Fragrant False Indigo

🌱 Site Selection

• 
  Location: Shady to partially shaded sites, such as woodland gardens, under trees, or north-facing slopes.
  
• 
  Soil: Prefers rich, loamy soil with high organic matter. A woodland-style soil enriched with compost or leaf mold is ideal.
  
• 
  Moisture: Needs consistently moist, well-drained soil; avoid dry or sandy spots.
  

🌿 Outdoor Direct Sowing

1. 
   Timing: Best sown in the fall so seeds experience natural cold stratification over winter.
   
2. 
   Soil Prep: Loosen soil and mix in compost or leaf mold.
   
3. 
   Depth: Sow seeds about ¼ inch deep, lightly covering with soil or leaf litter.
   
4. 
   Spacing: Space 18–24 inches apart to allow room for mature growth.
   
5. 
   Watering: Water well after planting and maintain steady moisture until seedlings establish.
   
6. 
   Stratification: If fall sown, nature provides the cold period. If spring sowing, seeds should be pre-stratified indoors (see below).
   

🏡 Indoor Seed Starting (for later transplanting)

1. 
   Cold Stratification: Seeds require at least 2–3 months of cold stratification.
   
   
   Place seeds in moist sand, peat, or paper towels inside a sealed bag.
   
   
   Refrigerate at 35–40°F (1–4°C) for 90 days.
   
   
   
2. 
   Sowing: After stratification, sow seeds in small pots or trays filled with humus-rich soil.
   
3. 
   Light & Temp: Keep in a cool, shaded location. Germination can be slow (sometimes taking a full year).
   
4. 
   Watering: Keep soil evenly moist, never allowing it to dry out.
   
5. 
   Transplanting: Transplant seedlings outdoors in late spring or early summer once the soil is workable and frost danger has passed.
   

🌼 Maintenance

• 
  Mulching: Apply a layer of shredded leaves or compost mulch to retain moisture and mimic forest floor conditions.
  
• 
  Watering: Keep soil moist, especially during dry periods.
  
• 
  Fertilizer: Generally unnecessary if soil is rich; add compost annually.
  
• 
  Caution: The berries and roots are toxic to humans; wear gloves when handling seeds or roots.
  

⚠️ Note on Patience: Red Baneberry seeds are naturally slow to germinate. It may take several months to a year before seedlings appear, and 2–3 years for plants to reach flowering size.