Dylan, I agree that P. californica is difficult to grow. It was much easier to germinate to compare with the Mediterranean peonies which needs two years to germinate, but it is challenging to go through to flowering stage. Their tubular type root will keep water during hot summer. *Makiko Goto-Widerman* Makiko Floral Design Garden Club 501 c 3 One Market Spear Tower 36F San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 293-8132 MFDgardenclub@gmail.com *http://www.mfdgardenclub.us/ <http://www.mfdgardenclub.us/>* On Wed, Jul 11, 2018 at 8:40 AM, Hannon <othonna@gmail.com> wrote: > When I worked at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden we had a crop of P. > californica. I remember the seeds germinated like kidney beans without any > treatment, but getting them through their leafless summer dormancy in pots > was challenging. Watering lightly about every two weeks helped during this > period; seedlings kept totally dry perished. The mix was well-drained with > plenty of sand and pumice and a low % of organic matter. Still, after a few > years we ended up with only one plant in a 1x1x1 foot wooden box. > > Recently I planted fresh seeds of P. cambessedesii with zero germination > over winter. The seeds appear to have a harder coat that the CA native > species. Maybe they need scarification as someone else mentioned? > > Dylan > > *"The greatest service which can be rendered any country is to add an > useful plant to its culture…" --**Thomas Jefferson* > _______________________________________________ > 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/…