Deno’s GardenMy Garden

Oreocarya paradoxa

Handsome Cryptantha

Family BoraginaceaeGenus Oreocarya

A small cushion of gray-green spoon-shaped leaves and bristly faded flower heads among lichen-spotted rocks
The whole plantCecelia AlexanderCC0

About the plant

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

Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Native range
Colorado, New Mexico, UtahGBIF 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; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Two sources report three treatments between them. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around February 23, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on February 22, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 365 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 12 months from start to sowing. Then 42 days to germinate.

85% germination in 14–42 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Cryptantha p. 27Public domain
Show the original text
Cryptantha (Boraginaceae). C. paradoxa germ. 70D(100% in 1-7 w) for fresh seed and 70D(85% in 2-6 w) for seeds DS 1 y. Seeds DS 2 y were dead.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Cryptantha p. 27. 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 February 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 49 days to germinate.

100% germination in 7–49 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Cryptantha p. 34Public domain
Show the original text
Cryptantha (Boraginaceae). C. paradoxa germ. 70D(100% in 1-7 w) and 40(2/6 in 6-10 w)-70(2/6 on 2nd d). 4
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Cryptantha p. 34. 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 January 25, 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

    2/6 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 1 run on after germination.

Germination happens during step 1, in 70 days.

33% germination in 42–70 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Cryptantha p. 34Public domain
Show the original text
Cryptantha (Boraginaceae). C. paradoxa germ. 70D(100% in 1-7 w) and 40(2/6 in 6-10 w)-70(2/6 on 2nd d). 4
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Cryptantha p. 34. 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

Add to My Garden

View species page