Deno’s GardenMy Garden

Trochodendron aralioides

Cartwheel Tree · Wheel Tree

Family TrochodendraceaeGenus Trochodendron

A cluster of green petal-less flowers, each a ring of pale spreading stamens around a green disc, among glossy leathery leaves.
FlowerEric in SFCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

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

The plant

Habit
Shrub, TreeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
treePlants of the World Online
Height
10-20 ft3-6.1 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
10-15 ft3-4.6 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Gold/Yellow, Green, Purple/LavenderExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
SpringExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Japan, Nansei-shoto, TaiwanGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
6-8Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Dappled Sunlight; Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Loam (Silt)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally WetExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Wheel tree is the only living species in its genus. Unusually for a flowering plant, its wood has no vessel elements, long thought to be a very primitive feature. Wikipedia: Trochodendron aralioides

This source reports 5 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Gibberellic acid soak

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 28 days to germinate.

80% germination in 28 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Trochodendron p. 83Public domain
Show the original text
Trochodendron (Trochodendronaceae). T. aralioides germ. 70L(48% in 4th w), 70D(18% in 4th w), 70 GA-3(80% in 4th w), 40-70D(25%), and 46% in May in OT starting March 1.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Trochodendron p. 83. 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 Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 28 days to germinate.

48% germination in 28 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Trochodendron p. 83Public domain
Show the original text
Trochodendron (Trochodendronaceae). T. aralioides germ. 70L(48% in 4th w), 70D(18% in 4th w), 70 GA-3(80% in 4th w), 40-70D(25%), and 46% in May in OT starting March 1.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Trochodendron p. 83. 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

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Sow around March 1, 2027 — a date the source gives, not one counted back from a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow outdoors and leave it

    Sown outdoors in March 1; up in May.

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 60 days to germinate.

46% germination in 60 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Trochodendron p. 83Public domain
Show the original text
Trochodendron (Trochodendronaceae). T. aralioides germ. 70L(48% in 4th w), 70D(18% in 4th w), 70 GA-3(80% in 4th w), 40-70D(25%), and 46% in May in OT starting March 1.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Trochodendron p. 83. 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, 1996

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.

25% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Trochodendron p. 83Public domain
Show the original text
Trochodendron (Trochodendronaceae). T. aralioides germ. 70L(48% in 4th w), 70D(18% in 4th w), 70 GA-3(80% in 4th w), 40-70D(25%), and 46% in May in OT starting March 1.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Trochodendron p. 83. 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, 1996

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 28 days to germinate.

18% germination in 28 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Trochodendron p. 83Public domain
Show the original text
Trochodendron (Trochodendronaceae). T. aralioides germ. 70L(48% in 4th w), 70D(18% in 4th w), 70 GA-3(80% in 4th w), 40-70D(25%), and 46% in May in OT starting March 1.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Trochodendron p. 83. 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

Add to My Garden

View species page