posted 4 years ago
Yes, but accidentally. I've had them germinate in soil where they apparently fell over the winter. I'm in zone 8a, in the desert SW. This hasn't happened often. So it does lend to a stratification period being necessary. Those seeds you've already put in pots might sprout next spring. Or you might stick them in the freezer or fridge for a bit and speed the process.
An easier way to propagate is from cuttings. Have you seen any in your neighborhood? Last year I took dormant cuttings at the end of fall, put them in pots with some rooting hormone, and left them in a cold greenhouse in a tote with a clear lid set loosely on it. I kept them from drying out. Our temps went to 14F. Come spring about 90% sprouted. I ended up with so many I had some to give away! And they have almost all bloomed in their first year. Once put in a bigger pot, they grew to about 1-2' high.
Online, people used cuttings in many stages. I didn't see many examples of dormant cuttings, but it worked spectacularly.
Be joyful, though you have considered all the facts. ~Wendell Berry