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Hesperantha falcata

Sickle Eveninglily

Family IridaceaeGenus Hesperantha

Two views: white six-petalled flowers along a slender stem in grass, and a close-up showing red-tipped petals
FlowerIlena from Perth, AustraliaCC BY-SA 2.0

About the plant

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

Habit
tuberous geophytePlants of the World Online
Flower
WhiteRead 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.

This source reports 5 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Low 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. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

about 6 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 56 days.

100% germination in 28–56 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Hesperantha p. 38Public domain
Show the original text
Hesperantha (Iridaceae). Germjnation at 40 is by far the best although some germination will occur at 70D before a shift to 40. H. falcata DS 6 m germ. 70D(100% in 6th w), 70L-40(100% in 3rd w), and 40(100% in 4-8 w). Seeds DS 2 y germ 40(90% in 4th w) and 70D-40(95% in 2-4 w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Hesperantha p. 38. 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 August 27, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on August 26, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 6 months from start to sowing. Then 42 days to germinate.

100% germination in 42 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Hesperantha p. 38Public domain
Show the original text
Hesperantha (Iridaceae). Germjnation at 40 is by far the best although some germination will occur at 70D before a shift to 40. H. falcata DS 6 m germ. 70D(100% in 6th w), 70L-40(100% in 3rd w), and 40(100% in 4-8 w). Seeds DS 2 y germ 40(90% in 4th w) and 70D-40(95% in 2-4 w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Hesperantha p. 38. 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 June 19, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on June 18, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

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

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

about 9 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 21 days.

100% germination in 21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Hesperantha p. 38Public domain
Show the original text
Hesperantha (Iridaceae). Germjnation at 40 is by far the best although some germination will occur at 70D before a shift to 40. H. falcata DS 6 m germ. 70D(100% in 6th w), 70L-40(100% in 3rd w), and 40(100% in 4-8 w). Seeds DS 2 y germ 40(90% in 4th w) and 70D-40(95% in 2-4 w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Hesperantha p. 38. 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 Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 9, 2026 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on December 8, 2024.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 730 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

about 2 years from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 28 days.

95% germination in 14–28 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Hesperantha p. 38Public domain
Show the original text
Hesperantha (Iridaceae). Germjnation at 40 is by far the best although some germination will occur at 70D before a shift to 40. H. falcata DS 6 m germ. 70D(100% in 6th w), 70L-40(100% in 3rd w), and 40(100% in 4-8 w). Seeds DS 2 y germ 40(90% in 4th w) and 70D-40(95% in 2-4 w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Hesperantha p. 38. 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, 1998

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 9, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on March 8, 2025.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 730 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

about 2 years from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 28 days.

90% germination in 28 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Hesperantha p. 38Public domain
Show the original text
Hesperantha (Iridaceae). Germjnation at 40 is by far the best although some germination will occur at 70D before a shift to 40. H. falcata DS 6 m germ. 70D(100% in 6th w), 70L-40(100% in 3rd w), and 40(100% in 4-8 w). Seeds DS 2 y germ 40(90% in 4th w) and 70D-40(95% in 2-4 w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Hesperantha p. 38. 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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