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Clematis forsteri

Forster's Clematis

Family RanunculaceaeGenus Clematis

Many starry, creamy green flowers scattered over a tangle of wiry stems and small leaves
FlowerMichael BerardozziCC BY 4.0
A color plate of a climber with pale lobed leaves and many starry cream flowers, captioned Pikiarero and named as Clematis hexasepala
IllustrationSarah FeatonPublic domain

About the plant

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

Habit
climberPlants of the World Online
Flower
Creamy yellow-whiteWikipedia
Native range
New Zealand North, New Zealand SouthGBIF 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

  • Forster's clematis, endemic to New Zealand, is named after Johann R. and Johann G. A. Forster. Its flowers were used in headdresses, and its stems were mixed with clay to build the walls of fortified pā. Wikipedia: Clematis forsteri

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around October 14, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on October 13, 2026.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  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 84 days.

75% germination in 84 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Clematis p. 119Public domain
Show the original text
Clematis (Ranunculaceae). Light and/or GA-3 are required for the germination of some species. Although a number of species germ. significantly in the dark, light and GA-3 needs to be tried on all species. Multicycle patterns were common and some species germ. largely at 40. The seeds of all species are designed to be dispersed by wind so that it was presumed that DS would be tolerated. This was supported by the data for seeds DS 6 m, however seeds of C. forsteri germ. 70 (GA-3)-40(6/8 in 12th w), 70D(1/7)-40-70D, and 40-70D- 40(none). Light should be tried:
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Clematis p. 119. 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 High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 15, 2027 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

  3. Warm moist stratification

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

Steps after step 1 run on after germination.

Germination happens during step 1; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

14% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Clematis p. 119Public domain
Show the original text
Clematis (Ranunculaceae). Light and/or GA-3 are required for the germination of some species. Although a number of species germ. significantly in the dark, light and GA-3 needs to be tried on all species. Multicycle patterns were common and some species germ. largely at 40. The seeds of all species are designed to be dispersed by wind so that it was presumed that DS would be tolerated. This was supported by the data for seeds DS 6 m, however seeds of C. forsteri germ. 70 (GA-3)-40(6/8 in 12th w), 70D(1/7)-40-70D, and 40-70D- 40(none). Light should be tried:
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Clematis p. 119. 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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