Triosteum pinnatifidum
8 seeds per packet.
A rarely offered, woodland perennial related to honeysuckle and native to the mountain slopes and forests of China and Japan. Upright stems with attractive, green, felted, oak-like leaves and tubular flowers in summer, followed by very attractive, large, white fruits in autumn. Height 40 to 60 cm. Part shade in moist, humus rich, well-drained soil.
GROWING INSTRUCTIONS:
These seeds have a very hard coat and may need two winter periods of cold to germinate, so please do not throw the pots away.
Sow upon receipt (best in autumn). Cover seed thinly, press in gently and keep top of compost from drying out. Keep pot outdoors or in cold frame over winter. Seeds germinate in spring.
Alternatively, if seeds can’t be sown in autumn use the following method: mix seeds with damp vermiculite and place inside a ziplock bag, keep bag somewhere warm for 3 weeks, then place in fridge (not freezer) for 8 weeks. Next spread mixture on top of a pot, thinly cover with compost or grit and keep warm at 15 to 20°C until germination, then move to somewhere cooler.
Carefully prick out seedlings when they have developed true leaves and are large enough to transplant to individual pots for growing on.