Lilium washingtonianum from seed
Jane McGary (Fri, 30 Jan 2015 10:17:54 PST)
Jim asked,
I would like advice on how to raise Lilium washingtonianum from
seed. At present the seed is in a zip lock bag with damp perlite and
vermiculite in the refrigerator. At what point do I pot them up?
Sunset zone 9 west of Modesto California.
I haven't raised Lilium seedlings this way, I just grow them in the
ordinary way in seed pots. However, I would warn Jim that Lilium
washingtonianum is usually difficult to grow at lower elevations. It
naturally grows at mid elevations, within the snow zone, and does
best with a rather dry winter dormancy and cool summers. The latter
would be hard to achieve in the Central Valley of California where he
lives. In addition, it grows in acid soils, usually rocky and often
on steep slopes at the margin of conifer woodland. Jim might find the
rather similar Lilium rubescens more growable in his region.
Jane McGary
Portland, Oregon, USA