Sabatia kennedyana
Plymouth Gentian · Plymouth Rose Gentian · Large Sabatia

About the plant
What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.
The plant
- Habit
- Herbaceous perennialPlant Finder
- Habit
- monocarpic perennialPlants of the World Online
- Height
- 2.5-3 ft75-90 cmPlant Finder
- Spread
- 2.5-3 ft75-90 cmPlant Finder
- Flower
- Showy; pink and white with a yellow and red eyePlant Finder
- Blooms
- June to AugustPlant Finder
- Native range
- Eastern North AmericaPlant Finder
- Hardiness zones
- 6-9Plant Finder
- Note
- Sowing at 40 is fatal -- nothing over three cycles. A cold period after germination is fine.Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed.
Growing conditions
- Sun
- Full sunPlant Finder
- Soil
- Wet, boggyPlant Finder
- Moisture
- WetPlant Finder
- Watering
- WetPlant Finder
Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.
Sources: Plant Finder — Missouri Botanical Garden; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno.
Worth knowing
- Plymouth rose gentian has a scattered range, from Nova Scotia and Massachusetts to the Carolinas. It is threatened by shoreline development, off-road vehicles, hydroelectric dams, pollution and poaching. Wikipedia: Sabatia kennedyana
This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.
Protocol 1
DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993Difficulty Moderate
Start around March 1, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.
Warm moist stratification
Temperature: 70°F 21°C
42%, over 2-5 weeks.
Cold moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C
Deno gives no length for this period; three months is his standard cycle.
Warm moist stratification
Temperature: 70°F 21°C
A further 30%, in 6-8 days.
Steps after step 1 run on after germination.
Germination happens during step 1, in 35 days.
42% germination in 14–35 days.
42% at 70, then 30% more after the cycle. Sow warm: sowing at 40 kills it.
This source doesn't state how long step 3 lasts.
Protocol 2
DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993Cold moist stratification
Temperature: 40°F 4°C
Nothing, even after three cycles.
Germination happens during step 1.
0% germination.
Nothing over three cycles. Deno calls sowing at 40 fatal for this species.
This source doesn't state how long step 1 lasts.
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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