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Cautleya spicata

Spiked Shade Ginger · Hardy Shade Ginger · Chinese Butterfly Ginger

Family ZingiberaceaeGenus Cautleya

Yellow hooded flowers emerging from a deep red spike, among broad green strap leaves
Flower"John Jearrard"CC0

About the plant

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

Habit
epiphytePlants of the World Online
Flower
YellowFlora of China
Native range
Assam, China South-Central, East Himalaya, Myanmar, Nepal, Tibet 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; Flora of China — Wu Zhengyi, Peter H. Raven and Hong Deyuan (eds.); GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

This source reports three treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 26, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 10 days to germinate.

100% germination in 10 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Cautleya p. 30Public domain
Show the original text
Cautleya (Zingiberaceae). C. spicata germ. 70D(6/6 on 10th d), 70L(5/6 in 12-18 d), and 40-70D(1/6).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Cautleya p. 30. 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 Low Rated by us, not by the source.

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

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 18 days to germinate.

83% germination in 12–18 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Cautleya p. 30Public domain
Show the original text
Cautleya (Zingiberaceae). C. spicata germ. 70D(6/6 on 10th d), 70L(5/6 in 12-18 d), and 40-70D(1/6).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Cautleya p. 30. 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 High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 15, 2026 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

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

17% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Cautleya p. 30Public domain
Show the original text
Cautleya (Zingiberaceae). C. spicata germ. 70D(6/6 on 10th d), 70L(5/6 in 12-18 d), and 40-70D(1/6).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Cautleya p. 30. 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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