Seeking any cultural information on Schizocodon ilicifolius

[Spofford]

seeking cultural information on Schizocodon iliofolius

[Lori S.]

This plant may be more well known as Shortia ilicifolius or Shortia ilicifolia, though The Plant List considers both Schizocodon ilicifolius and the Shortia synonyms to be "unresolved":
http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/kew-2592205

[Lori S.]

I don't have any experience with growing these, but here is some general info on cultivation of Shortia, which includes a reference to S. ilicifolius (pages 266-267 of the linked book):
http://books.google.ca/books?id=yaD8XmgCYHsC&pg=PA267&lpg=PA267&dq=Shortia+ilicifolius&source=bl&ots=Fg1TQLzSKD&sig=9ZBEtT-HRQbDOnFEgtbTd3yEOoc&hl=en&ei=tFLHTrflI8aniQLg4NnFDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCMQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=Shortia%20ilicifolius&f=false

[Hoy]

Some years ago I had managed to grow a nice batch of Shortia seedlings. Sadly all of them died the summer I planted them out in the garden. Even in my oceanic climate the summer was to dry without extra watering (I usually never water in summer) so all the plants desiccated before I noticed. So at least as newplanted they need to be constantly moist.

[ncole]

I have heard that they need to be grown in rotting logs   I had some years ago and they perished but I want to try again.  I have plenty of rotten logs!

[Lori S.]

I did a search on Shortia at the Scottish Rock Garden Society forum, and found bits of discussion about them.  If you enter the word Shortia in the link below, then follow the various links that are highlighted, you will be able to get some hints about required conditions from various forumists growing them:
http://www.srgc.org.uk/forum/index.php?action=search2

[RickR]

just want to say Welcome to the forum, Spofford!

[Spofford]

I want to thank all who replied.  The suggestions tended to confirm what I had begun to guess after killing all but 2 of a large number of seedlings.  The comment about planting in a rotten log seems to hold a clue.