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Viburnum sieboldii

Siebold's Arrowwood · Siebold's Viburnum

Family ViburnaceaeGenus Viburnum

Broad drooping sprays of tiny white star flowers with protruding stamens, among deeply ribbed leaves.
FlowerUser:SB_JohnnyCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

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

The plant

Habit
ShrubExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
shrub or treePlants of the World Online
Height
15-20 ft4.6-6.1 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
10-15 ft3-4.6 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Cream/Tan, Gold/Yellow, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
SpringExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
JapanGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
5-7Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, Loam (Silt), SandExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good DrainageExtension 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.

This source reports three treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around June 19, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on June 18, 2026.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    13 germinated in this phase.

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    6 germinated in this phase.

  5. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

about 9 months from start to step 5. Germination happens during step 5, in 21 days.

38% germination in 2–21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Viburnum p. 228Public domain
Show the original text
Viburnum (Caprlfollaceae). Viburnums divide into two groups. The first group germ. in a 40-70 pattern. The cotyledons develop within a week or two after germination. This group is adapted to germination in spring and immediate leaf development and growth. The second group germ. in a 40-70-40 pattern with extension into a 40-70-40-70-40 pattern. Germination takes place in a cycle at 40. The seedlings must be kept at 40 for two to three months after radicle development is complete in order for the cotyledons to develop properly on shifting to 70. Puncturing. the seed coat had no effect in three species. All seed was WC for 1-2 w. Germination was stimulated by GA-3 in V. sieboldi germ. 70-40-70(15% in 2d-1 1 w)-40(1%), 40-70(13%)-40(6%)- 70(38% in 2-21 d), and 14% in March and April in outdoor treatment. Only the radicle and root system develop at 70, and a.3 m at 40 and shift back to 70 are needed to develop the cotyledons. Seed DS 6 m at 70 or 40 largely rotted, but outdoor treatment of seed DS 6 m at 40 germ. 27% in March and April a year after being placed outdoors in April. It was not checked whether the seeds in outdoor treatment developed cotyledons in the same spring as germination.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Viburnum p. 228. 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 October 6, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on October 5, 2026.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  5. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    1 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 4 run on after germination.

about 6 months from start to step 4. Germination happens during step 4, in 2 days.

15% germination in 2 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Viburnum p. 228Public domain
Show the original text
Viburnum (Caprlfollaceae). Viburnums divide into two groups. The first group germ. in a 40-70 pattern. The cotyledons develop within a week or two after germination. This group is adapted to germination in spring and immediate leaf development and growth. The second group germ. in a 40-70-40 pattern with extension into a 40-70-40-70-40 pattern. Germination takes place in a cycle at 40. The seedlings must be kept at 40 for two to three months after radicle development is complete in order for the cotyledons to develop properly on shifting to 70. Puncturing. the seed coat had no effect in three species. All seed was WC for 1-2 w. Germination was stimulated by GA-3 in V. sieboldi germ. 70-40-70(15% in 2d-1 1 w)-40(1%), 40-70(13%)-40(6%)- 70(38% in 2-21 d), and 14% in March and April in outdoor treatment. Only the radicle and root system develop at 70, and a.3 m at 40 and shift back to 70 are needed to develop the cotyledons. Seed DS 6 m at 70 or 40 largely rotted, but outdoor treatment of seed DS 6 m at 40 germ. 27% in March and April a year after being placed outdoors in April. It was not checked whether the seeds in outdoor treatment developed cotyledons in the same spring as germination.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Viburnum p. 228. 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

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Sow outdoors and leave it

    Up in March and April.

No stated waiting before sowing.

14% germination.

This source doesn't state how long step 2 lasts.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Viburnum p. 228Public domain
Show the original text
Viburnum (Caprlfollaceae). Viburnums divide into two groups. The first group germ. in a 40-70 pattern. The cotyledons develop within a week or two after germination. This group is adapted to germination in spring and immediate leaf development and growth. The second group germ. in a 40-70-40 pattern with extension into a 40-70-40-70-40 pattern. Germination takes place in a cycle at 40. The seedlings must be kept at 40 for two to three months after radicle development is complete in order for the cotyledons to develop properly on shifting to 70. Puncturing. the seed coat had no effect in three species. All seed was WC for 1-2 w. Germination was stimulated by GA-3 in V. sieboldi germ. 70-40-70(15% in 2d-1 1 w)-40(1%), 40-70(13%)-40(6%)- 70(38% in 2-21 d), and 14% in March and April in outdoor treatment. Only the radicle and root system develop at 70, and a.3 m at 40 and shift back to 70 are needed to develop the cotyledons. Seed DS 6 m at 70 or 40 largely rotted, but outdoor treatment of seed DS 6 m at 40 germ. 27% in March and April a year after being placed outdoors in April. It was not checked whether the seeds in outdoor treatment developed cotyledons in the same spring as germination.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Viburnum p. 228. 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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