Lightly cover the seed. Soil temperature for germination 65-70F & takes 30-70 days to germinate. & Yes the seed's are very small

These can be surface sown, or very lightly covered as mentioned above, light may be beneficial to germination. Sow as per rhododendron but expect to take the 30-70 days

Small and oddly shaped seed

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:211246}}

Any recommendations/suggestions for when to harvest seeds? My neighbor planted one of these and I watched it all year, waiting for seed pods. As of the end of December, they still didn't look ripe enough to harvest. We'd both like more of these plants and I'd be happy to winter sow the seeds if I could figure out how/when to harvest. Thanks for any help.

I started some a month ago and am glad to hear they will take another month possibly, to germinate. I am keeping them at 70 degrees, so will just be patient. Al

Gardenweed, I just went out and took a look at my own - and was surprised to see flowering stems forming already :) It's been in the 20's every night for a week, cold for us and second time this season.

Seeds should ripen about the same time as rhododendron in your area, anywhere between Aug-Oct depending on how early it bloomed. I deadheaded, but not precisely, there are still a few very brown clusters of pods here and there. Most of those have opened or at least partially opened and contain few seed.

I suppose there is a chance weather played a part in the one you were watching and time from bloom to hard frost possibly wasn't long enough for ripe seed to form. Summer drought will sometimes delay seed set too.