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Mitchella repens

Partridge-berry · Squawvine · Twinberry · Partridgeberry

Family RubiaceaeGenus Mitchella

A pair of white four-lobed flowers thick with hairs inside, opening among small round glossy leaves beside two dark pink buds.
FlowerJason HollingerCC BY 2.0

About the plant

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

The plant

Habit
Herbaceous Perennial, WildflowerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
subshrubPlants of the World Online
Height
1-3 in2.5-7.5 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
1-1.3 ft30-40 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Pink, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Spring, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Guatemala, Illinois, Kentucky and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
3-8Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Deep shade; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
High Organic MatterExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally DryExtension 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; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

This source reports 4 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around April 24, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on April 23, 2026.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C Light: either

  2. Warm moist stratification

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

    5 germinated in this phase.

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C Light: either

  4. Warm moist stratification

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

  5. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C Light: either

  6. Warm moist stratification

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

    6 germinated in this phase.

  7. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C Light: either

  8. Warm moist stratification

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

    25 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 4 run on after germination.

about 9 months from start to step 4. Germination happens during step 4, in 77 days.

36% germination in 7–77 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Mitchella p. 179Public domain
Show the original text
Mitchella (Rubiaceae). M. repens germ. best in 40-70(5%)-40-70(36% in 1- 11 w)-40-70(6%)-40-70(25%) and 70(5%)-40-70(14%)-40-70(23%)-40-70(33%)-40- 70(2%). Note the extended multicycle germination. Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70-40- 70(4%) and 40-70-40-70(5%) showing that DS is not tolerated. Light had no effect. The cotyledons developed in 1-2 wafter germination.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Mitchella p. 179. 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 High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 22, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 21, 2025.

  1. Warm moist stratification

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

    5 germinated in this phase.

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C Light: either

  3. Warm moist stratification

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

    14 germinated in this phase.

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C Light: either

  5. Warm moist stratification

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

    23 germinated in this phase.

  6. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C Light: either

  7. Warm moist stratification

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

  8. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C Light: either

  9. Warm moist stratification

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

    2 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 7 run on after germination.

about 18 months from start to step 7. Germination happens during step 7; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

33% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Mitchella p. 179Public domain
Show the original text
Mitchella (Rubiaceae). M. repens germ. best in 40-70(5%)-40-70(36% in 1- 11 w)-40-70(6%)-40-70(25%) and 70(5%)-40-70(14%)-40-70(23%)-40-70(33%)-40- 70(2%). Note the extended multicycle germination. Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70-40- 70(4%) and 40-70-40-70(5%) showing that DS is not tolerated. Light had no effect. The cotyledons developed in 1-2 wafter germination.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Mitchella p. 179. 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 Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 21, 2026 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on December 20, 2025.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C Light: either

  3. Warm moist stratification

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

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C Light: either

  5. Warm moist stratification

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

about 15 months from start to step 5. Germination happens during step 5; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

5% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Mitchella p. 179Public domain
Show the original text
Mitchella (Rubiaceae). M. repens germ. best in 40-70(5%)-40-70(36% in 1- 11 w)-40-70(6%)-40-70(25%) and 70(5%)-40-70(14%)-40-70(23%)-40-70(33%)-40- 70(2%). Note the extended multicycle germination. Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70-40- 70(4%) and 40-70-40-70(5%) showing that DS is not tolerated. Light had no effect. The cotyledons developed in 1-2 wafter germination.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Mitchella p. 179. 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 Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 21, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on March 20, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

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

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C Light: either

  4. Warm moist stratification

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

about 12 months from start to step 4. Germination happens during step 4; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

4% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Mitchella p. 179Public domain
Show the original text
Mitchella (Rubiaceae). M. repens germ. best in 40-70(5%)-40-70(36% in 1- 11 w)-40-70(6%)-40-70(25%) and 70(5%)-40-70(14%)-40-70(23%)-40-70(33%)-40- 70(2%). Note the extended multicycle germination. Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70-40- 70(4%) and 40-70-40-70(5%) showing that DS is not tolerated. Light had no effect. The cotyledons developed in 1-2 wafter germination.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Mitchella p. 179. 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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