
There is a tendency to think of plants as delicate things that require coddling, but some demand the opposite treatment.
That’s how I found myself in a full-on assault a couple weeks ago as I engaged in the abuse of Brazilian fern tree seeds. The three-quarter-inch long, flat seeds were hard as a rock and the package they came in suggested it could take up to 180 days to germinate. I have better things to do than wait half a year for seeds to germinate so to speed up the process, some scarifying was in order.
This process of breaking down a seed’s hard outer coating, which protects a seed against harsh environmental conditions in its natural habitat, is necessary for germinating seeds “in capitivity” and involves several methods including nicking, soaking and scratching.
The rock-hard seeds of the Brazilian fern tree, also called Brazilian firetree (Schizolobium parahyba), received a combination treatment of sanding the edge with 80-grit sandpaper followed by a one-minute soak in boiling water. Sanding is a common method of scarification, but the boiling water method is reserved for the toughest seeds. Soaking for a few hours in tepid water is a widely used practice for seeds such as nasturtiums and peas.

Some firm sanding on a piece of 60-grit sandpaper was the first step in working through the hard seed coat. Then I put them in boiling water for about a minute.
My decision to attempt to grow this plant happened within about two minutes of seeing it for the first time. I was intrigued by the plant mentioned in a gardening webinar by Janet Draper, a horticulturist at the Smithsonian Gardens. She’d picked up a spare plant from Chanticleer Gardens in Pennsylvania and watched it grow into a monster specimen in a single season.
It’s not a fern, but its long leaves, covered with 40 to 60 leaflets, resemble a fern. Native from Central America to Brazil, it can grow up to 10 feet in a single season. I’m intrigued by incredibly fast-growing plants and recognized it immediately as an excellent experiment for this gardening season. I ordered seeds before the webinar ended.
Large, bright yellow flowers cover the tree in tropical areas. Even if it grows well for me, I don’t expect to see flowers.

A Brazilian fern tree growing in its native range. I have no such expectations for my seed. Mauro Halpern photo
I haven’t found any information on growing this potential behemoth in Wisconsin, but I know enough about it to have a good guess at the conditions it will appreciate: full sun and rich, moist soil.

I’m all about this feathery foliage. Photo credit
I planted the abused seeds in moist seed-starting mix at the end of February and have had them under a humidity dome and on a heat mat in my best attempt to mimic Brazil’s forest floor. As I waited impatiently I noticed something I’ve never seen seeds do before: the seeds grew. They are actually got longer. I assume this was caused by the seed coat softening or breaking down in preparation for germination, which did happen for one seed after about two and a half weeks.
Five seeds came in the packet and I only planted two, an heir and spare, if you will. I can always take another crack at growing this plant with the rest of the seeds, perhaps trying out a different scarification method.
If my seed abuse works, the experiment can continue, and perhaps I’ll have an oddly large, tropical tree growing in my summer garden.
Thank you for sharing very informative
Fascinating! And I love how you write…. it’s just like you talk. Keep these coming, I always learn so much!
Cool! Love a seed starting adventure. Beautiful payoff if all goes well!
This should be fun! Keep us posted.
Hi Erin, long time reader first time commenter. Inspired by this post I impulsively ordered 5 Brazil tree fern seeds from etsy. I soaked them overnight, put them in boiling water and nicked with a finger nail clipper. I put them under a dome in my “plant closet” which is equivalent to the the surface of the sun (light, warmth, wind) they germinated in 4 days. I’m so excited but also slightly concerned with next steps. Currently search the world wide web for a container look larger enough to accommodate my new plants. I’m going to chanticleer in May and may have to stalk this plant. Have you had any luck with your seeds? I would love to follow along – keep us posted!
Thank you for everything you do! Love the content and blog.
Kathy
By practicing responsible seed use, considering the ecological impact of plant choices, and engaging in sustainable cultivation methods, we can strike a balance between enjoying unique and fascinating plants and preserving the environment.