Grow smoothstem blazingstar from seed by sowing it in fall, or by keeping the seed cold and moist for two to three months before you sow. Cover it lightly, then keep that surface moist until the seedlings show.
Sow in fall, or chill the seed cold and moist for two to three months
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Chill | Sow outdoors in fall so winter supplies the chill, or keep seed cold and moist for 60 to 90 days | Do not sow stored dry seed into a warm indoor tray and expect a full stand |
| Depth | Cover about a quarter to a half inch | Do not bury the seed deep, and do not leave it sitting on a dry, dusty surface |
| Bed | A firm, weed-free, well-drained bed or a deep cell in full sun | Do not sow into loose, rich, or soggy soil |
| Moisture | Keep the surface just moist until seedlings appear | Do not let the seedbed dry out during those first days after it breaks |
Smoothstem blazingstar comes from seed, and a winter in the ground is the simplest chill. Scatter seed on a weed-free, well-drained bed in fall and let cold, wet weather do the work. [1] If you start seed indoors, or your winters stay mild, mix the seed with damp sand and keep it cold for about 60 to 90 days before you sow. A short chill helps; two to three months is the better bet. Some seed waits until a second winter, so an empty spring is not always a dead packet. [2] See How to Grow Smoothstem Blazingstar for the grown plant.
- For a garden sowing, wait until fall, then scatter seed on a firm, sunny, well-drained bed.
- For an indoor start, keep the seed cold and moist for 60 to 90 days, then sow it in a deep cell.
- If nothing comes up the first spring, leave the bed. Some seed germinates after a second winter.
Do I have to chill the seed first?
A fall sowing in a cold-winter garden usually supplies the chill. If you start seed indoors, or winters stay mild, keep the seed cold and moist for two to three months first.
Cover the seed a quarter inch, and keep it moist until it comes up
Cover the seed about a quarter to a half inch. Press it into contact so it does not wash, and keep that surface just moist until the seedlings show. After a proper chill, germination often starts in about a week and finishes in about two. [3] If you sow in cells, put only one or two seeds in each deep tube. Crowded seedlings have thin taproots that tear when you try to separate them, and those torn plants rarely take. After the seedlings are up, ease off the water and grow them on the dry side. [4]
- Cover the seed about a quarter to a half inch on a firm, well-drained surface.
- Keep that surface just moist until seedlings appear, then ease off the water.
- Sow one or two seeds per deep cell so you do not have to tear roots apart later.
How deep do I sow it?
About a quarter to a half inch. Press the seed into firm soil so it stays put, and keep the surface moist until it sprouts.
If the seed never comes up, it was probably sown warm with no chill, or the surface dried out after it broke. Next time give it a winter or a fridge chill, cover it lightly, and keep that surface just moist until seedlings show.
FAQ
Can I collect my own seed?
Yes. Wait until the flowers have dropped and the top of the capsule is brown and crisp, then clip the capsule off. Do not strip the plant, because a tug can pull it out of the ground. Store the clean seed cool and dry.
Can I grow it from a cutting or a division?
Not as a home method. Smoothstem blazingstar grows from a taproot and does not divide or root from cuttings well. Raise it from seed, or let it self-sow.
Will it self-sow in the garden?
Yes, on sandy, well-drained ground, if you leave some ripe capsules standing. The next plants often appear after winter.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] University of Washington ESRM 412 -
https://courses.washington.edu/esrm412/protocols/2012/MELA2.pdf - [2] NRCS Plant Materials Center, Pullman -
https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_mela2.pdf - [3] California State University, Stanislaus -
https://esrp.csustan.edu/vfpc/profiles/MELA.pdf - [4] Klamath-Siskiyou Native Seeds -
https://klamathsiskiyouseeds.com/product/mentzelia-laevicaulis-giant-blazingstar/
This note is part of Mentzelia Guides.
More notes on making another plant live in Propagating Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors