Seed-raising is still a possibility, despite Brexit. You can import seeds from the EU but there are also seeds available from societies. All seeds suppliers that I know of sell seeds that are produced from plants already in cultivation.
The joy of Brexit
The significant change since the end of 2020 is that (in theory at least) a seed seller must provide a phytosanitary certificate at a cost of around €25 (it varies, so check). Some sellers, at least in early 2021, were ignoring this but there is the risk that the package will be opened and the contents confiscated, but at least you still receive the empty box!
Some sellers will send seeds without a customs declaration or put something other than seeds on the declaration and say that it’s a gift. The fact is that HM Revenue & Customs can’t possibly open every little package coming from outside the UK but without the right documentation you could lose your shipment. I have bought seeds from South Africa and the USA on numerous occasions and they arrived without a problem but I believe that the regulations have been tightened so I may not be so lucky next time.
Also be aware that CITES Appendix I species can no longer be sent to the UK from overseas but some sellers are getting around this by renaming the seeds with obviously incorrect genera, assuming that the savvy grower will understand this. If you are not looking for such species you don’t have to worry about this.
What is available?
There is a large range of seeds available to buy online but the commercial sources are all outside the UK (seeds on the BCSS list are mostly sourced this way, supplemented by donated seed from UK growers). Most sellers have far more cactus seeds that other succulents. Cactus seeds are generally of good quality but don’t expect 100% germination, as you will have noted in the section on Growing from seed. Succulent seeds are much less reliable when it comes to germination.
The price of seed is variable and while you can buy large quantities from some sellers, the smallest packets suit me best as there are usually 10-20 seeds in each.
Labelling and keeping track
Several seed sellers assign code numbers to their seed packets rather than put the species on the packet so you need to cross-reference this when writing out the labels. You need to be pretty methodical to avoid introducing errors.
If you know how to use Microsoft Word and Excel you can copy the embedded HTML table from the confirmation email, paste it into Word, and edit it to produce a neat table. You can then copy the table into Excel. The process is a bit fiddly but quicker and more accurate than retyping all the names if, like me, you keep a record of your collection and seed-raising efforts.
You can refer to the list to write out plastic labels but if you buy a lot of seeds and know how to mail merge in Word using a .csv file you could print out your own self-adhesive labels that come on A4 sheets (I get mine from Label Planet) and stick them on the pots. Don’t use thermo-printer paper labels (eg, Dymo LabelWriter) as these can be affected by the heat in the greenhouse.
A word to the novice
Some species listed under ‘succulents’ from a number of sellers may not be succulents at all, or they may be alpine succulents, or even common succulent bedding plants from the Canaries which are not really worth the effort. If you are unsure, check out each species on Google.
I strongly recommend checking all species names on The Plant List (or CactiGuide, SucculentGuide or LLIFLE) because you will undoubtedly find that many subspecies and varieties are not accepted. You may also find that a species is now known as something completely different. To avoid growing plants you already have, check them out.
WHERE TO BUY
Whew, we’ve got there in the end!
The BCSS seed list is modest but the seeds are very cheap and are a good way to try out this method of propagation. If you want to branch out, I can recommend the following sellers.
Growing from seed
Propagation from cuttings
Where to buy seeds