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Ferraria crispa

Black Flag · Black Spiderlily · Crispy Spiderlily

Family IridaceaeGenus Ferraria

A star-shaped flower mottled maroon, cream and olive, its petal edges finely crimped
FlowerSAplantsCC BY-SA 4.0

About the plant

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

Habit
tuberous geophytePlants of the World Online
Flower
Maroon, creamRead from the photograph on this page
Native range
Cape ProvincesGBIF 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; Read from the photograph on this page — Deno's Garden; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • In Australia this South African member of the iris family is commonly called black flag; it is also known as starfish lily. Wikipedia: Ferraria crispa

This source reports 4 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Low 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.

88% germination in 21–42 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Ferraria p. 33Public domain
Show the original text
Ferraria (Iridaceae). F. crispa germ. 70D(5/7 in 3-12 w) and 70L(0/7). Seeds DS 1 y germ. 70D(7/8 in 3-6 w). Seeds DS 2 y germ. 70D(2/5 in 6th w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Ferraria 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 Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around January 11, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 84 days to germinate.

71% germination in 21–84 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Ferraria p. 33Public domain
Show the original text
Ferraria (Iridaceae). F. crispa germ. 70D(5/7 in 3-12 w) and 70L(0/7). Seeds DS 1 y germ. 70D(7/8 in 3-6 w). Seeds DS 2 y germ. 70D(2/5 in 6th w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Ferraria 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 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, 2025.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 730 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 2 years from start to sowing. Then 42 days to germinate.

40% germination in 42 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Ferraria p. 33Public domain
Show the original text
Ferraria (Iridaceae). F. crispa germ. 70D(5/7 in 3-12 w) and 70L(0/7). Seeds DS 1 y germ. 70D(7/8 in 3-6 w). Seeds DS 2 y germ. 70D(2/5 in 6th w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Ferraria 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, 1998

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing.

0% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Ferraria p. 33Public domain
Show the original text
Ferraria (Iridaceae). F. crispa germ. 70D(5/7 in 3-12 w) and 70L(0/7). Seeds DS 1 y germ. 70D(7/8 in 3-6 w). Seeds DS 2 y germ. 70D(2/5 in 6th w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Ferraria 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.

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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