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Parnassia fimbriata

Fringed Grass of Parnassus

Family CelastraceaeGenus Parnassia

A white five-petalled flower against black, each petal cut into a fringe along its lower edges, around a pale green center.
FlowerJW StockertPublic domain

About the plant

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

The plant

Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, Forb/herbPLANTS Database
Height
1.2 ft35 cmPLANTS Database
Flower
WhitePLANTS Database
Blooms
Mid SummerPLANTS Database
Native range
Alaska, Canada, lower 48 statesPLANTS Database

Growing conditions

Sun
Shade tolerance: MediumPLANTS Database
Soil
Adapted to medium, fine textured soilsPLANTS Database
Soil pH
6.0-8.0PLANTS Database
Moisture
Moisture use: HighPLANTS Database
Watering
Drought tolerance: NonePLANTS Database

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; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS.

Worth knowing

  • Fringed grass of Parnassus is not a grass at all. It grows in wet alpine and subalpine places from Alaska to the southern Rocky Mountains. Wikipedia: Parnassia fimbriata

This source reports three treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 8, 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: light

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  4. Warm moist stratification

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

Steps after step 2 run on after germination.

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 28 days.

20% germination in 28 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Parnassia p. 186Public domain
Show the original text
Parnassia (Parnassiaceae). P. fimbriata germ. best in 40-70L(20% in 4th w)-40-70L. Germination was lower in 70L(3%)-40-70L(7%) and none in 70D-40-70D or 40-70D.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Parnassia p. 186. 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, 1993

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Warm moist stratification

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

    3 germinated in this phase.

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

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

about 6 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

7% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Parnassia p. 186Public domain
Show the original text
Parnassia (Parnassiaceae). P. fimbriata germ. best in 40-70L(20% in 4th w)-40-70L. Germination was lower in 70L(3%)-40-70L(7%) and none in 70D-40-70D or 40-70D.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Parnassia p. 186. 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, 1993

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing.

0% germination.

Nothing germinated at 70.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Parnassia p. 186Public domain
Show the original text
Parnassia (Parnassiaceae). P. fimbriata germ. best in 40-70L(20% in 4th w)-40-70L. Germination was lower in 70L(3%)-40-70L(7%) and none in 70D-40-70D or 40-70D.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Parnassia p. 186. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record; 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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