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Zephyranthes araucana

Araucanian Rain Lily

Family AmaryllidaceaeGenus Zephyranthes

Two dry seed capsules split along their seams, pink-brown and gray, at the top of a green stalk against a blurred gray background.
SeedKrzysztof Ziarnek, KenraizCC BY 4.0

About the plant

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

Habit
bulbous geophytePlants of the World Online
Native range
Argentina South, Chile CentralGBIF Backbone Taxonomy

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; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around January 25, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

Germination happens during step 1, in 70 days.

50% germination in 42–70 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Rhodophiala p. 205Public domain
Show the original text
Rhodophiala (Amaryllidaceae). Although some species germ.. at 70, the general pattern in this genus is for germination to be best at 40. R. araucana germ. 40(50% in 6-10w) and 70-40(22% in 4-12 w)-70(6%, 4th d).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Rhodophiala p. 205. 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 14, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on October 13, 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

    6 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 2 run on after germination.

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 84 days.

22% germination in 28–84 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Rhodophiala p. 205Public domain
Show the original text
Rhodophiala (Amaryllidaceae). Although some species germ.. at 70, the general pattern in this genus is for germination to be best at 40. R. araucana germ. 40(50% in 6-10w) and 70-40(22% in 4-12 w)-70(6%, 4th d).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Rhodophiala p. 205. 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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