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Centaurium scilloides

Perennial Centaury

Family GentianaceaeGenus Centaurium

Pink five-petalled flowers with yellow centers on low leafy shoots, spreading over pale gravel
FlowerGhislain118 (AD) http://www.fleurs-des-montagnes.netCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

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

Habit
subshrubPlants of the World Online
Flower
PinkRead from the photograph on this page
Native range
AzoresGBIF 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; Read from the photograph on this page — Deno's Garden; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Perennial centaury has been grown in Britain since William Aiton introduced it, probably from the Azores, in 1777. It once grew in Cornwall but died out in England in 1967; it survives in Pembrokeshire, Wales. Wikipedia: Centaurium scilloides

This source reports 8 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 30, 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: light

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 6 days.

100% germination in 5–6 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Centaurium p. 115Public domain
Show the original text
Centaurium (Gentianaceae). C. scilloides germ. 70L(92% in 2-4 w) and 70D(15% in 2-4 w) for fresh seed and 70L(70%) and 70D(2%) for seed DS 6 m at 70. This promotion of germination by light was largely eliminated by an initial 3 m at 40 as shown by 40-70L(100% in 5-6 d) and 40-70D(87% in 3rd w) for fresh seed and 40-70L(92%) and 40-70D(20%) for DS seed. However, the germination rate was greater in the light showing that even in the 40-70 pattern there was still some residual photoresponse.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Centaurium p. 115. 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

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 28 days to germinate.

92% germination in 14–28 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Centaurium p. 115Public domain
Show the original text
Centaurium (Gentianaceae). C. scilloides germ. 70L(92% in 2-4 w) and 70D(15% in 2-4 w) for fresh seed and 70L(70%) and 70D(2%) for seed DS 6 m at 70. This promotion of germination by light was largely eliminated by an initial 3 m at 40 as shown by 40-70L(100% in 5-6 d) and 40-70D(87% in 3rd w) for fresh seed and 40-70L(92%) and 40-70D(20%) for DS seed. However, the germination rate was greater in the light showing that even in the 40-70 pattern there was still some residual photoresponse.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Centaurium p. 115. 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, 1993

Difficulty Moderate 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. 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: light

about 9 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

92% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Centaurium p. 115Public domain
Show the original text
Centaurium (Gentianaceae). C. scilloides germ. 70L(92% in 2-4 w) and 70D(15% in 2-4 w) for fresh seed and 70L(70%) and 70D(2%) for seed DS 6 m at 70. This promotion of germination by light was largely eliminated by an initial 3 m at 40 as shown by 40-70L(100% in 5-6 d) and 40-70D(87% in 3rd w) for fresh seed and 40-70L(92%) and 40-70D(20%) for DS seed. However, the germination rate was greater in the light showing that even in the 40-70 pattern there was still some residual photoresponse.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Centaurium p. 115. 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, 1993

Difficulty Moderate 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, in 21 days.

87% germination in 21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Centaurium p. 115Public domain
Show the original text
Centaurium (Gentianaceae). C. scilloides germ. 70L(92% in 2-4 w) and 70D(15% in 2-4 w) for fresh seed and 70L(70%) and 70D(2%) for seed DS 6 m at 70. This promotion of germination by light was largely eliminated by an initial 3 m at 40 as shown by 40-70L(100% in 5-6 d) and 40-70D(87% in 3rd w) for fresh seed and 40-70L(92%) and 40-70D(20%) for DS seed. However, the germination rate was greater in the light showing that even in the 40-70 pattern there was still some residual photoresponse.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Centaurium p. 115. 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, 1993

Difficulty Low 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. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 6 months from start to sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

70% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Centaurium p. 115Public domain
Show the original text
Centaurium (Gentianaceae). C. scilloides germ. 70L(92% in 2-4 w) and 70D(15% in 2-4 w) for fresh seed and 70L(70%) and 70D(2%) for seed DS 6 m at 70. This promotion of germination by light was largely eliminated by an initial 3 m at 40 as shown by 40-70L(100% in 5-6 d) and 40-70D(87% in 3rd w) for fresh seed and 40-70L(92%) and 40-70D(20%) for DS seed. However, the germination rate was greater in the light showing that even in the 40-70 pattern there was still some residual photoresponse.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Centaurium p. 115. 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 6

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty 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. 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

about 9 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

20% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Centaurium p. 115Public domain
Show the original text
Centaurium (Gentianaceae). C. scilloides germ. 70L(92% in 2-4 w) and 70D(15% in 2-4 w) for fresh seed and 70L(70%) and 70D(2%) for seed DS 6 m at 70. This promotion of germination by light was largely eliminated by an initial 3 m at 40 as shown by 40-70L(100% in 5-6 d) and 40-70D(87% in 3rd w) for fresh seed and 40-70L(92%) and 40-70D(20%) for DS seed. However, the germination rate was greater in the light showing that even in the 40-70 pattern there was still some residual photoresponse.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Centaurium p. 115. 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 7

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 28 days to germinate.

15% germination in 14–28 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Centaurium p. 115Public domain
Show the original text
Centaurium (Gentianaceae). C. scilloides germ. 70L(92% in 2-4 w) and 70D(15% in 2-4 w) for fresh seed and 70L(70%) and 70D(2%) for seed DS 6 m at 70. This promotion of germination by light was largely eliminated by an initial 3 m at 40 as shown by 40-70L(100% in 5-6 d) and 40-70D(87% in 3rd w) for fresh seed and 40-70L(92%) and 40-70D(20%) for DS seed. However, the germination rate was greater in the light showing that even in the 40-70 pattern there was still some residual photoresponse.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Centaurium p. 115. 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 8

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Very 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. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 6 months from start to sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

2% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Centaurium p. 115Public domain
Show the original text
Centaurium (Gentianaceae). C. scilloides germ. 70L(92% in 2-4 w) and 70D(15% in 2-4 w) for fresh seed and 70L(70%) and 70D(2%) for seed DS 6 m at 70. This promotion of germination by light was largely eliminated by an initial 3 m at 40 as shown by 40-70L(100% in 5-6 d) and 40-70D(87% in 3rd w) for fresh seed and 40-70L(92%) and 40-70D(20%) for DS seed. However, the germination rate was greater in the light showing that even in the 40-70 pattern there was still some residual photoresponse.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Centaurium p. 115. 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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