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Erica spiculifolia

Eastern Heath · Spike Heath

Family EricaceaeGenus Erica

A crowded head of pale pink bells with dark protruding anthers, on a red stem set with tiny leaves
FlowerAdrian SchlesingerCC 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
Rose-pinkWikipedia
Native range
Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, NW. Balkan Pen., Romania, TürkiyeGBIF 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

  • Balkan heath is a dwarf evergreen, up to about 25 cm, with rose-pink bells in early summer. It grows on acid soils in the subalpine mountains of south-eastern Europe up to 2,800 m, and was first identified in 1802. Wikipedia: Erica spiculifolia

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 January 11, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 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

    1 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 1 run on after germination.

Germination happens during step 1, in 84 days.

95% germination in 14–84 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Bruckenthalia p. 108Public domain
Show the original text
Bruckenthalia (Ericaceae). B. spiculifolia germ. 70(95% in 2-12 w)-40- 70(1%) and 40-70(50%).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Bruckenthalia p. 108. 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 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

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

50% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Bruckenthalia p. 108Public domain
Show the original text
Bruckenthalia (Ericaceae). B. spiculifolia germ. 70(95% in 2-12 w)-40- 70(1%) and 40-70(50%).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Bruckenthalia p. 108. 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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