Quisqualis indica (Rangoon Creeper)

Pas de problème It's not a plant I've grown. Occasionally I attack hard seed coatings with a very sharp knife (Ipomoea alba, moonflower, springs to mind) but I cut on the side and not had any casualties yet. Sandpapering never seemed to achieve much. The biggest palava was with a selection of Australian seeds, Duranta, Melaleuca and other too numerous to remember. Trying to replicate an Australian bush fire without burning the house down was fun Results: apart from the Eucalypti, a big, fat zero

 

Ah but how do you know they're doomed? Look at the Plumerias....survive under a tiled roof with a sheet of plastic between them and the worst that SW France can chuck at them!

 

Judging by what you grow SW France is a lot more hospitable than it is around here in winter, or maybe it's the longer hotter summers.
Maybe it's your more open aspect, I don't know, but you are always miles ahead of me with spring growth.

I doubt plumerias would survive around here in our 8 months of winter with just a sheet of plastic.

 

I'll let you know next spring Summer has literally just started here this year, so not a lot longer than UK.

 

@noisette47 the easiest way to convince your Australian seed that you've had a wildfire is to buy a bottle of liquid smoke for barbecues - Amazon do the Colgin brand. It seems to work because it's got the turpenes and other chemicals. I just dilute a little to make a liquid like strong tea, and leave seed in it for up to 2 days.

 

Thanks for the tip, Caroline

 

I think I have take-off with one seed ...

 

It is what gardening is all about. Experimenting and having fun. Sometimes we unexpectedly succeed, most of the time we fail dismally, but it is worth trying, just in case something does grow for us.It is always exciting to take up a challenge.I remember growing some Snail Vines. I managed to keep the plants growing for 3/4 years. The flowers are absolutely fascinating.