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Notholithocarpus densiflorus

Tan Bark Oak · Tanoak

Family FagaceaeGenus Notholithocarpus

A whorl of large leathery leaves with toothed edges and deep parallel veins, held flat above conifer litter.
LeafKrzysztof Ziarnek, KenraizCC BY-SA 4.0

About the plant

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

The plant

Habit
Shrub, TreeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
shrub or treePlants of the World Online
Height
125.0 ft38 mPLANTS Database
Flower
Brown/Copper, Gold/Yellow, Green, Red/Burgundy, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Spring, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
California, OregonGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
7Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow RockyExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
4.5-6.5PLANTS Database
Moisture
Good Drainage, MoistExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Watering
Drought tolerance: HighPLANTS Database

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; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

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 January 11, 2027 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

    3/7 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 1 run on after germination.

Germination happens during step 1, in 84 days.

57% germination in 84 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Lithocarpus p. 54Public domain
Show the original text
Lithocarpus (Fagaceae). L. densiflorus v. echinoides germ. 70D(5/10 in 2- 12 w)-40(4/10 in 3rd w) and 40(4/7 in 12th w)-70D(3/7 in 2-12 d). Probably the rest would have germ. at the initial temperature if given longer times. L. densiflorus v. densiflorus germ. similarly in an even smaller sample. Seeds of both species were dead after 6 m DS at 70.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Lithocarpus p. 54. 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 Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around January 11, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Warm moist stratification

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

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    4/10 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 1 run on after germination.

Germination happens during step 1, in 84 days.

50% germination in 14–84 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Lithocarpus p. 54Public domain
Show the original text
Lithocarpus (Fagaceae). L. densiflorus v. echinoides germ. 70D(5/10 in 2- 12 w)-40(4/10 in 3rd w) and 40(4/7 in 12th w)-70D(3/7 in 2-12 d). Probably the rest would have germ. at the initial temperature if given longer times. L. densiflorus v. densiflorus germ. similarly in an even smaller sample. Seeds of both species were dead after 6 m DS at 70.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Lithocarpus p. 54. 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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