Deno’s GardenMy Garden

Limnanthes douglasii

Douglas' Meadowfoam · Meadow-foam · Poached Egg Flower

Family LimnanthaceaeGenus Limnanthes

A cup-shaped flower with white petal tips around a bright yellow center, above ferny leaves
FlowerKurt Stüber [1]CC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

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

Habit
annualPlants of the World Online
Habit
Annual, Forb/herbPLANTS Database
Flower
White, yellowFlora of North America
Native range
California, OregonGBIF 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

  • The poached egg plant was collected by the Scottish explorer and botanist David Douglas, who worked on the west coast of America in the 1820s. It attracts hoverflies, is pollinated by bees and seeds itself, even in a lawn. It holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit. Wikipedia: Limnanthes douglasii

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 25, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

Germination happens during step 1, in 11 days.

100% germination in 11 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Limnanthus p. 170Public domain
Show the original text
Limnanthus (Llmnanthaceae). L. douglasii germ. 70(3/3 on 2nd d) and 40(3/3 on 11th d). The rapid germination is unusual for such large seeds.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Limnanthus p. 170. 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 Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around April 3, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 2 days to germinate.

100% germination in 2 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Limnanthus p. 170Public domain
Show the original text
Limnanthus (Llmnanthaceae). L. douglasii germ. 70(3/3 on 2nd d) and 40(3/3 on 11th d). The rapid germination is unusual for such large seeds.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Limnanthus p. 170. 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

Add to My Garden

View species page