Deno’s GardenMy Garden

Aralia californica

California Spikenard · California-ginseng · Elk Clover

Family AraliaceaeGenus Aralia

A thicket of large leaves divided into broad toothed leaflets on upright green stems, in woodland beside ferns.
LeafUnknownPublic domain

About the plant

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

Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, Forb/herbPLANTS Database
Flower
Greenish-whiteWikipedia
Native range
California, OregonGBIF Backbone Taxonomy

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; Wikipedia — Wikipedia contributors; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Elk clover, a large herb of California and Oregon, can reach 2 to 3 m with very large compound leaves. It grows in moist, shaded places such as streambanks and canyons, and bears dark purple to black fruit. Wikipedia: Aralia californica

This source reports 4 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around April 2, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on April 1, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 12 months from start to step 4. Germination happens during step 4, in 9 days.

100% germination in 3–9 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Aralia p. 21Public domain
Show the original text
Aralia (Araliaceae). A. californica (seeds received after 6 m DS) germ. 70D-40-70D(100% in 3-9 d), and 70L-40-70D(95% in 3-16 d), 70 GA-3(54% in 3rd w)-40-70D, and 40-70D(20% on 4th d)-40-70D(80% in 1-3 d). It is interesting that the 70-40-70'pattern is slowed down by an initial 3 m at 40.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Aralia p. 21. 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, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 26, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on March 25, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 12 months from start to step 4. Germination happens during step 4, in 16 days.

95% germination in 3–16 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Aralia p. 21Public domain
Show the original text
Aralia (Araliaceae). A. californica (seeds received after 6 m DS) germ. 70D-40-70D(100% in 3-9 d), and 70L-40-70D(95% in 3-16 d), 70 GA-3(54% in 3rd w)-40-70D, and 40-70D(20% on 4th d)-40-70D(80% in 1-3 d). It is interesting that the 70-40-70'pattern is slowed down by an initial 3 m at 40.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Aralia p. 21. 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, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around January 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on January 7, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

    20 germinated in this phase.

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  5. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 15 months from start to step 5. Germination happens during step 5, in 3 days.

80% germination in 1–3 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Aralia p. 21Public domain
Show the original text
Aralia (Araliaceae). A. californica (seeds received after 6 m DS) germ. 70D-40-70D(100% in 3-9 d), and 70L-40-70D(95% in 3-16 d), 70 GA-3(54% in 3rd w)-40-70D, and 40-70D(20% on 4th d)-40-70D(80% in 1-3 d). It is interesting that the 70-40-70'pattern is slowed down by an initial 3 m at 40.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Aralia p. 21. 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, 1996

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Gibberellic acid soak

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  5. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

Steps after step 3 run on after germination.

about 6 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 21 days.

54% germination in 21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Aralia p. 21Public domain
Show the original text
Aralia (Araliaceae). A. californica (seeds received after 6 m DS) germ. 70D-40-70D(100% in 3-9 d), and 70L-40-70D(95% in 3-16 d), 70 GA-3(54% in 3rd w)-40-70D, and 40-70D(20% on 4th d)-40-70D(80% in 1-3 d). It is interesting that the 70-40-70'pattern is slowed down by an initial 3 m at 40.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Aralia p. 21. 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

Add to My Garden

View species page