Deno’s GardenMy Garden

Asphodelus ramosus

Branched Asphodel · Silverrod

Family AsphodelaceaeGenus Asphodelus

White star flowers with a red-brown stripe down each petal and orange anthers, a bee on one of them, above striped buds
FlowerKızılCC BY-SA 4.0

About the plant

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

Habit
tuberous geophytePlants of the World Online
Flower
WhiteWikipedia
Native range
Albania, Algeria, Baleares, Canary Is., Corse, Cyprus and elsewhereGBIF 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; Wikipedia — Wikipedia contributors; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • The branched asphodel is told from its close relatives by its highly branched stem and smaller fruits; its names have long been confused. Wikipedia: Asphodelus ramosus

This source reports 4 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around January 18, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

Germination happens during step 1, in 77 days.

100% germination in 77 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Asphodelus p. 16Public domain
Show the original text
Asphodelus (Liliaceae). A. ramosus germ. 70D-40(4/4 in 7th w) and 40(3/3 in 11th w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Asphodelus p. 16. 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 Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around November 17, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Warm moist stratification

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

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 49 days.

100% germination in 49 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Asphodelus p. 16Public domain
Show the original text
Asphodelus (Liliaceae). A. ramosus germ. 70D-40(4/4 in 7th w) and 40(3/3 in 11th w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Asphodelus p. 16. 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 Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 28, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 98 days to germinate.

73% germination in 21–98 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Asphodelus p. 16Public domain
Show the original text
Asphodelus (Liliaceae). A. microcarpus germ. 70D(73% in 3-14 w) and 40(55% in 10-12 w)-70D(45% in 1-3 d). The sample in 70D was kept at 70 beyond the usual 3 m. After 16 w it was shifted to 40 after which the remaining 27% germ. in 5-10 w.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Asphodelus p. 16. 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, 1998

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

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

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

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

    45 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 1 run on after germination.

Germination happens during step 1, in 84 days.

55% germination in 70–84 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Asphodelus p. 16Public domain
Show the original text
Asphodelus (Liliaceae). A. microcarpus germ. 70D(73% in 3-14 w) and 40(55% in 10-12 w)-70D(45% in 1-3 d). The sample in 70D was kept at 70 beyond the usual 3 m. After 16 w it was shifted to 40 after which the remaining 27% germ. in 5-10 w.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Asphodelus p. 16. 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