Bitterroot Flower

Hi !
I'm looking for advice on planting the Bitterroot flower, because I am looking at seeds now to buy. This plant is very sacred in the area that I grew up, and I think it has potential to do well where I live, with hot sunny summers around 4,000 feet up and sandy like soil but also moist soil with lots of moss nearby.

Bitterroot Flower is the State Flower of Montana. Shown here with the Western Meadowlark:


source

Meriwether Lewis ate bitterroot in 1805 and 1806 during the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitterroot

I have never seen or heard of the flower so I just had to look it up and share this information.

I am hoping some members, especially those in Montana will chime in.

I know the flower, the picture was just to catch your eye... I am looking at seeds now, and it has been my favorite flower my whole life.

I totally understand.

For the benefit of other members who may not know that Bitterroot is the state flower and because I was not familiar with the flower.

Being the state flower it would seem that all seed companies in Montana would offer the seeds though maybe not.

The best seeds are seeds grown in the same state that you live in so I would start there to find seeds.

Many native wildflowers require special processing or a stratification period in order for the seeds to germinate.  I'm not sure what if any preparations bitterroot seed needs, but some resources I found from Washington State (https://depts.washington.edu/propplnt/Plants/Lewisia%20rediviva.htm) suggest  10 weeks ore more cold/moist stratification before seeds are ready to germinate.  

There are a couple native plant nurseries in western Montana.  Centerfornativeplants.com looks like an option, as does Blake Nursery, and there may be others.  As the spring season unrolls, you may also keep an eye out at local farmer's markets and other venues; many state extension programs partner with nurseries to host native plant sales as well.  If you choose to buy seed this season, I'd definitely ask whether the seed is ready to germinate, or will need cold/moist stratification.

And if nothing else, you can always collect a little local seed and try preparing it yourself for planting next year.

Best of luck!