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Dolichandra unguis-cati

Cat Claw · Catclaw Vine · Cat's Claw Creeper

Family BignoniaceaeGenus Dolichandra

Three large golden trumpet flowers with ruffled lobes, among glossy leaves
FlowerHectonichusCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

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

Habit
lianaPlants of the World Online
Flower
YellowWikipedia
Native range
Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil North 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; Wikipedia — Wikipedia contributors; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Cat's claw creeper grows fast and spreads up and across every layer of a forest, and has become invasive in many places it was brought to as an ornamental. Its roots form tubers 40–50 cm long. Wikipedia: Dolichandra unguis-cati

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 16, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on March 15, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 365 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 12 months from start to sowing. Then 21 days to germinate.

83% germination in 21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Macfadyena p. 56Public domain
Show the original text
Macfadyena (Bignoniaceae). M. unguis-cati had germination promoted by light, but light was not essential. Seeds DS 1 y germ. 70L(5/6 in 3rd w), 70D(4/8 in 4-6 w), and 70 GA-3(1 /4 in 4th w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Macfadyena p. 56. 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 Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around February 23, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on February 22, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 365 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 12 months from start to sowing. Then 42 days to germinate.

50% germination in 28–42 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Macfadyena p. 56Public domain
Show the original text
Macfadyena (Bignoniaceae). M. unguis-cati had germination promoted by light, but light was not essential. Seeds DS 1 y germ. 70L(5/6 in 3rd w), 70D(4/8 in 4-6 w), and 70 GA-3(1 /4 in 4th w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Macfadyena p. 56. 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 March 9, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on March 8, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 365 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Gibberellic acid soak

  3. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

about 12 months from start to sowing. Then 28 days to germinate.

25% germination in 28 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Macfadyena p. 56Public domain
Show the original text
Macfadyena (Bignoniaceae). M. unguis-cati had germination promoted by light, but light was not essential. Seeds DS 1 y germ. 70L(5/6 in 3rd w), 70D(4/8 in 4-6 w), and 70 GA-3(1 /4 in 4th w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Macfadyena p. 56. 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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