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Pancratium maritimum

Sea Daffodil · Sweet Spider-lily · Sea-daffodil

Family AmaryllidaceaeGenus Pancratium

White flowers with long narrow petals and a frilled cup at the center, on a clump of blue-gray leaves rooted in bare sand.
FlowerZeynel CebeciCC BY-SA 4.0

About the plant

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

The plant

Habit
Bulb, PerennialExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
bulbous geophytePlants of the World Online
Height
1-1.7 ft30-50 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
0.8-1 ft25-30 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Cream/Tan, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Fall, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Albania, Algeria, Baleares, Bulgaria, Canary Is., Corse and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
7-10Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sunExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
SandExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)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

  • Its subtle lily scent comes through only on still, windless summer nights. It grows on beaches and dunes, often with much of the plant buried in sand. Wikipedia: Pancratium maritimum

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

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 27, 2026 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

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 9 days.

100% germination in 4–9 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Pancratium p. 52Public domain
Show the original text
Pancratium (Amaryllidaceae). P. maritimum germ. 100% in 2-4 w in either 70D or 70L for either fresh seeds or seeds DS 1 y. Fresh seeds also germ 40-70D(100% in 4-9 d). Seeds DS 2 y germ. 70D{2/5 in 6-8 d).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Pancratium p. 52. 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 March 22, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 14 days to germinate.

100% germination in 14 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Pancratium p. 63Public domain
Show the original text
Pancratium (Amaryllidaceae). P. maritimum germ. 70D(100% in 2nd w) 70L(100% in 2-4 w), and 40(none).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Pancratium p. 63. 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 Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 28 days to germinate.

100% germination in 14–28 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Pancratium p. 63Public domain
Show the original text
Pancratium (Amaryllidaceae). P. maritimum germ. 70D(100% in 2nd w) 70L(100% in 2-4 w), and 40(none).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Pancratium p. 63. 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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