SEED DONATION INSTRUCTIONS

ADVANTAGES OF DONATING

Donors are defined as members who contribute at least 5 different taxa. Donors receive 35 packets of seed, while non-donors receive only 25. Furthermore, orders from donors are filled before those from non-donors. Finally, donors receive the recognition and gratitude of their colleagues! Status as a donor will be determined by the Intake Manager based upon the "Unacceptable Seed List" - see below.

COLLECTING SEED

Do not collect seed in areas where this is forbidden, such as national parks and certain other preserves. Clean the seed by removing it from capsules, discarding debris and chaff. If the seed is enclosed in a fleshy fruit, remove as much moist material as possible. Uncleaned or diseased seed will be destroyed at the USDA Port Inspection station.

Collect and send in a reasonable amount of seed, enough for a minimum of 5 packets. Please try to verify your plants are correctly named before sending them.

EPHEMERAL SEED (US DONORS ONLY)

We are now able to accept ephemeral seed which does not like to dry out for the Seed Exchange. This includes many spring-blooming members of the family Ranunculaceae. Package ephemeral seed in re-sealable plastic bags with some damp vermiculite. Use enough vermiculite to keep the seeds from drying out and check the bags periodically to ensure that it is still moist, but not soaking wet. Please also write on the bag that it is packed in vermiculite.

Most ephemeral seed should be kept at room temperature for storage; many germinate at cold temperatures and we do not want them to germinate before the members receive the seed, so DO NOT put the moist-packed seed in the refrigerator (unless you know it is a warm germinator).

Non-US Members-We are still working out the details with USDA Port Inspectors for allowing in seed packed in vermiculite; in the meantime you may still send ephemeral seed in the normal way as it often is still viable, but may simply take longer to germinate.

PACKAGING SEED FOR DONATION

Please use paper, re-sealable clear plastic or glassine envelopes. Seed should be visible through the envelope for all Overseas and Canadian donations that go through the USDA Port Inspection station. Glassine envelopes may be purchased here.

PRINT IN VERY CLEAR GOOD-SIZED LETTERS the botanical name, collection site (if wild collected), color (if unusual), and your surname on each envelope. The donor's name is necessary on every envelope.

Be sure that the seed envelope does not leak! Enormous amounts of seed are lost from packets that are not properly sealed, especially from the corners of the envelope, so tape all corners if needed. Folding down the flap an extra ¼ inch (6mm) and sealing completely is suggested to ensure the seeds cannot leak out of the envelope.

If any seeds are unusually moist, particularly aroids and peonies, Acanthus and Iris, enclose them separately in plastic to prevent the moisture from ruining the rest of the seeds.

Fern spores (and other dust-like seed) should be packaged into individual envelopes by the donor. The spores are so small that they are impossible to repackage. Spore packets should be small enough to fit inside the glassines used for distribution, about 1 inch or 2 cm square; folded foil or waxed paper work well.

SEED DONATION FORM

Click on Donation Form PDF to access the form which can be filled out on your computer, printed out and sent in with your seed donation.  You will not be able to save an electronic copy of your filled out form. If you are unable to print out the pdf file you may also enclose a clearly written or typed alphabetical list of the seeds you are sending, along with your name and mailing address. Canadian and overseas members be sure to include the statement: “Unless otherwise stated, all seed originated in the donor’s country”. Including your email address on your donation form will also help the Intake Manager if she needs to contact you about your donation.

SENDING THE SEED

Place securely sealed seed envelopes and completed Donation Form in a padded mailing envelope or box. If using regular mailing envelope be sure to wrap the seed envelopes in some kind of padding inside the mailing envelope; postal sorting machines crush seeds that are not protected.

>>>US MEMBERS:

Mail your donation to the Intake Manager (address below under Questions and  on the Donation Form) as early as possible. You may send more than one shipment if you have a lot of seed or some early-ripened seed and later-ripening seed. DO NOT SEND SEED TO ANY OTHER ADDRESS. For USA MEMBERS-Mail MUST BE RECEIVED by November 1. No item can be added to the catalog after November 2.

>>>OVERSEAS AND CANADIAN MEMBERS:

Must use the permit and green & yellow mailing label which will be with the Summer edition of the Rock Garden Quarterly or which can be obtained from the Intake Manager.  Please follow instructions below very carefully or your seed will not reach the exchange. Overseas members, Seed MUST BE MAILED BY 15 OCTOBER. Seed arriving late will be discarded.

>INSIDE the mailing envelope, Overseas and Canadian donors should

place the following items:

• Seed packets, labeled with botanical name and your last name;
• Completed seed donation form;
• Copy of the USDA Small Lots Seed import form with the white mailing label still attached; Port Inspectors will use this label to forward the seeds to the Intake Manager after inspection.

> OUTSIDE the mailing envelope, paste the green & yellow mailing label only; it will direct your seed to the U.S. Port Inspection station.  Do  not put the white delivery address label on the  mailing envelope!

There is a limit of 50 seed packets per shipment so if you have more than 50 taxa to send, or you mail early and plan to send a second shipment of seed at a later date, please request a second set of import permit and labels from the Intake Manager as soon as possible.

LATE DONATIONS (US DONORS ONLY)

If you are sure you will have late-ripening seed to send after November 1, you must send a list to the Intake Manager for inclusion in the catalog by November 1 and mail the late seed to arrive by December 1. This special service may be used ONLY for late-ripening or wild-collected seed; it is NOT intended to provide donor numbers to procrastinators and you must send any other seed you have collected before the November 1 deadline!

WHAT TO SEND

The most frequently ordered items in the Seed Exchange are small, highly ornamental alpine plants, especially those collected in the wild. Very unusual items, especially from temperate climates, as well as woodland plants and seed of uncommon bulbs are also much desired. There is also a certain demand for easily grown garden standards but in this regard see comments on the Unacceptable Seed List below. North American members in particular are urged to collect more seed of alpine plants in the wild.

UNACCEPTABLE SEED LIST

Although the Seed Exchange is charged to include "plants suitable for rock gardens," in practice it offers opportunities to obtain unusual plants of many kinds. However, certain items are not desirable; some of these will be discarded if received, and others will simply cause useless work and be discarded after orders are filled. In general, the following kinds of plants should not be sent to the Seed Exchange:

• Plants prohibited entry by the US Department of Agriculture, CITES, the Endangered  Species Act (ESA) or the Noxious Weeds list (including all species of Lathyrus,  Hibiscus, Berberis, Mahonia, grasses or parasitic plants from outside the USA) will be discarded at USDA PortInspection Stations; see Restricted Seed page
• Common trees and large shrubs, unless wild collected; uncommon species are acceptable;
• Annuals or large perennials available from commercial seed catalogs, or cultivars of common groups such as Hemerocallis, Hosta, or bearded iris;
• Plants taller than 1 meter requiring frost-free culture;
• Aquatic plants;
• Food plants of little ornamental value;
• Large quantities of seed of large plants like Clematis cultivars, Eryngium orEupatorium.

QUESTIONS

If you have any questions about donating seed or need additional permits/labels, please contact the Seed Exchange Intake Manager;

Confirmation of your seed donation and donor number will be sent by email if you include your email address on the donation form.  Otherwise, the list of all donors and donor numbers will be included in the Seed List. Do not send requests for seed to this address.

Quick Metric Conversions:

All plant heights will be listed in metric units. For your convenience here are some approximate conversions from inches to centimeters:

1 in. = 2.5 cm

4 in. = 10 cm

6 in. = 15 cm

10 in. = 25cm

12 in. = 30 cm

40 in. = 100 cm = 1 m