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Parnassia palustris

Bog Star · Grass of Parnassus · Marsh Parnassia · Marsh Grass of Parnassus

Family CelastraceaeGenus Parnassia

A white flower of five veined petals with a ring of yellow-tipped stamens and pale fringed scales around a green center.
FlowerUoaei1CC BY-SA 4.0

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
2.2 ft65 cmPLANTS Database
Flower
WhitePLANTS Database
Blooms
Mid SummerPLANTS Database
Native range
Afghanistan, Alaska, Albania, Alberta, Aleutian Is., Algeria and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy

Growing conditions

Sun
Shade tolerance: HighPLANTS 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; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Not a grass. The name goes back to ancient Greece, where cattle on Mount Parnassus evidently liked it, making it an honorary grass. It is the county flower of Cumberland and is on its flag. Wikipedia: Parnassia palustris

Two sources report 9 treatments between them. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 3, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 2, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Gibberellic acid soak

  3. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

about 6 months from start to sowing. Then 35 days to germinate.

88% germination in 35 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Parnassia p. 64Public domain
Show the original text
Parnassia (Parnassiaceae). P. palustris seeds DS 6 m germ. 70 GA-3(88% in 5thw), 70L(48% in 1-3 w), and 70D(16% in 3rd w). Seeds DS 2 y germ. 70L(18% in 3rd'w) and 70D(2%). Seeds DS 3 y were all dead.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Parnassia p. 64. 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 September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 6 months from start to sowing. Then 21 days to germinate.

48% germination in 7–21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Parnassia p. 64Public domain
Show the original text
Parnassia (Parnassiaceae). P. palustris seeds DS 6 m germ. 70 GA-3(88% in 5thw), 70L(48% in 1-3 w), and 70D(16% in 3rd w). Seeds DS 2 y germ. 70L(18% in 3rd'w) and 70D(2%). Seeds DS 3 y were all dead.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Parnassia p. 64. 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 High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 16, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on March 15, 2025.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 730 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 2 years from start to sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

18% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Parnassia p. 64Public domain
Show the original text
Parnassia (Parnassiaceae). P. palustris seeds DS 6 m germ. 70 GA-3(88% in 5thw), 70L(48% in 1-3 w), and 70D(16% in 3rd w). Seeds DS 2 y germ. 70L(18% in 3rd'w) and 70D(2%). Seeds DS 3 y were all dead.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Parnassia p. 64. 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, 1996

Difficulty 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. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 6 months from start to sowing. Then 21 days to germinate.

16% germination in 21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Parnassia p. 64Public domain
Show the original text
Parnassia (Parnassiaceae). P. palustris seeds DS 6 m germ. 70 GA-3(88% in 5thw), 70L(48% in 1-3 w), and 70D(16% in 3rd w). Seeds DS 2 y germ. 70L(18% in 3rd'w) and 70D(2%). Seeds DS 3 y were all dead.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Parnassia p. 64. 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 5

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

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

Start around March 16, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on March 15, 2025.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 730 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 2 years from start to sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

2% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Parnassia p. 64Public domain
Show the original text
Parnassia (Parnassiaceae). P. palustris seeds DS 6 m germ. 70 GA-3(88% in 5thw), 70L(48% in 1-3 w), and 70D(16% in 3rd w). Seeds DS 2 y germ. 70L(18% in 3rd'w) and 70D(2%). Seeds DS 3 y were all dead.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Parnassia p. 64. 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 6

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 1, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Gibberellic acid soak

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 35 days to germinate.

88% germination in 35 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. palustris germ. 70L(48% in 1-3 w), 70D GA-3(88% in .5th w), 70D(17% in 3rd w), and 40-70D(25% in 2nd w).
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 7

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate 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. Then 21 days to germinate.

48% germination in 7–21 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. palustris germ. 70L(48% in 1-3 w), 70D GA-3(88% in .5th w), 70D(17% in 3rd w), and 40-70D(25% in 2nd w).
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 8

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 22, 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 14 days.

25% germination in 14 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. palustris germ. 70L(48% in 1-3 w), 70D GA-3(88% in .5th w), 70D(17% in 3rd w), and 40-70D(25% in 2nd w).
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 9

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: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 21 days to germinate.

17% germination in 21 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. palustris germ. 70L(48% in 1-3 w), 70D GA-3(88% in .5th w), 70D(17% in 3rd w), and 40-70D(25% in 2nd w).
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

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