Salvia moorcroftiana
Ladakhi Sage

About the plant
What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.
- Habit
- perennialPlants of the World Online
- Flower
- Pale lilacWikipedia
- Native range
- Afghanistan, Nepal, Pakistan, West HimalayaGBIF 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; Wikipedia — Wikipedia contributors; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
Worth knowing
- This sage of the Himalayas, especially common in the Kashmir Valley, has large basal leaves that look covered in white wool. Its leaves are used medicinally in Kashmir. Wikipedia: Salvia moorcroftiana
This source reports 8 treatments. All are shown.
Protocol 1
DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993Difficulty Low
Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.
Dry storage
Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C
Cold moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C
60% here. Deno gives no length for this period; three months is his standard cycle.
Warm moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C
A further 1%. Deno gives no length for this period; three months is his standard cycle.
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 Light: dark
Steps after step 2 run on after germination.
about 6 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2; time not stated, 21 days assumed.
60% germination.
60% in the first cold period after six months' dry storage at 70.
This source doesn't state how long step 5 lasts.
Protocol 2
DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993Difficulty High
Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.
Dry storage
Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C
Cold moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C
Warm moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C
1 germinated in this phase.
Cold moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C
Warm moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C
Steps after step 2 run on after germination.
about 6 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2; time not stated, 21 days assumed.
60% germination.
Protocol 3
DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993Difficulty Low
Start around October 2, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on October 1, 2026.
Dry storage
Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C
Sow and cover
Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark
about 6 months from start to sowing. Then 6 days to germinate.
59% germination in 2–6 days.
59% in under a week. Deno reads the genus as a dark-at-70 germinator.
Protocol 4
DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993Difficulty Moderate
Start around October 2, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on October 1, 2026.
Dry storage
Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C
Sow and cover
Temperature: 70°F 21°C
about 6 months from start to sowing. Then 6 days to germinate.
59% germination in 2–6 days.
Protocol 5
DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993Difficulty Moderate
Start around March 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.
Warm moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark
29% here. Deno gives no length for this period; three months is his standard cycle.
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
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C
A further 10%. Deno gives no length for this period; three months is his standard cycle.
Cold moist stratification
Temperature: 40°F 4°C
Steps after step 1 run on after germination.
Germination happens during step 1; time not stated, 21 days assumed.
29% germination.
Fresh seed spreads out: 29%, then 10% two cycles later.
This source doesn't state how long step 4 lasts.
Protocol 6
DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993Difficulty High
Start around March 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.
Warm moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C
Cold moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C
Warm moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C
10 germinated in this phase.
Cold moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C
Steps after step 1 run on after germination.
Germination happens during step 1; time not stated, 21 days assumed.
29% germination.
Protocol 7
DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993Difficulty Moderate
Start around December 15, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.
Cold moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C
10% here. Deno gives no length for this period; three months is his standard cycle.
Warm moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C
A further 26%. Deno gives no length for this period; three months is his standard cycle.
Cold moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C
A further 4%. Deno gives no length for this period; three months is his standard cycle.
Warm moist stratification
Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark
A last 2%.
Steps after step 2 run on after germination.
about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2; time not stated, 21 days assumed.
26% germination.
10, 26, 4 and 2 per cent across four cycles. Dry storage tightens this up considerably.
This source doesn't state how long step 4 lasts.
Protocol 8
DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993Difficulty High
Start around December 15, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.
Cold moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C
10 germinated in this phase.
Warm moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C
Cold moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C
4 germinated in this phase.
Warm moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C
2 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; time not stated, 21 days assumed.
26% germination.
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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