Its smaller relatives are called sacahuista, a Nahuatl name meaning thorn grass. The leaves were woven into baskets and mats, and the young stems eaten.Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Nolina parryi
Two sources report 8 treatments between them. All are shown.
Protocol 1
DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998
Difficulty HighRated by us, not by the source.
Start around October 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on October 14, 2022.
1
Dry storage
Duration: 1460 days · Temperature: 70°F 21°C
2
Warm moist stratification
Duration: 90 days · Temperature: 70°F 21°C · Light: dark
1/15 germinated in this phase.
3
Cold moist stratification
Duration: 90 days · Temperature: 40°F 4°C
about 4 years from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 84 days.
20% germination in 7–84 days.
Protocol 2
DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996
Difficulty LowRated by us, not by the source.
Start around February 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.
1
Cold moist stratification
Temperature: 40°F 4°C
Germination happens during step 1, in 56 days.
90% germination in 56 days.
Protocol 3
DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996
Difficulty LowRated by us, not by the source.
Start around September 10, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 9, 2026.
1
Dry storage
Duration: 180 days · Temperature: 70°F 21°C
2
Cold moist stratification
Temperature: 40°F 4°C
about 6 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 28 days.
90% germination in 14–28 days.
Protocol 4
DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996
Difficulty ModerateRated 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 days · Temperature: 70°F 21°C
2
Warm moist stratification
Duration: 90 days · Temperature: 70°F 21°C · Light: dark
5 germinated in this phase.
3
Cold moist stratification
Duration: 90 days · Temperature: 40°F 4°C
about 9 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 21 days.
80% germination in 21 days.
Protocol 5
DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996
Difficulty LowRated by us, not by the source.
1
Sow outdoors and leave it
Up in April.
No stated waiting before sowing.
70% germination.
This source doesn't state how long step 1 lasts.
Protocol 6
DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996
Difficulty ModerateRated by us, not by the source.
Start around December 15, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.
1
Warm moist stratification
Duration: 90 days · Temperature: 70°F 21°C · Light: dark
44 germinated in this phase.
2
Cold moist stratification
Duration: 90 days · Temperature: 40°F 4°C
about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 21 days.
56% germination in 21 days.
Protocol 7
DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996
Difficulty ModerateRated by us, not by the source.
Start around January 12, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on January 11, 2025.
1
Dry storage
Duration: 730 days · Temperature: 70°F 21°C
2
Cold moist stratification
Duration: 90 days · Temperature: 40°F 4°C
3
Warm moist stratification
Duration: 90 days · Temperature: 70°F 21°C
24 germinated in this phase.
Steps after step 2 run on after germination.
about 2 years from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 84 days.
52% germination in 56–84 days.
Protocol 8
DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996
Difficulty HighRated by us, not by the source.
Start around March 15, 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. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.
