This happened the year that I was very big on using paper towels to start seed. The milkweed seed, which in this case was butterfly weed, were flat and kind of large so I thought it'd be perfect to start this way.
I laid the milkweed seed down flat on a damp coffee filter and folded it a few times. Then I enclosed it in a sandwich bag and put it in the fridge. I must have forgotten about it for a year or more but a few months ago, I took it out and put it in the trash.
A few days later I went down again into the basement and I guess it caught my eye in the trash can. The bag was nearly exploding with seedlings! I opened it up and every single one germinated.
This way is highly superior to just sowing in dirt.
So basically you use the paper towel method, stratify it (duh!) and then place it in utter darkness for a few days.
I just did this with showy and whorled milkweed and I already have sprouts. I'm going to pot up as they sprout and keep returning it to the fridge for more germination.
Milkweed
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