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Reseda odorata

Garden Mignonette · Bastard Rocket · Common Mignonette

Family ResedaceaeGenus Reseda

A spike of small creamy flowers with orange-brown tufted centers above long, smooth green leaves
FlowerbytheparkCC BY 4.0
A plate of a branching stem with oval blue-green leaves and two loose spikes of small ragged flowers, greenish with orange centers.
IllustrationJames Sowerby / William CurtisPublic domain

About the plant

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

Habit
annual or subshrubPlants of the World Online
Habit
Annual, Forb/herbPLANTS Database
Flower
White, light yellowFlora of North America
Native range
Egypt, Kriti, LibyaGBIF 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; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; Flora of North America — Flora of North America Editorial Committee; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Garden mignonette has long been grown for its fragrant flowers, whose essential oil has been used in perfumes. Probably native to the Mediterranean, it has escaped from gardens in many parts of the world. Wikipedia: Reseda odorata

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

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 23, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on March 22, 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. Then 14 days to germinate.

88% germination in 14 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Reseda p. 57Public domain
Show the original text
Reseda (Resedaceae). R. odorata (Mignonette) germ. in 2-10 d in 70D. HC reported that it germ. the same from 50-85. Seeds DS 2 y germ. 70D(88% in 2nd w) similar to fresh seeds.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Reseda p. 57. 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 Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 26, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 10 days to germinate.

82% germination in 2–10 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Reseda p. 70Public domain
Show the original text
Reseda (Resedaceae). R. odorata grandiflora germ. 70D(82% in 2-10 d). Light had no effect. Germination dropped to 40% in 4-6 d in 70D after DS 1 y.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Reseda 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.

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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