Seeds That Need Stratification

SEEDS THAT NEED STRATIFICATION.

 

All of these seeds can be directly sown in the ground in autumn/fall if desired. Planting outside can be done into early winter. As long as the soil can be worked and it's not waterlogged you can still plant your seeds.
If you missed that window or don't want to plant that way, all is not lost. There are several different methods you can use to break dormancy on cold loving seeds and get them to germinate. A cold outbuilding, garage or the refrigerator are wonderful tools to help us with this. See our Stratification instructions to determine which is the best method for you and your chosen seed.

We offer the following:

 

COMMON NAME

LATIN NAME

NOTES

1. 

American Spikenard

Aralia racemosa,

Easy. Just needs some moist cold. Works well in a cold garage over the winter months

2. 

Angelica

Angelica archangelica

Easy. Just needs some moist cold. Works well in a cold garage over the winter months.

3. 

Bitter orange

Poncirus trifoliata

Easy. Just needs some moist cold. Works well in a cold garage over the winter months

4. 

Black cohosh

Cimicifuga ramosa.

Hard. Needs warm cold warm sometimes a second cycle is needed. Best sown outside. Does germinate but challenging.

5. 

Blackberry Lily

Iris domestica

Really easy. Little moist cold ensures all seeds germinate quickly. Works well in a cold garage over the winter months.

6. 

Blue Cohosh

Caulophyllum thalictroides

Hard. Needs warm cold warm sometimes a second cycle is needed. Best sown outside. Does germinate but challenging

7. 

Bugleweed

Ajuga reptans

Simple. Just keep seeds in refrigerator until time to sow in spring. They need a period of cold, at least three weeks. but does not have to be moist. It can be done this way but does not seem to aid germination.

8. 

Butterfly Weed

Asclepias tuberosa interior

Easy. Just needs some moist cold. Works well in a cold garage over the winter months.

9. 

Coneflower Pale Purple

Echinacea pallida.

Easy just needs period of cold. Our seeds are pre chilled.

10. 

Dogwood Flowering

Cornus florida

Easy. Just needs some moist cold. Works well in a cold garage over the winter months.

11. 

Dogwood Kousa

Cornus cousa

Easy. Just needs some moist cold. Works well in a cold garage over the winter months.

12. 

Geranium - Wild

Geranium maculatum

Easy. Just needs some moist cold. Works well in a cold garage over the winter months.

14. 

Gloriosa Daisy

Rudbeckia hirta

Sometimes needs cold to germinate. We keep seeds cold so may be fine. Sow for cold garage to be sure. Or keep seeds in the refrigerator and sow at normal time. IF they don't germinate use cold treatment at that time.

15. 

Goat's Beard

Aruncus dioicus

Easy. Just needs some moist cold. Works well in a cold garage over the winter months.

16. 

Indian tobacco S

lobelia inflata

Easy. Just needs some moist cold. Works well in a cold garage over the winter months.

17. 

Jewelweed Pale

Impatiens pallida

Sometimes is needs cold sometimes if fine without. We keep our seeds cold so hopefully they should germinate fine without it. If not then give cold treatment.

18. 

Joe Pye Weed S

Eupatorium maculatum

Easy. Just needs some moist cold. Works well in a cold garage over the winter months.

19. 

Lady's Mantle

Alchemilla mollis

Easy. Just needs a period of cold. All our seeds are pre chilled.

20. 

Maral Root

Leuzea cahamoides or Rhaponticum carthamoides

Fairly easy but can be finicky. Needs moist cold to germinate. Must be seeded and grown in cool to cold conditions. If done to its specifications most will germinate first year. If it's not happy with the amount of cold germination can be spotty and some may not germinate until second year.

21. 

MeadowSweet

Filipendula ulmaria

Easy. Seeds are pre chilled and usually germinate well without any other treatment.

22. 

Milkweed Common

Asclepias syriaca

Easy. Just needs some moist cold. Works well in a cold garage over the winter months. Or direct sow in fall

23. 

Milkweed -Swamp, Pink Milkweed S

Asclepias incarnata

Easy. Just needs some moist cold. Works well in a cold garage over the winter months. Or direct sow in fall

24. 

New Jersey Tea

Ceanothus americanus

Easy. Just needs some moist cold. Works well in a cold garage over the winter months.

13. 

Nussbamer Hickory

Carya x nussbaumeri

Fairly easy. Needs period of moist cold. Cold garage or refriderator is idea. Only more difficult because nuts are so large.

25. 

Passion Flower

Passiflora Incarnata

Can be challenging. This one is finicky. Needs cold but also needs soaking as seed coat is hard. Even if planted outside seeds should be scarified (roughed up) first.

26. 

Plum Yew

Cephalotaxus harringtonia

Needs moist cold to germinate. Its slow and does not all germinate in the same year.

27. 

Rose Campion

Lychnis coronaria

Easy. Just needs some moist cold. Works well in a cold garage over the winter months.

28. 

Rose Rugosa S

Rosa Rugosa

Easy. Just needs some moist cold. Works well in a cold garage over the winter months.

29. 

Senna-American

Senna marilandica

Easy. Just needs some moist cold. Works well in a cold garage over the winter months.

30. 

Siberian Wallflower

Erysimum allionii

Easy. Just needs some moist cold. Works well in a cold garage over the winter months. Or direct sow in fall

31. 

Sunflowers, Perennial S

Helianthus maximiliani

Easy. Just needs a period of cold. All our seeds are pre chilled.

32. 

Sweetgum tree

Liquidambar Styraciflua

Easy. Just needs a period of cold. All our seeds are pre chilled.

33. 

Thistle - Scotch

Onopordum acanthium

Little more finicky. It needs moist cold and works well in cold garage or even left outside in pots. Most seeds then germinate but some may not germinate until the second season.

34. 

Winter aconite

Eranthis hyemalis

Easy but very time consuming. Can take time to germinate. Best sown direct and left alone. Do not disturb area where seeds are sown its finicky about being moved. Usually germinated after first winter but can take up to three.

35. 

Woodruff sweet

Galium odoratum

Must have moist cold to germinate

36. 

Yellow Dock .

Rumex-crispus

Can be finicky. Needs moist cold but can be stubborn and not germinate for quite some time afterwards. Period of cold can vary, some dont care others like a little other like a lot. Need to experiment with this one.



DETAILED STRATIFICATION INSTRUCTIONS



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Janice Hazeldine PhD is the owner and head grower of Floral Encounters an organic Medicinal Herb farm that is also a designated sanctuary for pollinators.