red Texas Star Hibiscus.
Sharon
(kizzyseeds)

Sharon keep those flowers blooming as long as possible. There are many hummers being reported and banded in the north country (Ontario, Canada). Most are probably late hatch juveniles but they will still need to move south along with mine if they are to survive and they will need food along the way. Many are not feeder birds and will only use plants.

Penny

Penny, that's amazing, I thought the hummers were all gone by now. I didn't realize I had any until year before last. I was sitting on the front porch early one morning sipping my decaf and I saw something hovering on my Saliva. Since I'd never seen one, I thought what the ???

I started reading up on hummers and realize I grow a lot of plants they like! I've raised butterflies for 2 years and my daughter calls me a "butter-nut", I guess now she'll have to add "hummer-bum", lol! She has the nicest "pet" names for me..."plant pirate", "seed scavenger", "dirt dog"
and other affectations. My favorite is "flower bud":>

I don't have much left blooming, Salvia is about it, so I'm letting a lot of it go to seed. I planted 3 Texas Star Hibiscus, which I saw them on this year. I've been trading as much as possible for other nectar sources, and welcome any suggestions...the Aesculus seeds I have aren't from my plant:( I got those at the Horticulture Extension Service
where I attend a class or other function. I've gained permission to gather seeds there, at our Botanical Gardens, and our local Zoo!!! Guess my daughter is right, lol:>

Sharon

The Ruby-throat actually starts the migration in July or August. The adult males are the first to leave so that they are able to establish a winter territory. Then the adult females that are not still incubating will leave. Then in Sept. females that had late hatches will leave after their babies are on their own and then the juveniles will leave. As a general rule, the majority are gone by the end of Sept. or very early Oct. The late stragglers are usually late hatches that still need to put on enough weight to survive the long journey to S. America or they are old or less healthy hummers that know they can't make the trip and they will stay behind or only migrate to a warmer part of the US. For some unknown reason this year there have been many more confirmed sitings and reports of very late stagglers. Most have been juveniles and I am guessing they were mostly late hatches.

I am not sure yet but my little female migrant may have left yestereday before noon. She arrived here right after the snow storm that hit here in the Buffalo area on Oct. 12th. She has been living in my yard and nectaring on my plants that weren't destroyed by the snow storm since she arrived. We had a sunny and mild day yesterday finally so I am hoping that she has decided it is time to head south. If not I may be enclosing my front porch for the winter for her.

Penny

Kizzyseeds, Penny has given you a lot valuable info , it is pretty much common knowledge to any avid hummer enthusiast who has read up on them. My first year that I moved here [new addition, but rather desolate] there were no trees close or any flowers only flowers from neighbors yard, but as I was standing in my yard , heard this humming sound circling my head and I said what the .... so I immediately go out and get me a feeder to put on my window. My computer is situated so I can view my front yard and now this summer I had four feeders in my yard which tells you I had a lot of hummer activity cause with one window feeder I was changing it every day. Thing is though I dont have many plants in my yard only hostas and one agastache lavender. Penny has been coaching me and now I plan to have many salvias next summer plus others . My last hummer was spotted on 10-20 at my window feeder and as I wished it a safe journey I couldnt stop a tear from falling as I felt it would be my last sighting and it was.

Sharon, I would love to have a couple of those Red Buckeye seeds, and I have feeders. I have a huge variety of seeds too, including several North American native species. Here's what I have:

Hollyhocks-mixed colors, double and singles
Hyacinth Bean Vine
Morning Glory
Cypress Vine
Sweet Williams
JoePye Weed
Western Ironweed
Larkspur-mixed colors
Rosa Rugosa Alba
Shasta Daisy
Blackfoot Daisy
If you are interested in any or all of these, I would love to try one or two of those buckeyes. Cheryl

Sharon I have a Turks Cap bush which in my yard, the hummingbirds love. The bush is about 5 feet tall and about 5 feet wide. MIne is in full sun all day and they are covered with flowers all summer, till frost. Dont have any feeders but would love to have one of your seeds. Just saw the red buckeye on HGTV this morning and cant wait to find one.

{{gwi:1002463}}

Buckeye seeds need to be planted fresh as soon as possible after they are ripe and can't dry out. They are also very large seeds (think in terms of the size of a walnut shell. Fall is the best time for planting buckeyes. You might be better off to wait until the end of summer/early fall to get seeds to try. I did the bottlebrush buckeyes last year and had one seedling survive and grow out of 5. The other four rotted which is not uncommon. They are easy to grow but can be tricky to get started.

Penny

I sowed seeds (from a trade) last year in the spring and the seedlings quickly went dormant. They have put out new growth this spring and are fine.

I sowed the seeds I collected in fall last year on Jan. 29, and they are germinating now, so far 8 of 12. I kept them in damp peat in the fridge and when they began germinating, I sowed them in 1-gal. pots and put them outdoors.

So I don't have any more seeds of these to trade, but hopefully I can collect some again this fall from the same tree. Most of them were bigger than walnuts, think...plums!