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Micranthes stellaris

Hairy Kidney-wort · Starry Saxifrage

Family SaxifragaceaeGenus Micranthes

Small white star-shaped flowers with yellow spots at the base of the petals, on thin stalks above low leaves
FlowerTigerenteCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

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

Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Flower
WhiteFlora of North America
Native range
Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Corse, Finland, France and elsewhereGBIF 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; Flora of North America — Flora of North America Editorial Committee; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • An Arctic–alpine saxifrage. One subspecies ranges from eastern Canada to Russia, including the British Isles; another grows in the mountains of southern Europe. Wikipedia: Micranthes stellaris

This source reports 5 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 30, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 29, 2026.

  1. Warm moist stratification

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

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

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

about 6 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 8 days.

100% germination in 4–8 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Saxifraga p. 76Public domain
Show the original text
Saxifraga (Saxifragaceae). Where death rates were measured it was found that the seeds died rapidly in DS. Thus many of the past failures in this genus can possibly be the result of old seed. S. stellaris germ. 70L(37% in 1-3 w), 70 GA-3(75% in 2nd w), 40-70D(10%), 70D-40-70D(100% in 4-8 d), and none in OT. Seeds DS 1 y were dead.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Saxifraga p. 76. 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 Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 22, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Gibberellic acid soak

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 14 days to germinate.

75% germination in 14 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Saxifraga p. 76Public domain
Show the original text
Saxifraga (Saxifragaceae). Where death rates were measured it was found that the seeds died rapidly in DS. Thus many of the past failures in this genus can possibly be the result of old seed. S. stellaris germ. 70L(37% in 1-3 w), 70 GA-3(75% in 2nd w), 40-70D(10%), 70D-40-70D(100% in 4-8 d), and none in OT. Seeds DS 1 y were dead.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Saxifraga p. 76. 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 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.

37% germination in 7–21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Saxifraga p. 76Public domain
Show the original text
Saxifraga (Saxifragaceae). Where death rates were measured it was found that the seeds died rapidly in DS. Thus many of the past failures in this genus can possibly be the result of old seed. S. stellaris germ. 70L(37% in 1-3 w), 70 GA-3(75% in 2nd w), 40-70D(10%), 70D-40-70D(100% in 4-8 d), and none in OT. Seeds DS 1 y were dead.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Saxifraga p. 76. 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 High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 15, 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; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

10% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Saxifraga p. 76Public domain
Show the original text
Saxifraga (Saxifragaceae). Where death rates were measured it was found that the seeds died rapidly in DS. Thus many of the past failures in this genus can possibly be the result of old seed. S. stellaris germ. 70L(37% in 1-3 w), 70 GA-3(75% in 2nd w), 40-70D(10%), 70D-40-70D(100% in 4-8 d), and none in OT. Seeds DS 1 y were dead.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Saxifraga p. 76. 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, 1996

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Sow outdoors and leave it

    Nothing germinated outdoors.

No stated waiting before sowing.

0% germination.

This source doesn't state how long step 1 lasts.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Saxifraga p. 76Public domain
Show the original text
Saxifraga (Saxifragaceae). Where death rates were measured it was found that the seeds died rapidly in DS. Thus many of the past failures in this genus can possibly be the result of old seed. S. stellaris germ. 70L(37% in 1-3 w), 70 GA-3(75% in 2nd w), 40-70D(10%), 70D-40-70D(100% in 4-8 d), and none in OT. Seeds DS 1 y were dead.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Saxifraga p. 76. 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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