Most dryandras are propagated by seed but vegetative propagation (eg. cuttings) has been successfully applied to some species and is, in fact, often necessary to enable desirable forms and flower colours to be maintained.

Seed

With those species with woody follicles, extracting the seeds usually requires heat (eg in an oven for about 20 minutes at about 150 degrees C). This forces the follicles to open and the seed can often be shaken out. Sometimes, however, the follicles do not open sufficiently and it may be necessary to repeat the heat treatment. With species having softer follicles, the seed may be removed by cutting the follicles along the top with strong scissors, thereby enabling the two sides to be prised open.

Seed usually germinates well by conventional sowing methods in seed raising mixes although seedlings may be subject to "damping off". To minimize this possibility, keep seeds moist but not wet. The best time for sowing probably depends on the grower's location. It has been suggested that early autumn is a good time for most areas but early spring may be best for areas which experience cold, wet winters. Germination should occur in 21 to 60 days, depending on the species.

Pre-germination of seed by sowing into a closed container containing moist vermiculite or a similar material is also a useful method of germinating seeds, particularly for winter sowing when outdoor temperatures may be unsuitable. Germination usually occurs in 2-3 weeks using this method and when the root has reached about a centimetre or so in length, the seedling can be placed into a small pot of seed raising mix.

Cuttings

Dryandras which are propagated from seed may show variation in flower colour and growth habit from the original plant. In order to preserve desirable plant characteristics, propagation by cuttings is necessary.

Dryandras are not the easiest plants to propagate by cuttings but it is certainly not impossible. A few are fairly easy (D.fraseri, D.lindleyana, D.tenuifolia, D.formosa, D.squarrosa). Cuttings about 75-100 mm in length with the leaves carefully removed from the lower two-thirds seem to be satisfactory. "Wounding" the lower stem by removing a sliver of bark and treating with a "root promoting" hormone may improve the success rate.

Cuttings of some species may be slow to strike (6 months or more).

Grafting

Because of the difficulty of growing dryandras in humid summer areas (see "Cultivation"), some experimentation has been done, mainly by amateur growers, on the grafting of dryandras on to hardier root stocks, usually Banksia species. To date this work has produced only limited success.

General Propagation

Further details on general plant propagation can be found at the Society's Plant Propagation Pages.