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Purshia tridentata

Antelope Brush · Buck Brush · Antelope Bitterbrush

Family RosaceaeGenus Purshia

An upright gray-twigged shrub scattered with small yellow flowers, standing in grass below open pine woodland.
The whole plantWalter Siegmund (talk)CC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

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

The plant

Habit
shrub or treePlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, ShrubPLANTS Database
Height
6.0 ft1.8 mPLANTS Database
Flower
YellowPLANTS Database
Blooms
Early SpringPLANTS Database
Native range
Canada, lower 48 statesPLANTS Database

Growing conditions

Sun
Shade tolerance: MediumPLANTS Database
Soil
Adapted to coarse, medium textured soilsPLANTS Database
Soil pH
5.6-8.4PLANTS Database
Moisture
Moisture use: LowPLANTS Database
Watering
Drought tolerance: HighPLANTS 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

This source reports 8 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around January 11, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

Germination happens during step 1, in 84 days.

100% germination in 49–84 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Purshia p. 69Public domain
Show the original text
Purshia (Rosaceae). P. tridentata germ. best at 40 as shown by 40(100% in 7-12 w), 70L(20%)- 40(80% in 8th w), 70 GA-3(50% in 10th w), 70D-40(25% in 8-12 w)-70D(6%)-40(6%)- 70D(6%)-40(6%)-70D(6%), and 60% in April in OT. Seeds DS 6 m, 1 y, and 2 y germ 40-70D(70% in 2-4 d), 40-70D(60% in 1-4 d), and 40(8/12 in 5-11 w). These results are not entirely consistent, but they do indicate that the seeds are largeiy viable after 2 y of DS.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Purshia p. 69. 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 November 10, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Warm moist stratification

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

    20 germinated in this phase.

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 56 days.

80% germination in 56 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Purshia p. 69Public domain
Show the original text
Purshia (Rosaceae). P. tridentata germ. best at 40 as shown by 40(100% in 7-12 w), 70L(20%)- 40(80% in 8th w), 70 GA-3(50% in 10th w), 70D-40(25% in 8-12 w)-70D(6%)-40(6%)- 70D(6%)-40(6%)-70D(6%), and 60% in April in OT. Seeds DS 6 m, 1 y, and 2 y germ 40-70D(70% in 2-4 d), 40-70D(60% in 1-4 d), and 40(8/12 in 5-11 w). These results are not entirely consistent, but they do indicate that the seeds are largeiy viable after 2 y of DS.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Purshia p. 69. 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 Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around July 6, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on July 5, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

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

about 9 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 4 days.

70% germination in 2–4 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Purshia p. 69Public domain
Show the original text
Purshia (Rosaceae). P. tridentata germ. best at 40 as shown by 40(100% in 7-12 w), 70L(20%)- 40(80% in 8th w), 70 GA-3(50% in 10th w), 70D-40(25% in 8-12 w)-70D(6%)-40(6%)- 70D(6%)-40(6%)-70D(6%), and 60% in April in OT. Seeds DS 6 m, 1 y, and 2 y germ 40-70D(70% in 2-4 d), 40-70D(60% in 1-4 d), and 40(8/12 in 5-11 w). These results are not entirely consistent, but they do indicate that the seeds are largeiy viable after 2 y of DS.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Purshia p. 69. 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 Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around July 23, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on July 22, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

about 6 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 77 days.

67% germination in 35–77 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Purshia p. 69Public domain
Show the original text
Purshia (Rosaceae). P. tridentata germ. best at 40 as shown by 40(100% in 7-12 w), 70L(20%)- 40(80% in 8th w), 70 GA-3(50% in 10th w), 70D-40(25% in 8-12 w)-70D(6%)-40(6%)- 70D(6%)-40(6%)-70D(6%), and 60% in April in OT. Seeds DS 6 m, 1 y, and 2 y germ 40-70D(70% in 2-4 d), 40-70D(60% in 1-4 d), and 40(8/12 in 5-11 w). These results are not entirely consistent, but they do indicate that the seeds are largeiy viable after 2 y of DS.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Purshia p. 69. 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 Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around July 6, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on July 5, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

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

about 9 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 4 days.

60% germination in 1–4 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Purshia p. 69Public domain
Show the original text
Purshia (Rosaceae). P. tridentata germ. best at 40 as shown by 40(100% in 7-12 w), 70L(20%)- 40(80% in 8th w), 70 GA-3(50% in 10th w), 70D-40(25% in 8-12 w)-70D(6%)-40(6%)- 70D(6%)-40(6%)-70D(6%), and 60% in April in OT. Seeds DS 6 m, 1 y, and 2 y germ 40-70D(70% in 2-4 d), 40-70D(60% in 1-4 d), and 40(8/12 in 5-11 w). These results are not entirely consistent, but they do indicate that the seeds are largeiy viable after 2 y of DS.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Purshia p. 69. 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, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Sow outdoors and leave it

    Up in April.

No stated waiting before sowing.

60% germination.

This source doesn't state how long step 1 lasts.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Purshia p. 69Public domain
Show the original text
Purshia (Rosaceae). P. tridentata germ. best at 40 as shown by 40(100% in 7-12 w), 70L(20%)- 40(80% in 8th w), 70 GA-3(50% in 10th w), 70D-40(25% in 8-12 w)-70D(6%)-40(6%)- 70D(6%)-40(6%)-70D(6%), and 60% in April in OT. Seeds DS 6 m, 1 y, and 2 y germ 40-70D(70% in 2-4 d), 40-70D(60% in 1-4 d), and 40(8/12 in 5-11 w). These results are not entirely consistent, but they do indicate that the seeds are largeiy viable after 2 y of DS.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Purshia p. 69. 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, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around January 25, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Gibberellic acid soak

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 70 days to germinate.

50% germination in 70 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Purshia p. 69Public domain
Show the original text
Purshia (Rosaceae). P. tridentata germ. best at 40 as shown by 40(100% in 7-12 w), 70L(20%)- 40(80% in 8th w), 70 GA-3(50% in 10th w), 70D-40(25% in 8-12 w)-70D(6%)-40(6%)- 70D(6%)-40(6%)-70D(6%), and 60% in April in OT. Seeds DS 6 m, 1 y, and 2 y germ 40-70D(70% in 2-4 d), 40-70D(60% in 1-4 d), and 40(8/12 in 5-11 w). These results are not entirely consistent, but they do indicate that the seeds are largeiy viable after 2 y of DS.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Purshia p. 69. 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, 1996

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around October 14, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on October 13, 2026.

  1. Warm moist stratification

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

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

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

    6 germinated in this phase.

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    6 germinated in this phase.

  5. Warm moist stratification

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

    6 germinated in this phase.

  6. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    6 germinated in this phase.

  7. Warm moist stratification

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

    6 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 2 run on after germination.

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 84 days.

25% germination in 56–84 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Purshia p. 69Public domain
Show the original text
Purshia (Rosaceae). P. tridentata germ. best at 40 as shown by 40(100% in 7-12 w), 70L(20%)- 40(80% in 8th w), 70 GA-3(50% in 10th w), 70D-40(25% in 8-12 w)-70D(6%)-40(6%)- 70D(6%)-40(6%)-70D(6%), and 60% in April in OT. Seeds DS 6 m, 1 y, and 2 y germ 40-70D(70% in 2-4 d), 40-70D(60% in 1-4 d), and 40(8/12 in 5-11 w). These results are not entirely consistent, but they do indicate that the seeds are largeiy viable after 2 y of DS.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Purshia p. 69. 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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