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Drosera spathulata

Spoon-leaved Sundew · Rosy Sundew

Family DroseraceaeGenus Drosera

A white flower with five rounded petals and a tuft of yellow stamens, beside red-tipped buds
FlowerDaveKimbleCC BY 3.0

About the plant

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

Flower
White, pink, reddish violetFlora of China

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Source: Flora of China — Wu Zhengyi, Peter H. Raven and Hong Deyuan (eds.).

Worth knowing

  • The spoon-leaved sundew, named for its spatula-shaped leaves, ranges from Japan and southern China to Australia and New Zealand. Wikipedia: Drosera spatulata

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 July 20, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on July 19, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 240 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 8 months from start to sowing. Then 20 days to germinate.

100% germination in 12–20 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Drosera p. 40Public domain
Show the original text
Drosera (Droseraceae). The effect of iight varied from no effect to promoting germination to being an absolute requirement for germination. Germination in 70 GA-3 was always poor and often zero. Except for D. spathulata seeds DS 8 m germ. 70L(100% in 12-20 d) and none in 70D. Seeds DS 2 y were largely dead and germ. 70L(6%) and 70D(none).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Drosera p. 40. 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 16, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on March 15, 2025.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 730 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 2 years from start to sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

6% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Drosera p. 40Public domain
Show the original text
Drosera (Droseraceae). The effect of iight varied from no effect to promoting germination to being an absolute requirement for germination. Germination in 70 GA-3 was always poor and often zero. Except for D. spathulata seeds DS 8 m germ. 70L(100% in 12-20 d) and none in 70D. Seeds DS 2 y were largely dead and germ. 70L(6%) and 70D(none).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Drosera p. 40. 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. Dry storage

    Duration: 240 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 8 months from start to sowing.

0% germination.

Nothing germinated at 70.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Drosera p. 40Public domain
Show the original text
Drosera (Droseraceae). The effect of iight varied from no effect to promoting germination to being an absolute requirement for germination. Germination in 70 GA-3 was always poor and often zero. Except for D. spathulata seeds DS 8 m germ. 70L(100% in 12-20 d) and none in 70D. Seeds DS 2 y were largely dead and germ. 70L(6%) and 70D(none).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Drosera p. 40. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record; 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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