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Rhododendron lepidotum

Scaly Rhododendron · Willow-leaved Rhododendron

Family EricaceaeGenus Rhododendron

A low wiry shrub spread over a ridge, its dark twigs and small leaves studded with magenta flowers, in mountain mist.
The whole plantWoudloperCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

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

Habit
shrubPlants of the World Online
Flower
White, pink, red, purple, yellowFlora of China

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.).

This source reports 5 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 21, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 15 days to germinate.

85% germination in 10–15 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Rhododendron p. 204Public domain
Show the original text
Rhododendron (Ericaceae). Usually light was required for germination. R. lepidotum from Kashmir germ. best in 70L(30% in 5-10'd). Germination was reduced to 4% if the seed were. kept just 3 w in 70D before shifting to 70L. Seed also germ. 40-70L(2/7) and 40-70D(1/6). The promotion by light was confirmed with a sample from Nepal which germ. 70L(85% in 10-15 d) and 70D(26% in 3rd w). After 4 w the sample in 70D was shifted to 70L whereupon 40% germ. in 3rd w. However another sample from Nepal germ. 100% in 3rd w in either 70L or 700. The identifications are obviously in question, but the results do confirm the general tendency for germination in Rhododendron to be promoted by light.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Rhododendron p. 204. 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. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

30% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Rhododendron p. 204Public domain
Show the original text
Rhododendron (Ericaceae). Usually light was required for germination. R. lepidotum from Kashmir germ. best in 70L(30% in 5-10'd). Germination was reduced to 4% if the seed were. kept just 3 w in 70D before shifting to 70L. Seed also germ. 40-70L(2/7) and 40-70D(1/6). The promotion by light was confirmed with a sample from Nepal which germ. 70L(85% in 10-15 d) and 70D(26% in 3rd w). After 4 w the sample in 70D was shifted to 70L whereupon 40% germ. in 3rd w. However another sample from Nepal germ. 100% in 3rd w in either 70L or 700. The identifications are obviously in question, but the results do confirm the general tendency for germination in Rhododendron to be promoted by light.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Rhododendron p. 204. 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, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 15, 2026 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 Light: light

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

29% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Rhododendron p. 204Public domain
Show the original text
Rhododendron (Ericaceae). Usually light was required for germination. R. lepidotum from Kashmir germ. best in 70L(30% in 5-10'd). Germination was reduced to 4% if the seed were. kept just 3 w in 70D before shifting to 70L. Seed also germ. 40-70L(2/7) and 40-70D(1/6). The promotion by light was confirmed with a sample from Nepal which germ. 70L(85% in 10-15 d) and 70D(26% in 3rd w). After 4 w the sample in 70D was shifted to 70L whereupon 40% germ. in 3rd w. However another sample from Nepal germ. 100% in 3rd w in either 70L or 700. The identifications are obviously in question, but the results do confirm the general tendency for germination in Rhododendron to be promoted by light.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Rhododendron p. 204. 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, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 21 days to germinate.

26% germination in 21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Rhododendron p. 204Public domain
Show the original text
Rhododendron (Ericaceae). Usually light was required for germination. R. lepidotum from Kashmir germ. best in 70L(30% in 5-10'd). Germination was reduced to 4% if the seed were. kept just 3 w in 70D before shifting to 70L. Seed also germ. 40-70L(2/7) and 40-70D(1/6). The promotion by light was confirmed with a sample from Nepal which germ. 70L(85% in 10-15 d) and 70D(26% in 3rd w). After 4 w the sample in 70D was shifted to 70L whereupon 40% germ. in 3rd w. However another sample from Nepal germ. 100% in 3rd w in either 70L or 700. The identifications are obviously in question, but the results do confirm the general tendency for germination in Rhododendron to be promoted by light.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Rhododendron p. 204. 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, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 15, 2026 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 Light: dark

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

17% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Rhododendron p. 204Public domain
Show the original text
Rhododendron (Ericaceae). Usually light was required for germination. R. lepidotum from Kashmir germ. best in 70L(30% in 5-10'd). Germination was reduced to 4% if the seed were. kept just 3 w in 70D before shifting to 70L. Seed also germ. 40-70L(2/7) and 40-70D(1/6). The promotion by light was confirmed with a sample from Nepal which germ. 70L(85% in 10-15 d) and 70D(26% in 3rd w). After 4 w the sample in 70D was shifted to 70L whereupon 40% germ. in 3rd w. However another sample from Nepal germ. 100% in 3rd w in either 70L or 700. The identifications are obviously in question, but the results do confirm the general tendency for germination in Rhododendron to be promoted by light.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Rhododendron p. 204. 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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