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Abeliophyllum distichum

Korean Abelialeaf · White Forsythia

Family OleaceaeGenus Abeliophyllum

A white four-petalled flower with a yellow center, open on a bare reddish twig
FlowerYoko NekonomaniaCC BY 2.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Deciduous shrubPlant Finder
Habit
shrubPlants of the World Online
Height
3-5 ft0.9-1.5 mPlant Finder
Spread
3-4 ft0.9-1.2 mPlant Finder
Flower
Showy, fragrant, good cut; white, sometimes with a pink tingePlant Finder
Blooms
March to AprilPlant Finder
Native range
KoreaPlant Finder
Hardiness zones
5-8Plant Finder

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun to partial shadePlant Finder
Soil
Average, medium, well-drainedPlant Finder
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Organic matter
ModerateNotes from web searches
Moisture
Good DrainageExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Watering
Medium; avoid overwateringPlant Finder

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plant Finder — Missouri Botanical Garden; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Notes from web searches — Amir Abed.

Worth knowing

This source reports 4 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around February 26, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Separate the seed from its case

    separating the seed from the round wings and capsule

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

    A small reduction in percent germination if the seeds are sown while still in the seed capsules.

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 38 days to germinate.

85% germination — first up on day 25, then 7% a day.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Abeliophyllum p. 82Public domain
Show the original text
A. distichum seed germ. 85,95% by collecting the seed in November, separating the seed from the round wings and capsule, and sowing directly at 70. The ind. t is 25 d, and the rate is 7%/d.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Abeliophyllum p. 82. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 11, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Separate the seed from its case

    separating the seed from the round wings and capsule

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

    Germination does not take place until the shift to 70.

  3. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

Then 25 days to germinate.

70% germination in 25 days.

This source doesn't state how long step 2 lasts.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Abeliophyllum p. 82Public domain
Show the original text
If the seed is sown at 40, germination does not take place until the shift to 70 after which it germ. at the same rate as if it had been sown directly at 70, but the percent germ. is lowered to 70%.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Abeliophyllum p. 82. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 13, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 12, 2026.

  1. Separate the seed from its case

    separating the seed from the round wings and capsule

  2. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

about 6 months from start to sowing. Then 25 days to germinate.

60% germination in 25 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Abeliophyllum p. 82Public domain
Show the original text
Seed collected in November has already undergone some DS, nevertheless DS at 40 or 70 for 6 m lowered the percent germination to 60%.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Abeliophyllum p. 82. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 13, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 12, 2026.

  1. Separate the seed from its case

    separating the seed from the round wings and capsule

  2. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  3. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

about 6 months from start to sowing. Then 25 days to germinate.

60% germination in 25 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Abeliophyllum p. 82Public domain
Show the original text
Seed collected in November has already undergone some DS, nevertheless DS at 40 or 70 for 6 m lowered the percent germination to 60%.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Abeliophyllum p. 82. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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