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Primula geraniifolia

Geranium Primrose

Family PrimulaceaeGenus Primula

Small bright pink flowers on thin stalks above rounded, lobed light green leaves
FlowerMorten RossCC BY 4.0

About the plant

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

Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Flower
Rose, purpleFlora of China
Native range
Assam, China South-Central, East Himalaya, Myanmar, Nepal, TibetGBIF Backbone Taxonomy

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; Flora of China — Wu Zhengyi, Peter H. Raven and Hong Deyuan (eds.); GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

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 October 5, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on October 4, 2026.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    13 germinated in this phase.

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

about 6 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 3 days.

87% germination in 2–3 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Primula p. 197Public domain
Show the original text
Primula. (Primulaceae). The discovery of a photorequirement in P. geraniifolia (Cor) germ. 70-40(13%)-70(87% in 2-3 d) and 40(31%). Seed DS 6 m at 70 or 40 gave less than 2% germination in one sample and less than 10% germination in another indicating that DS is not tolerated.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Primula p. 197. 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 March 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

Germination happens during step 1; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

31% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Primula p. 197Public domain
Show the original text
Primula. (Primulaceae). The discovery of a photorequirement in P. geraniifolia (Cor) germ. 70-40(13%)-70(87% in 2-3 d) and 40(31%). Seed DS 6 m at 70 or 40 gave less than 2% germination in one sample and less than 10% germination in another indicating that DS is not tolerated.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Primula p. 197. 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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