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How to Grow False Unicorn by Seed

False Unicorn, or Chamaelirium luteum, is an herbaceous plant that originates from the eastern United States. It typically grows in meadows and woodlands, and gardeners grow False Unicorn in herbal gardens. The mature plant has a spike-like cluster of flowers known as an inflorescence, which grows out of a rosette of leaves. False Unicorn has many uses in herbal medicine, and it grows readily from seed.

Things You'll Need

  • Peat
  • Gardening trowel
  • Sharp knife
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Instructions

    • 1

      Select a planting site. False Unicorn is hardy in US Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 and higher. This means that this plant thrives outside in areas where the temperature does not drop below minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit. False Unicorn grows best in shade.

    • 2

      Obtain False Unicorn seeds from a commercial seed provider. This plant is generally rare and may be difficult to find in nature.

    • 3

      Prepare the planting site for False Unicorn by loosening the soil to a depth of several inches. This plant grows well in a variety of soil types, so long as it provides good drainage. Mix peat with the soil as needed to bring the soil pH below 7 to make the soil slightly acidic.

    • 4

      Sow the False Unicorn seeds on the bare soil in the fall while you can still work the soil. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil.

    • 5

      Water the False Unicorn seedlings when they sprout in early spring. Keep the soil moist during the spring and summer without allowing the soil to become soggy.

    • 6

      Propagate False Unicorn plants by division in the fall when the plant is dormant. Remove a mature plant from the soil and slice the rhizomes into sections 1 to 2 inches in length with a sharp knife. Ensure each section has growth buds and plant them in the new location at a depth of at least 1 inch.