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Ratibida columnifera

Mexican Hat · Long-headed Coneflower · Longhead-coneflower · Upright Prairie Coneflower

Family AsteraceaeGenus Ratibida

A tall gray-brown cone ringed at its base by drooping petals, each deep red with a yellow rim.
FlowerStickpenPublic domain

About the plant

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

The plant

Habit
PerennialExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Height
3.1 ft95 cmPLANTS Database
Flower
Brown/Copper, Gold/YellowExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Canada, lower 48 statesPLANTS Database
Hardiness zones
4-9Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sunExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Adapted to coarse, medium, fine textured soilsPLANTS Database
Soil pH
5.9-7.0PLANTS Database
Moisture
Moisture use: MediumPLANTS Database
Watering
Drought tolerance: MediumPLANTS Database

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

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS.

Worth knowing

Two sources report two treatments between them. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 22, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on March 21, 2024.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 365–1095 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 3 years from start to sowing. Then 15 days to germinate.

50% germination in 3–15 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Ratibida p. 70Public domain
Show the original text
Ratibida (Asteraceae). R. columnrfera (yellow form) seeds DS 1-3 y germ. 70D(50% in 3-15 d). The red form DS 1 y germ. 80% in 3-9 d. After 3 y DS germination was still 80% but in 2-4 w which is a little slower.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Ratibida p. 70. 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 8, 2027 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

    50 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 1 run on after germination.

Germination happens during step 1, in 28 days.

50% germination in 28 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Ratibida p. 203Public domain
Show the original text
Ratibida (Asteraceae). A. columnifera germ. 100% in 6-8 d in either 70D ot 70L and 40(50% in 4th w)-70(50% on 2nd d).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Ratibida p. 203. 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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