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Ilex serrata

Japanese Winterberry

Family AquifoliaceaeGenus Ilex

Clusters of small scarlet berries along twigs among yellowing autumn leaves
FruitKENPEICC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

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

Habit
shrubPlants of the World Online
Native range
China South-Central, China Southeast, JapanGBIF 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; 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 December 31, 2026 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

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 5 days.

97% germination in 3–5 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Ilex p. 155Public domain
Show the original text
Ilex (Aquifollaceae). This genus is notorious for poor and extended germination. All flex seed is enclosed in a berry and all were WC for 7 d. I. serrata seed collected in December germ. 70(1%)-40(95% in 1-3 w) and 40- 70(97% in 3-5 d). These results are discordant and need to be restudied.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Ilex p. 155. 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

    1 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, in 21 days.

95% germination in 7–21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Ilex p. 155Public domain
Show the original text
Ilex (Aquifollaceae). This genus is notorious for poor and extended germination. All flex seed is enclosed in a berry and all were WC for 7 d. I. serrata seed collected in December germ. 70(1%)-40(95% in 1-3 w) and 40- 70(97% in 3-5 d). These results are discordant and need to be restudied.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Ilex p. 155. 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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