Wyethia amplexicaulis
Mule's Ear Wyethia · Mule-ears · Northern Mule's Ears

About the plant
What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.
The plant
- Habit
- Perennial, Forb/herbPLANTS Database
- Flower
- Bright yellow-orangeWikipedia
- Native range
- Native to the lower 48 statesPLANTS Database
- Note
- GA-3 killed the seed outright: every seed rotted.Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed.
Growing conditions
- Soil
- Adapted to medium, fine textured soilsPLANTS Database
- Soil pH
- 6.2-7.6PLANTS Database
- Watering
- Drought tolerance: LowPLANTS Database
Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.
Sources: PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; Wikipedia — Wikipedia contributors; Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno.
Worth knowing
- Nuttall named the genus for Nathaniel Wyeth, who made its first scientific collections. Mule ears compares the leaves to a mule's ears. Wikipedia: Wyethia amplexicaulis
This source reports three treatments. All are shown.
Protocol 1
DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993Difficulty Moderate
Start around April 2, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.
Cold moist stratification
Temperature: 40°F 4°C
Two of thirteen, at 10-11 weeks.
Warm moist stratification
Temperature: 70°F 21°C
Five more of thirteen, in 1-3 days.
Germination happens during step 2, in 3 days.
38% germination in 1–3 days.
Two seeds of thirteen in the cold and five more within three days of the move. Deno's samples were small and he does not call the GA-3 differences significant.
This source doesn't state how long step 1 lasts.
Protocol 2
DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993Difficulty High
Start around March 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.
Sow and cover
Temperature: 70°F 21°C
No stated waiting before sowing. Then 21 days to germinate.
33% germination in 21 days.
Three seeds of nine sown warm. Deno's samples were small and he does not call the GA-3 differences significant.
Protocol 3
DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993Gibberellic acid soak
Sow and cover
Temperature: 70°F 21°C
All rotted.
No stated waiting before sowing.
0% germination.
Every seed rotted. GA-3 kills this one.
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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