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Lyonia mariana

Maryland Staggerbush · Piedmont Staggerbush · Staggerbush

Family EricaceaeGenus Lyonia

Clusters of white urn-shaped flowers on upright stems among long, pointed green leaves
FlowerSeigCC BY 4.0
A color plate of an arching woody shoot with glossy oval leaves and a spray of small pink bell flowers
IllustrationPierre-Joseph RedoutéPublic domain

About the plant

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

The plant

Habit
Perennial, Shrub, TreeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
shrubPlants of the World Online
Flower
Pink, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
SpringExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Native to the lower 48 statesPLANTS Database
Hardiness zones
5-9Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, Loam (Silt), SandExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally Dry, Occasionally WetExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS.

Worth knowing

  • Staggerbush is listed as endangered in Pennsylvania, and it is believed to be gone from Rhode Island and Connecticut. Wikipedia: Lyonia mariana

This source reports 5 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate 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. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 6 months from start to sowing. Then 21 days to germinate.

67% germination in 7–21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Lyonia p. 174Public domain
Show the original text
Lyonia (Ericaceae). L. mariana germ. 70L(40% in 3rd w), 70D(none), 40- 70L(38% in 7-11 d), and 40-70D(28% in 2nd w) using fresh seed. Seed DS for 6 m at 70 germ. 70L(67% in 1-3 w), 70D(none), 40-70L(67% in 1-3 w), and 40-70D(none). It is peculiar that the 3 m at 40 seemed to remove the photorequirement with fresh seed but not with DS seed. When the sample in 70D was shifted to 70L after 6w, 30% germ. in the 3rd w showing that the period in 70D had no effect.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Lyonia p. 174. 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 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. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

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

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

67% germination in 7–21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Lyonia p. 174Public domain
Show the original text
Lyonia (Ericaceae). L. mariana germ. 70L(40% in 3rd w), 70D(none), 40- 70L(38% in 7-11 d), and 40-70D(28% in 2nd w) using fresh seed. Seed DS for 6 m at 70 germ. 70L(67% in 1-3 w), 70D(none), 40-70L(67% in 1-3 w), and 40-70D(none). It is peculiar that the 3 m at 40 seemed to remove the photorequirement with fresh seed but not with DS seed. When the sample in 70D was shifted to 70L after 6w, 30% germ. in the 3rd w showing that the period in 70D had no effect.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Lyonia p. 174. 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, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

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

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 21 days to germinate.

40% germination in 21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Lyonia p. 174Public domain
Show the original text
Lyonia (Ericaceae). L. mariana germ. 70L(40% in 3rd w), 70D(none), 40- 70L(38% in 7-11 d), and 40-70D(28% in 2nd w) using fresh seed. Seed DS for 6 m at 70 germ. 70L(67% in 1-3 w), 70D(none), 40-70L(67% in 1-3 w), and 40-70D(none). It is peculiar that the 3 m at 40 seemed to remove the photorequirement with fresh seed but not with DS seed. When the sample in 70D was shifted to 70L after 6w, 30% germ. in the 3rd w showing that the period in 70D had no effect.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Lyonia p. 174. 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, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 25, 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 Light: light

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 11 days.

38% germination in 7–11 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Lyonia p. 174Public domain
Show the original text
Lyonia (Ericaceae). L. mariana germ. 70L(40% in 3rd w), 70D(none), 40- 70L(38% in 7-11 d), and 40-70D(28% in 2nd w) using fresh seed. Seed DS for 6 m at 70 germ. 70L(67% in 1-3 w), 70D(none), 40-70L(67% in 1-3 w), and 40-70D(none). It is peculiar that the 3 m at 40 seemed to remove the photorequirement with fresh seed but not with DS seed. When the sample in 70D was shifted to 70L after 6w, 30% germ. in the 3rd w showing that the period in 70D had no effect.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Lyonia p. 174. 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 High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 22, 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 Light: dark

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 14 days.

28% germination in 14 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Lyonia p. 174Public domain
Show the original text
Lyonia (Ericaceae). L. mariana germ. 70L(40% in 3rd w), 70D(none), 40- 70L(38% in 7-11 d), and 40-70D(28% in 2nd w) using fresh seed. Seed DS for 6 m at 70 germ. 70L(67% in 1-3 w), 70D(none), 40-70L(67% in 1-3 w), and 40-70D(none). It is peculiar that the 3 m at 40 seemed to remove the photorequirement with fresh seed but not with DS seed. When the sample in 70D was shifted to 70L after 6w, 30% germ. in the 3rd w showing that the period in 70D had no effect.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Lyonia p. 174. 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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