Silver morning glory (Argyreia nervosa) - seeds

A packet of Argyreia nervosa seeds, with a choice of 20 seeds, 100 seeds or 100 grams. The seeds are large, angular, dark brown and covered in fine down: they are easy to handle, unlike many tropical seeds.

Two steps determine success. Lightly scarify the very hard seed coat by rubbing the seed on fine sandpaper, then soak it for 24 hours in lukewarm water. It should swell visibly; any seeds still floating after a night deserve a second scarification.

Then sow 1 cm deep in a light compost, at 25 to 30 °C, under a cover. Germination takes one to three weeks. Prick out as soon as the second pair of leaves appears: the seedling very quickly develops a large root system.

It is a vine that climbs fast and far, several metres in a season, with large heart-shaped leaves whose undersides are covered in a silvery-white felt: it is this underside that gives it its French name, liane d'argent ("silver vine"). The funnel-shaped flowers are lavender with a darker throat. It is not frost-hardy, so it is grown in a pot, put outside against a support in summer and brought in frost-free for the winter, in a bright room. In a greenhouse, it can keep growing all year round.

These seeds are sold as ornamental and botanical collector's seeds. They are not a food product. They are toxic if ingested: do not consume them in any form, and keep them out of reach of children and pets. We provide no dosage, no preparation method and no expected effect. Sale restricted to adults (18 and over).

Is scarification really necessary?
Yes, it is the step that makes the difference. The seed coat of Argyreia nervosa is impermeable: without a nick, water cannot get in and the seed can stay dormant for months.

How long before it flowers?
Allow several years, and fairly warm, bright growing conditions. In pots in our climate, many plants stay at the vegetative stage, which takes nothing away from the appeal of the foliage.

Can it spend the winter outdoors?
No. The slightest frost kills it. It must be brought indoors, or grown in a greenhouse.

Which packet size should I choose?
20 seeds are enough for a first try, bearing in mind that germination is irregular even when done well. The larger sizes are intended for nurseries and collections.

Also worth exploring: the plant already established in a pot, if you would rather skip the sowing stage, and all our seeds from around the world.