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Arctostaphylos crustacea

Brittleleaf Manzanita

Family EricaceaeGenus Arctostaphylos

A twig with oval leathery leaves and a hanging cluster of small red-brown berries covered in fine hairs
FruitKrzysztof Ziarnek, KenraizCC BY-SA 4.0

About the plant

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

Habit
shrubPlants of the World Online
Flower
WhiteFlora of North America
Native range
CaliforniaGBIF 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; Flora of North America — Flora of North America Editorial Committee; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

Two sources report 5 treatments between them. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around July 30, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on July 29, 2024.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 730 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  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 2.5 years from start to step 4. Germination happens during step 4, in 70 days.

6% germination in 14–70 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Arctostaphylos p. 14Public domain
Show the original text
Arctostaphylos (Ericaceae). 1 - A. crustacea. data is now more complete. It germ. 70(GA-3)-40(2%)-70D(2%)- 40-70D(2%) and 70D-40-70D-40(2%). Séeds DS 2 y germ. 70(GA-3)-40-70D(6% in 2- 10 w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Arctostaphylos p. 14. 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, 1998

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around June 19, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on June 18, 2026.

  1. Warm moist stratification

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

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

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

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

about 9 months from start to step 4. Germination happens during step 4; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

2% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Arctostaphylos p. 14Public domain
Show the original text
Arctostaphylos (Ericaceae). 1 - A. crustacea. data is now more complete. It germ. 70(GA-3)-40(2%)-70D(2%)- 40-70D(2%) and 70D-40-70D-40(2%). Séeds DS 2 y germ. 70(GA-3)-40-70D(6% in 2- 10 w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Arctostaphylos p. 14. 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, 1998

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 15, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 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

    2 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

    2 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 2 run on after germination.

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

2% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Arctostaphylos p. 14Public domain
Show the original text
Arctostaphylos (Ericaceae). 1 - A. crustacea. data is now more complete. It germ. 70(GA-3)-40(2%)-70D(2%)- 40-70D(2%) and 70D-40-70D-40(2%). Séeds DS 2 y germ. 70(GA-3)-40-70D(6% in 2- 10 w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Arctostaphylos p. 14. 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 Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 15, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 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

    2 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 2 run on after germination.

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

2% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Arctostaphylos p. 21Public domain
Show the original text
Arctostaphylos (Ericaceae). Studies on A. crustacea germ. 70(GA-3)-40(2%)-70(2%) and 70-40-70-40(2%). None germ. in 70L, 40-70-40-70, or OT.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Arctostaphylos 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 5

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around June 19, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on June 18, 2026.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 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

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

about 9 months from start to step 4. Germination happens during step 4; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

2% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Arctostaphylos p. 21Public domain
Show the original text
Arctostaphylos (Ericaceae). Studies on A. crustacea germ. 70(GA-3)-40(2%)-70(2%) and 70-40-70-40(2%). None germ. in 70L, 40-70-40-70, or OT.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Arctostaphylos 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

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