>I sent seed of Castilleja miniata, C. rhexifolia and C. sulphurea to a fellow
>grower at a botanical garden in Austria. He has tried every combination of
>techniques (light, dark, stratification, sowing with a "host", etc.) and has
>only gotten 3 C. miniata seedlings.
They don’t need any of that. Castilleja seed has a cork-like covering that is
pretty much impervious to water. This can be rubbed off by putting the seed in
the palm of one hand and rubbing it gently (gently) with a finger of the other
hand. The seed is then vernalized by sowing outdoors (like, now) and the seeds
come up like radishes in spring.
A host plant is not necessary for survival in the garden, but it helps.
(See James Borland, Castillejas: Indian paintbrushes, in Growing from Seed,
Autumn 1989, pp.11-13.)
Bob
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