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Senega lutea

Orange Milkwort

Family PolygalaceaeGenus Senega

Also published as Polygala lutea. You are in the right place.

A tight rounded head of bright orange florets packed like a clover, on a smooth green stem.
FlowerJudy GallagherCC BY 2.0

About the plant

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

Habit
biennial or perennialPlants of the World Online
Habit
Biennial, Forb/herbPLANTS Database
Flower
Bright orange-yellowWikipedia
Native range
Native to the lower 48 statesPLANTS Database

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; Wikipedia — Wikipedia contributors.

Worth knowing

  • Orange milkwort of southeastern pine barrens and swamps. Among its names: candy weed and bog Cheetos. Wikipedia: Senega lutea

This source reports three treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 29, 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, in 7 days.

85% germination in 7 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Polygala p. 195Public domain
Show the original text
Polygala (Polygalaceae). Seed is difficult to collect because it ripens over an extended period. The samples of seed were thus small. In view of the photoresponses in P. lutea germ. 40-70L(85% on 7th d), 40-70D(none), 70-40-70L(20% in 2nd w), and none in 70-40-70D. Seed DS 6 m at 70 rotted.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Polygala p. 195. 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 High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 24, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 23, 2026.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 6 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 14 days.

20% germination in 14 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Polygala p. 195Public domain
Show the original text
Polygala (Polygalaceae). Seed is difficult to collect because it ripens over an extended period. The samples of seed were thus small. In view of the photoresponses in P. lutea germ. 40-70L(85% on 7th d), 40-70D(none), 70-40-70L(20% in 2nd w), and none in 70-40-70D. Seed DS 6 m at 70 rotted.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Polygala p. 195. 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

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing.

0% germination.

Nothing germinated at 70.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Polygala p. 195Public domain
Show the original text
Polygala (Polygalaceae). Seed is difficult to collect because it ripens over an extended period. The samples of seed were thus small. In view of the photoresponses in P. lutea germ. 40-70L(85% on 7th d), 40-70D(none), 70-40-70L(20% in 2nd w), and none in 70-40-70D. Seed DS 6 m at 70 rotted.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Polygala p. 195. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record; 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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