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Phemeranthus calycinus

Large-flowered Fameflower · Largeflower Fameflower · Fameflower

Family MontiaceaeGenus Phemeranthus

Also published as Talinum calycinum. You are in the right place.

Pink star flowers on fine wiry stems above grassy leaves
FlowerCorey RaimondCC BY 2.0

About the plant

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

The plant

Habit
Herbaceous perennialPlant Finder
Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Height
0.5-0.75 ft15-25 cmPlant Finder
Spread
0.75-1 ft25-30 cmPlant Finder
Flower
Showy; rose pink, rose redPlant Finder
Blooms
JulyPlant Finder
Native range
Central United StatesPlant Finder
Hardiness zones
5-9Plant Finder

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sunPlant Finder
Soil
Average, well-drained; prefers rocky or sandyPlant Finder
Watering
Dry to mediumPlant Finder

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plant Finder — Missouri Botanical Garden; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Worth knowing

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 26, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    Deno gives no length for this period; three months is his standard cycle.

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

    17% in one sample and 50% in the other, over 2-10 days.

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 10 days.

17% germination in 2–10 days.

Two samples that disagree -- 17% and 50%. Either way it is the only route that works.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, TalinumPublic domain
Show the original text
Talinum (Portulacaceae). Sowing at 40was better than sowing at 70. T. calycinum germ. 40-70(17% and 50%, 2 samples, in 2-10 d) and none at 70..
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Talinum. 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

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

    Nothing.

No stated waiting before sowing.

0% germination.

Nothing at all. Deno's rule for the genus holds here: sowing at 40 beats sowing at 70.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, TalinumPublic domain
Show the original text
Talinum (Portulacaceae). Sowing at 40was better than sowing at 70. T. calycinum germ. 40-70(17% and 50%, 2 samples, in 2-10 d) and none at 70..
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Talinum. 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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