Deno’s GardenMy Garden

Caltha leptosepala

Slender-sepal Marsh-marigold · Elkslip · Elkslip Marsh Marigold · White Marsh Marigold

Family RanunculaceaeGenus Caltha

Round leaves with wavy scalloped edges and a deep notch at the stalk, some yellowing, lying among grass and dead foliage.
LeafKrzysztof Ziarnek, KenraizCC BY-SA 4.0

About the plant

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

The plant

Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, Forb/herbPLANTS Database
Height
1.0 ft30 cmPLANTS Database
Flower
WhitePLANTS Database
Blooms
Late SpringPLANTS Database
Native range
Alaska, Canada, lower 48 statesPLANTS Database

Growing conditions

Sun
Shade tolerance: HighPLANTS Database
Soil
Adapted to coarse, medium textured soilsPLANTS Database
Soil pH
6.6-8.2PLANTS Database
Moisture
Moisture use: HighPLANTS Database
Watering
Drought tolerance: NonePLANTS Database

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.

Worth knowing

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

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. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    1/8 germinated in this phase.

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

about 6 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

25% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Caltha p. 110Public domain
Show the original text
Caltha (Ranunculaceae). C. leptosepala germ. best (4/8) in outdoor treatment, less in 70(1/8)-40-70(2/8), and none in 40-70 treatment.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Caltha p. 110. 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

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

Germination happens during step 1.

0% germination.

Nothing germinated at 40.

This source doesn't state how long step 1 lasts.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Caltha p. 110Public domain
Show the original text
Caltha (Ranunculaceae). C. leptosepala germ. best (4/8) in outdoor treatment, less in 70(1/8)-40-70(2/8), and none in 40-70 treatment.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Caltha p. 110. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record; 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