The seeds seem to have a double dormancy. Meaning they require a cold period followed by a warm period followed by another cold period after which they germinate readily.

Here is a link that might be useful: Rohdea japonica

I received some omoto (rhodea) seeds two years ago and I just planted them outside hoping for the best. They all germinated last spring without doing anything special. David

My Rohdea volunteer seedlings in the garden, but I wanted to germinate some under more controlled conditions. I had about 60% germination of a ripe batch using the following method.

1. Early October (North Alabama) collected seed, divided into two batches:
batch A: definitely ripened (pericarp dark red, juicy)
batch B: less ripened seeds (pericarps orangish, hard)

2. Stored both batches at 41 F (refrigerator) until 12-08-04

3.12-8-04, Cleaned all seeds removing pericarps, sowed batches separately in 3 X 5 inch e-z- foil muffin containers
Used a 50/50 mix of peat and pro-mix HP media
- Placed containers at 72 F (laundry room)

4. @ 2-08-05, No germination, moved both trays to cool, non-freezing garage

-within 2 weeks 60% of seeds in ripened batch germinated, now (3-8-05) I have seedling between 1 and 3 inches tall. I am moving the ungerminated batch back into the cold garage to see what happens next

Thank you to everyone for your advice. I'm getting the message, here and elsewhere, that a double stratification is in order. Back to fridge with mine.