Just came across this post as a result of a search enquiring about transplanting or starting Baptisia from seed. We are moving in a few months fromw SW PA to north central Ohio. I have one well-established plant and the seeds I collected from it this past season so wanted to find out which would be the best option for carrying it to my new garden. I will try sowing the seeds, since I have time. Some questions for anyone who is inclined to answer if you see this: 1. Do you feel that pre-chilling the seed is necessary, or at least helpful, and if so, for how long? 2. Which legume inoculant did you use? I know there are a number of differnt ones, from pea & bean inoclulant to various kinds for clover & alfalfa... 3. How deep did you cover the seeds in the cells? Thanks! Actually (unless I recieve a definitive answer) I think what I will do since I have a fair number of seeds is try the various methods (stratifying, scarifying, etc.), compare results, and post the info. Whenever I presoak seeds, by the way, I do so in a kelp solution. I also use this to pre-moisten the planting medium and also to bottom-water newly planted cellpacks. I think the kelp and bottom-watering both are very beneficial in avoiding damping-off. I have not had any of the wide variety of seeds I plant each year damp off since I began using this technique. CK

I winter-sowed Baptisia australis and B. leucantha 3 years ago, and the seeds were from Prairie Moon nursery and they apparently pre-scarify the seeds and also provide an inoculum which is supposed to help germination. They were winter-sown in February and germinated well. They are now 3 years old in 1 gallon pots since I haven't been able to figure out where to plant them yet (hmmmm). They might have bloomed this year, if they were in the ground, but they haven't bloomed yet. Patience required with these guys! Baptisia has thick tuberous roots, but in my experience actually does fine with transplanting and root disturbance. I've transplanted the seedlings up to bigger pots a couple times and they did okay. Also, I bought some pot-bound mature Baptisia plants several years ago in November, with thick circling roots. So I repotted and overwintered them in bigger pots, planted them in the Spring, and they've thrived.

Wonby, That photo looks like it is B. australis more than 'Purple Smoke', which is a duskier purple color flower, as well as the mentioned darker stem color. Also, the very large "Purple Smoke's" I have experience with don't set seed. Same with "Carolina Moonlight". On that note, Please Note: A local horticulturist's son went to the ER last year in a near coma state from eating green baptisia pods. The poor little guy just thought they were snap peas, an easy mistake to make. Thankfully, he recovered, but, teach your little ones that they are Not snap peas, and take caution. If you have small children, the non seeding cultivars might then be best.

If it is seed you have collected, it is worth taking a bit of local soil at the same time...everything is connected and as well as growing in plant communities (left to their own devices) as you know, there is a whole interconnected ecology of micro-organisms. Even adding some live soil from an unimproved meadow or around a mature tree often increases germination of some recalcitrant seeds - it's an easier way of growing seeds than messing around with gibberellins, peroxides, sandpaper, heatmats, for this negligent gardener. I have an experimental nursery bed in the woods where I can sow the seeds directly into the ground but still be able to keep track (especially if real cash money has been grudgingly spent on measly commercial packets of seed). In truth though, the single biggest difference to seed sowing success for me was using fresh seeds - either collected or traded - it is only desperation now which causes me to buy seeds which have an unknown provenance. Here in the UK, specific inoculants are not available afaik...but granular arbuscular myccorhizae has been available for a long time...but I always thought that had to be applied directly to the roots - simply adding it to the soil was no help and I am not sure it would be useful for seeds...but having said that, merchants will sell anything - I have seen packets being sold now to add to vegetable seeds (veggies ffs) and even potatos ...but this, I think, is mainly for the gullible.