Deno’s GardenMy Garden

Eriogonum bicolor

Pretty Buckwheat · Pretty Wild Buckwheat

Family PolygonaceaeGenus Eriogonum

Dense pink and cream flower clusters covering a low mat of gray-green foliage
FlowerUnknown authorUnknown authorPublic domain

About the plant

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

Habit
subshrubPlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, Forb/herb, Shrub, SubshrubPLANTS Database
Flower
WhiteFlora of North America
Native range
Colorado, UtahGBIF 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; Flora of North America — Flora of North America Editorial Committee; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Two sources report 5 treatments between them. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Moderate 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. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

about 12 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 21 days.

50% germination in 21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Eriogonum p. 33Public domain
Show the original text
Eriogonum (Polygonaceae). E. bicolor had gérm. 40(2/9 in 2-7 w)-70D(4/9 on 3rd d) and 70D(1/7, rest rotted). Seeds DS 1 y germ. 40(3/6 in 3rd w) and 70D(all rotted). *
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Eriogonum p. 33. 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, 1998

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around January 2, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    2/9 germinated in this phase.

  2. Warm moist stratification

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

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 3 days.

44% germination in 3 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Eriogonum p. 33Public domain
Show the original text
Eriogonum (Polygonaceae). E. bicolor had gérm. 40(2/9 in 2-7 w)-70D(4/9 on 3rd d) and 70D(1/7, rest rotted). Seeds DS 1 y germ. 40(3/6 in 3rd w) and 70D(all rotted). *
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Eriogonum p. 33. 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, 1998

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

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

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

14% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Eriogonum p. 33Public domain
Show the original text
Eriogonum (Polygonaceae). E. bicolor had gérm. 40(2/9 in 2-7 w)-70D(4/9 on 3rd d) and 70D(1/7, rest rotted). Seeds DS 1 y germ. 40(3/6 in 3rd w) and 70D(all rotted). *
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Eriogonum p. 33. 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 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around January 3, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    2/9 germinated in this phase.

  2. Warm moist stratification

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

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 2 days.

44% germination in 2 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Eriogonum p. 42Public domain
Show the original text
Eriogonum (Polygonaceae). E. bicolor germ. 40(2/9 in 2-8 w)-70D(4/9 on 2nd d) and 70D(1/7 in 2nd w). All ungerm. seed rotted, and the 3 m moist at 70 was injurious.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Eriogonum p. 42. 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, 1996

Difficulty 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: dark

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

14% germination in 14 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Eriogonum p. 42Public domain
Show the original text
Eriogonum (Polygonaceae). E. bicolor germ. 40(2/9 in 2-8 w)-70D(4/9 on 2nd d) and 70D(1/7 in 2nd w). All ungerm. seed rotted, and the 3 m moist at 70 was injurious.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Eriogonum p. 42. 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

Add to My Garden

View species page