Hi Aaron, I've grown H. occidentalis from seed collected in the autumn and what you're experiencing sounds normal to me. I thought that the seeds would freeze if I left them sitting on the soil surface outdoors, so I set them on moist potting soil in a container I kept in an unheated garage that stays cool, but doesn't freeze. The seeds sat there all winter with no activity, thankfully they did not rot either. As the garage started warming with the longer days and warmer outdoor temperatures in March, the seeds began to germinate and by May/June I was able to set the young bulbs out in the garden. I have another whole pot of seeds in the garage from last autumn's collection, so far no activity. I have not tried hybridizing using H. occidentalis, but perhaps Alani Davis or Kevin Preuss have and could contribute if they're reading this thread. Regards, Jay Aaron Floden wrote: So, does anyone have experience germinating the hardy H.occidentalis? I still have two pots seeds sitting with no activity at all. They were potted up in Sept/Oct shortly after falling off the plants. I assumed that they were immediate germinators considering that the seeds were so large and fleshy. Also does anyone else have experience with hardiness in this species? I have forms from southern Alabama and Georgia that winter over just fine here in Kansas. Several years now in fact with no problems and good offsetting also. Other forms with known provinence would be nice. Lastly, any experience with crossing H.occidentalis with other species to increase hardiness with other traits. Not sure what could be improved upon though, maybe stoloniferous characters or earlier flowering.