Deno’s GardenMy Garden

Parnassia glauca

American Grass-of-Parnassus · Blue-green Grass-of-Parnassus · Fen Grass of Parnassus

Family CelastraceaeGenus Parnassia

A white flower veined in green, with a pale crab spider crouched at the base of the upper petal among yellow-tipped stamens.
FlowerAndré-Philippe Drapeau PicardCC0

About the plant

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

Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, Forb/herbPLANTS Database
Flower
WhiteWikipedia
Native range
Canada, lower 48 statesPLANTS 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; Wikipedia — Wikipedia contributors.

Worth knowing

This source reports 4 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate 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

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

100% 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. glauca germ. best in 40-70L(100% in 4th w). Germination was lower in 70L(25%), 700-40-70L(80%), 70D-40-70D(none), and 40-70D(22%).
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 Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 15, 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

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

80% 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. glauca germ. best in 40-70L(100% in 4th w). Germination was lower in 70L(25%), 700-40-70L(80%), 70D-40-70D(none), and 40-70D(22%).
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

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

25% 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. glauca germ. best in 40-70L(100% in 4th w). Germination was lower in 70L(25%), 700-40-70L(80%), 70D-40-70D(none), and 40-70D(22%).
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 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 15, 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; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

22% 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. glauca germ. best in 40-70L(100% in 4th w). Germination was lower in 70L(25%), 700-40-70L(80%), 70D-40-70D(none), and 40-70D(22%).
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.

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