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Eriogonum niveum

Snow Buckwheat · Snow Wild Buckwheat

Family PolygonaceaeGenus Eriogonum

A rosette of gray-white woolly spoon-shaped leaves, ringed by wiry pale branching stems
LeafClarence Kelley. USDA NRCS Pullman PMC. United States, WA, Pullman.Public domain

About the plant

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

The plant

Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, Forb/herb, SubshrubPLANTS Database
Height
2.0 ft60 cmPLANTS Database
Flower
WhitePLANTS Database
Blooms
Late SummerPLANTS Database
Native range
British Columbia, Idaho, Oregon, WashingtonGBIF Backbone Taxonomy

Growing conditions

Sun
Shade tolerance: MediumPLANTS Database
Soil
Adapted to coarse, medium textured soilsPLANTS Database
Soil pH
6.5-8.0PLANTS Database
Moisture
Moisture use: LowPLANTS Database
Watering
Drought tolerance: HighPLANTS Database

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; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

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 March 15, 2027 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

    3/28 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 1 run on after germination.

Germination happens during step 1; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

89% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Eriogonum p. 139Public domain
Show the original text
Eriogonum (Potygonaceae). Germination often occurred at comparable rates at 40 and 70, it often occurred throughout each 3 m cycle, and it often extended over two cycles. The data is summarized in the following Table except for E. niveum 70(3/18 in 6-12 w)-40(6/18) 40(25/28)-70(3/28)
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Eriogonum p. 139. 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. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    3/18 germinated in this phase.

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

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

33% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Eriogonum p. 139Public domain
Show the original text
Eriogonum (Potygonaceae). Germination often occurred at comparable rates at 40 and 70, it often occurred throughout each 3 m cycle, and it often extended over two cycles. The data is summarized in the following Table except for E. niveum 70(3/18 in 6-12 w)-40(6/18) 40(25/28)-70(3/28)
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Eriogonum p. 139. 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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