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Nicandra physalodes

Apple of Peru · Rivabe · Shoo-fly Plant

Family SolanaceaeGenus Nicandra

A violet-blue bell flower with a white throat and dark eye, among broad soft leaves and papery green calyces.
FlowerNo machine-readable author provided. ArtMechanic assumed (based on copyright claims).CC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

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

The plant

Habit
AnnualExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
annualPlants of the World Online
Flower
Blue, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Argentina Northwest, Bolivia, Chile Central, Chile NorthGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
7-10Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, MoistExtension 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

  • Called shoo-fly plant: in the southern United States its juice has been mixed with milk as a poisoned bait for houseflies and blow flies. Wikipedia: Nicandra physalodes

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 30, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 6 days to germinate.

59% germination in 6 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Nicandra p. 60Public domain
Show the original text
Nicandra (Solanaceae). N. physalodes germ. 70D(26% in 4-6 d) and 70L(59% on 6th d).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Nicandra p. 60. 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 High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 30, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 6 days to germinate.

26% germination in 4–6 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Nicandra p. 60Public domain
Show the original text
Nicandra (Solanaceae). N. physalodes germ. 70D(26% in 4-6 d) and 70L(59% on 6th d).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Nicandra p. 60. 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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