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Dipsacus fullonum

Common Teasel · Draper's Teasel · Fuller's Teasel · Wild Teasel

Family CaprifoliaceaeGenus Dipsacus

Also published as Dipsacus sylvestris. You are in the right place.

A tall branched plant carrying dozens of dry spiny egg-shaped heads, in rough grass by a hedge
The whole plantMPFCC BY-SA 3.0
Many spiny teasel heads on tall stems above coarse gray-green leaves at a woodland edge
The whole plantAndrea Di MuzioPublic domain

About the plant

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

Habit
biennial or perennialPlants of the World Online
Habit
Biennial, Forb/herbPLANTS Database
Flower
Lavender, purple, dark pinkWikipedia
Native range
Albania, Algeria, Austria, Baleares, Belgium, Bulgaria 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; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; Wikipedia — Wikipedia contributors; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Dried teasel heads were fixed to frames to raise the nap on cloth. A teasel breaks if it meets serious resistance, where a metal tool would rip the fabric. Wikipedia: Dipsacus fullonum
  • Rain collects in cups where the leaves join the stem. The seeds are an important winter food for European goldfinches. Wikipedia: Dipsacus fullonum

Two sources report 9 treatments between them. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around February 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Gibberellic acid soak

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 49 days to germinate.

93% germination in 7–49 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Dipsacus p. 39Public domain
Show the original text
Dipsacus (Dipsacaceae). D. fullonum germ. 70 GA-3(93% in 1-7 w) and 70L(5% in 2nd w) and none in 70D-40 or 40-70D.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Dipsacus p. 39. 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 Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 22, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 14 days to germinate.

5% germination in 14 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Dipsacus p. 39Public domain
Show the original text
Dipsacus (Dipsacaceae). D. fullonum germ. 70 GA-3(93% in 1-7 w) and 70L(5% in 2nd w) and none in 70D-40 or 40-70D.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Dipsacus p. 39. 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

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing.

0% germination.

Nothing germinated at 70.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Dipsacus p. 39Public domain
Show the original text
Dipsacus (Dipsacaceae). D. fullonum germ. 70 GA-3(93% in 1-7 w) and 70L(5% in 2nd w) and none in 70D-40 or 40-70D.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Dipsacus p. 39. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 26, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 25, 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. Then 12 days to germinate.

86% germination in 2–12 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Dipsacus p. 133Public domain
Show the original text
Dipsacus (Dipsaceae). D. sylvestris germination was promoted by light, DS, a prior 3 m at 40, and outdoor treatment. Fresh seed germ. 70L(17% in 5-7 d), 70D(none), 40-70L(54% in 5-17 d), 40-70D(none), and 55% in March and April in outdoor treatment. Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70L(86% in 2-12 d), 70D(33% in 2-12 d), 40-70L(16% in 6-10 d), and 40-70D(none).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Dipsacus p. 133. 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 Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Sow outdoors and leave it

    Up in March and April.

No stated waiting before sowing.

55% germination.

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

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Dipsacus p. 133Public domain
Show the original text
Dipsacus (Dipsaceae). D. sylvestris germination was promoted by light, DS, a prior 3 m at 40, and outdoor treatment. Fresh seed germ. 70L(17% in 5-7 d), 70D(none), 40-70L(54% in 5-17 d), 40-70D(none), and 55% in March and April in outdoor treatment. Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70L(86% in 2-12 d), 70D(33% in 2-12 d), 40-70L(16% in 6-10 d), and 40-70D(none).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Dipsacus p. 133. 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 Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 19, 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 17 days.

54% germination in 5–17 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Dipsacus p. 133Public domain
Show the original text
Dipsacus (Dipsaceae). D. sylvestris germination was promoted by light, DS, a prior 3 m at 40, and outdoor treatment. Fresh seed germ. 70L(17% in 5-7 d), 70D(none), 40-70L(54% in 5-17 d), 40-70D(none), and 55% in March and April in outdoor treatment. Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70L(86% in 2-12 d), 70D(33% in 2-12 d), 40-70L(16% in 6-10 d), and 40-70D(none).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Dipsacus p. 133. 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 Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 26, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 25, 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. Then 12 days to germinate.

33% germination in 2–12 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Dipsacus p. 133Public domain
Show the original text
Dipsacus (Dipsaceae). D. sylvestris germination was promoted by light, DS, a prior 3 m at 40, and outdoor treatment. Fresh seed germ. 70L(17% in 5-7 d), 70D(none), 40-70L(54% in 5-17 d), 40-70D(none), and 55% in March and April in outdoor treatment. Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70L(86% in 2-12 d), 70D(33% in 2-12 d), 40-70L(16% in 6-10 d), and 40-70D(none).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Dipsacus p. 133. 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 High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 29, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 7 days to germinate.

17% germination in 5–7 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Dipsacus p. 133Public domain
Show the original text
Dipsacus (Dipsaceae). D. sylvestris germination was promoted by light, DS, a prior 3 m at 40, and outdoor treatment. Fresh seed germ. 70L(17% in 5-7 d), 70D(none), 40-70L(54% in 5-17 d), 40-70D(none), and 55% in March and April in outdoor treatment. Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70L(86% in 2-12 d), 70D(33% in 2-12 d), 40-70L(16% in 6-10 d), and 40-70D(none).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Dipsacus p. 133. 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 9

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around June 30, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on June 29, 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, in 10 days.

16% germination in 6–10 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Dipsacus p. 133Public domain
Show the original text
Dipsacus (Dipsaceae). D. sylvestris germination was promoted by light, DS, a prior 3 m at 40, and outdoor treatment. Fresh seed germ. 70L(17% in 5-7 d), 70D(none), 40-70L(54% in 5-17 d), 40-70D(none), and 55% in March and April in outdoor treatment. Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70L(86% in 2-12 d), 70D(33% in 2-12 d), 40-70L(16% in 6-10 d), and 40-70D(none).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Dipsacus p. 133. 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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