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Tradescantia bracteata

Bracted Spiderwort · Longbract Spiderwort · Prairie Spiderwort

Family CommelinaceaeGenus Tradescantia

Three violet three-petalled flowers with yellow anthers on hairy stalks, above long arching grassy leaves.
FlowerUSFWS Mountain-PrairieCC BY 2.0

About the plant

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

Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, Forb/herbPLANTS Database
Flower
Bright rose, blueFlora of North America
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; Flora of North America — Flora of North America Editorial Committee.

Worth knowing

This source reports 4 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 26, 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, in 10 days.

50% germination in 10 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Tradescantia p. 81Public domain
Show the original text
Tradescantia (Commelineaceae). T. bracteata germ. 40-70D(50% on 10th d) and 70D-40-70D(35% in 2nd w) and none in 70D, 70L, 70 GA-3, or OT.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Tradescantia p. 81. 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 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 Light: dark

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

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

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

35% germination in 14 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Tradescantia p. 81Public domain
Show the original text
Tradescantia (Commelineaceae). T. bracteata germ. 40-70D(50% on 10th d) and 70D-40-70D(35% in 2nd w) and none in 70D, 70L, 70 GA-3, or OT.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Tradescantia p. 81. 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, 1996

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing.

0% germination.

Nothing germinated at 70.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Tradescantia p. 81Public domain
Show the original text
Tradescantia (Commelineaceae). T. bracteata germ. 40-70D(50% on 10th d) and 70D-40-70D(35% in 2nd w) and none in 70D, 70L, 70 GA-3, or OT.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Tradescantia p. 81. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Sow outdoors and leave it

    Nothing germinated outdoors.

No stated waiting before sowing.

0% germination.

This source doesn't state how long step 1 lasts.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Tradescantia p. 81Public domain
Show the original text
Tradescantia (Commelineaceae). T. bracteata germ. 40-70D(50% on 10th d) and 70D-40-70D(35% in 2nd w) and none in 70D, 70L, 70 GA-3, or OT.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Tradescantia p. 81. 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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