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Abutilon theophrasti

Velvetleaf · Buttonweed · Abutilon-hemp · American-jute · Butterprint

Family MalvaceaeGenus Abutilon

A yellow five-petalled flower with a boss of stamens, beside a heart-shaped leaf
FlowerI.Sáček, seniorPublic domain

About the plant

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

The plant

Habit
annualPlants of the World Online
Habit
Annual, Forb/herbPLANTS Database
Height
2-8 ft0.6-2.4 mNotes from web searches
Flower
Yellow flowers that are about ½ to 1 inch in diameter; 5 petalsYellow flowers that are about 1.5-2.5 cm in diameter; 5 petalsNotes from web searches
Blooms
July-AugustNotes from web searches
Native range
China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Inner Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Note
Highly invasive plantNotes from web searches

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun, some shade is tolerableNotes from web searches
Soil
Fertile loam or clay-loam soilsNotes from web searches
Soil pH
5-8Notes from web searches
Organic matter
High (nitrogen)Notes from web searches
Moisture
Adequate moisture levelsNotes from web searches
Watering
Does well in both wet and dry conditionsNotes from web searches

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

Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; Notes from web searches — Amir Abed; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Grown in China since about 2000 BCE for its strong, jute-like fiber. A plant makes between 700 and 44,200 seeds, which can last about 50 years in dry storage or in the soil. Wikipedia: Abutilon theophrasti

This source reports three treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around January 25, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 70 days to germinate.

5% germination in 7–70 days.

Germination is erratic. Neither a prior three months at 40 nor outdoor treatment made any difference.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Abutilon p. 83Public domain
Show the original text
If the opening is not made, germination ranges from 5- 25% and takes place erratically over 1-10 w whether sown at 70 (with or without a prior 3 m at 40) or in outdoor treatment.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Abutilon p. 83. 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 Low Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Hot-water treatment

    Temperature: 140°F 60°C Amount: 10 min

    Ten minutes immersed in water at 140.

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing.

Reported to Deno by Prof. Roger Koide of Penn State University.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Abutilon p. 83Public domain
Show the original text
Prof. Roger Koide of Penn State Univ. found that germination is immediate if the seed is immersed in water at 140 for 10 minutes.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Abutilon p. 83. 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 Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around April 3, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Nick or sand the seed coat

    Grind an opening through the seed coat.

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 2 days to germinate.

Germinates in 2 days.

Deno prints the percentage as "190%", which cannot be read with confidence, so no figure is given here.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Abutilon p. 83Public domain
Show the original text
A..theOphrasti germ. 190% iri.2 d at 70 if an opening is ground through the, seed coat.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Abutilon p. 83. 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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