Clothier says: "Stylophorum diphyllum, and lasiocarpum, Sow at Max. 5ºC (41ºF), germination irregular, often several months".

I'd sow half of them now. Do it just like wintersowing in a jug. Stick the whole moistened, sown jug in the fridge for a couple of weeks, then put out in dappled or bright shade. If it doesn't work, you can try the rest of the seeds in the fall. In some seeds cold strat is needed to overcome dormancy. But if the seeds are very fresh they might not even need it.

I've never grown them, so listen to me at your own risk.

Karen

First, I don't know anything about that plant the OP mentioned, but kqcrna mentioned something that caught my attention.

I spent the day planting seeds in 12 gal jugs, late start, perennials but should be ok. Wasn't sure how to water them in taped jugs if it doesn't rain. Left cap off and burned several vent holes in top hoping they won't get too warm, set in mostly shade outside.

The delphiniums I planted in a tray so I can transplant into 6 packs if they sprout, then hopefully in the ground well before freezing in the fall.

The directions say to completely cover with soil, and you can speed germination by mixing with damp something in the fridge for two weeks, also that it takes a long time. I mixed some medium that has an anti fungal with some potting soil because they will be in there for some time, the others I used straight potting soil. It says the temp should be 55 regardless. So I was planning on finding a cool spot in the basement and setting them on the floor.

I didn't want to mix in dampened I think it was seed starter because it would be harder to spread them out evenly and make them tend to clump more.

They're on the counter now because (before I sowed the seeds) I got the mix too wet so set in the sun to dry out a bit. Now there isn't any moisture inside the cover yet so I was going to mist them a little in the morning if nothing shows up by then.

Maybe I should just set the tray (it's a McD's salad dish w/drainage holes) in the fridge for 2 weeks.

As soon as they sprout, I guess I'll have to harden these off. If I get lucky, never tried delphs before.

Thanks, Karen. I will split the seeds, fridge stratify some of them, and save the rest for fall.

Wood poppy is a great plant for dry shade, and I have a few volunteers growing now. But I need more :)

KT

KT, did you leave any pods on the plants? These are easy self sowers, giving you seedlings to move around. I've fall sown s. lasiocarpum (pots, outdoors) with good results, doubt if there is a lot of difference, both are said to be pretty reliable from seed. I'd try some now too, if you have plenty it can't hurt.

Aliska, I don't know which delph you sowed, but I sowed d. cashmerianum 2 weeks ago and they're up. I surface sowed, then covered with light layer of grit, put them outside no other cover where nights have been upper 40's, days approx upper 50's to low 60s. As for your other jugs, depends on which perennials...some are fine Spring sown, others need extended chill of winter sowing to break dormancy...

morz8, they are Delph Bluebird, dark blue w/white eyes, got them from Swallowtail.

Thank you for your input.

I was just trying to follow the directions on the packet as best I could. I think they meant peat not seed starter medium I have (I root rose cuttings in that).

There was a little moisture in the lid this am, some I get what seems like almost too much, but the lids come off as soon as they sprout this time of year anyway. Stuck them in the veg drawer for 2 weeks.

Maybe I'll just stick them outside after they come out of the fridge in 2 wks. If I put them in the basement, I'll forget to check often enough.

I'd want these fairly badly. But I can always order some from Bluestone later, don't need too many as they have to be fairly far apart. Some of the others now in jugs and trays outside don't matter so much. I've had good luck with many different ones sewn in early or very late spring without WS and without stratifying, just starting them out of seed pkts in trays outside. Actually got better germination than my WS ones last year, first year for WS except for purple poppies, those were way too thick.

morz8, thanks for the tips. I did leave about half the pods on the plants to see what Mother Nature and the ants will do with the seeds. Funny thing, the original wood poppy plant is probably four years old but didn't really start sending out volunteers until this spring. I'm looking forward to some controlled sowing so that I can hopefully load up my problem bed with seedlings this year and next.