Lyndon asked about one of the Rocky Mountain Calochortus species. I've always found these continental-climate species difficult to germinate too. However, seed purchased from Alplains in the past 2 years has done well. I don't know what the difference is, but it may have something to do with the annual climatic cycle. The ones that worked for me were sown at the end of summer, when received, and kept in a covered, well-lit, unheated shed exposed to periodic moderate frost. I have raised to flowering size C. macrocarpus and C. longebarbatus, the latter from the Columbia River Gorge, a transition zone between the maritime Northwest and the semi-arid steppe. I haven't tried planting the bulbs out yet and will probably keep them under cover, though unheated, on the theory that bulbs which spend a long winter under snow don't want much moisture during that time. Lyndon should be able to grow C. apiculatus quite well outdoors, in nutrient-poor, very well drained soil. Jane McGary, Portland, Oregon, USA On 1/11/2019 2:56 PM, Lyndon Penner wrote: > So, here in southern Alberta, we have only a single species of Calochortus; > that is *Calochortus apiculata*, commonly called mariposa lily. > > It often grows very abundantly on sunny slopes and meadows. I have gathered > seed from it several times but have never gotten any to germinate. > > The question is, has anyone tried this species and had any success with it? > Any advice? I'd love to have it a sunny, sharply drained rock garden but it > seems to me it prefers not to be cultivated. > > -Lyndon > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/…