Martagons like slightly alkaline soil and LOTS of patience.

Should I put horticultural lime in to help make the soil alkaline?

I seem to remember people saying it is important to mark the spot where you planted them because they might show up next year. Is that what you mean by patience?

I also seem to remember people saying they like a bit of shade. So I wondered if that meant full sun is not recommended.

All of my Martagons are in fairly dense shade, so I'd guess light shade in Ontario. And if your soil is acid (test it first), yes, add lime. Or you can just add bone meal to the planting hole. They sometimes don't show up for a year, and they are slow to flower, but once they establish, they REALLY take off.

Am hoping that you're a martagon expert, ljrmiller! I've had 2 martagons in my garden for years. Our soil is alkaline, they're on a slight slope in light shade--and boy, are they slow to "establish." No blossoms on one this year--we had a late freeze--but it's never gone beyond one stalk, ie, no multiplication at all. The other now has 2 bloomstalks, although they were somewhat blasted by the cold.

What am I doing wrong? I'll die of old age before they put on a show!

Thanks!