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Gaultheria macrostigma

Prostrate Snowberry

Family EricaceaeGenus Gaultheria

Bright magenta berries scattered through a low mat of small dark leaves on wiry stems
FruitJohn BarklaCC BY 4.0

About the plant

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

Habit
subshrubPlants of the World Online
Flower
WhiteWikipedia
Native range
New Zealand North, New Zealand SouthGBIF 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

Two sources report 6 treatments between them. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around August 13, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on August 12, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 6 months from start to sowing. Then 56 days to germinate.

45% germination in 56 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Pernettya p. 65Public domain
Show the original text
Pernettya (Ericaceae). P. macrostigma seeds DS 6 m germ. 70L(45% in i'8 G A~3 ( 3 0% in 4"8 w)' 70D(2%)-40-70L(33%), and 70D(2%)-40-70D(none) Seeds DS 2 y germ. 70L(7%) and 70D(none), and seeds DS 3 v germ 70D(7% in 7-11 w) and 70L(9% in 4th w). a v
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Pernettya p. 65. 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, 1996

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 21, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on March 20, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

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

    2 germinated in this phase.

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  4. Warm moist stratification

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

about 12 months from start to step 4. Germination happens during step 4; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

33% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Pernettya p. 65Public domain
Show the original text
Pernettya (Ericaceae). P. macrostigma seeds DS 6 m germ. 70L(45% in i'8 G A~3 ( 3 0% in 4"8 w)' 70D(2%)-40-70L(33%), and 70D(2%)-40-70D(none) Seeds DS 2 y germ. 70L(7%) and 70D(none), and seeds DS 3 v germ 70D(7% in 7-11 w) and 70L(9% in 4th w). a v
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Pernettya p. 65. 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, 1996

Difficulty Very high 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, 2025.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 730 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 2 years from start to sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

7% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Pernettya p. 65Public domain
Show the original text
Pernettya (Ericaceae). P. macrostigma seeds DS 6 m germ. 70L(45% in i'8 G A~3 ( 3 0% in 4"8 w)' 70D(2%)-40-70L(33%), and 70D(2%)-40-70D(none) Seeds DS 2 y germ. 70L(7%) and 70D(none), and seeds DS 3 v germ 70D(7% in 7-11 w) and 70L(9% in 4th w). a v
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Pernettya p. 65. 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 Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

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

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  4. Warm moist stratification

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

Steps after step 2 run on after germination.

about 6 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

2% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Pernettya p. 65Public domain
Show the original text
Pernettya (Ericaceae). P. macrostigma seeds DS 6 m germ. 70L(45% in i'8 G A~3 ( 3 0% in 4"8 w)' 70D(2%)-40-70L(33%), and 70D(2%)-40-70D(none) Seeds DS 2 y germ. 70L(7%) and 70D(none), and seeds DS 3 v germ 70D(7% in 7-11 w) and 70L(9% in 4th w). a v
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Pernettya p. 65. 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, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around February 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 56 days to germinate.

48% germination in 28–56 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Pernettya p. 190Public domain
Show the original text
Pernettya (Ericaceae). P. macrostigma germ.70L(48% in 4-8 w), 70D GA- 3(30% in 4-7 w), and 70D(none).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Pernettya p. 190. 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 6

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

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

  1. Gibberellic acid soak

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 49 days to germinate.

30% germination in 28–49 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Pernettya p. 190Public domain
Show the original text
Pernettya (Ericaceae). P. macrostigma germ.70L(48% in 4-8 w), 70D GA- 3(30% in 4-7 w), and 70D(none).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Pernettya p. 190. 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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