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Frasera fastigiata

Clustered Green Gentian

Family GentianaceaeGenus Frasera

A dense spike of blue-violet star flowers with dark centers and fringed throats
FlowerCharles SwiftCC BY 4.0

About the plant

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

Habit
monocarpic perennialPlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, Forb/herbPLANTS Database
Flower
Light blue, medium blue, violet-blueFlora of North America
Native range
Idaho, WashingtonGBIF 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.

Worth knowing

  • Clustered green gentian, of the northwestern United States, grows up to 1.5 m tall, with basal leaves up to 30 cm long, some edged in white. Wikipedia: Frasera fastigiata

Two sources report two treatments between them. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 29, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 28, 2025.

  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

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  5. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    20 germinated in this phase.

  6. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  7. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  8. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  9. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    2 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 7 run on after germination.

about 18 months from start to step 7. Germination happens during step 7, in 14 days.

38% germination in 14 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Frasera p. 44Public domain
Show the original text
Frasera (Gentianaceae). F. fastigiata was still showing an occasional germination two years after starting the expts. Data were 70-40-70-40-70(20% in 1-3 w)-40-70(38% in 2nd w)-40-70(2%).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Frasera p. 44. 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 Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Sow around December 2026 — a date the source gives, not one counted back from a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow outdoors and leave it

    Sown outdoors in December; up in April.

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

4% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Frasera p. 143Public domain
Show the original text
Frasera (Gentianaceae). Germination extended over several cycles. Treatment with GA-3 was tried only on samples that had been subjected to a year of alternating 3 m cycles. There was no effect. F. fastigiata germ. 70-40-70-40-70(20% in 1-3 w). Seeds placed outdoors in December germ. 4% the following April and another 3% a year later.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Frasera p. 143. 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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