Seed Germination "Tricks of the Trade" From Prairie Nursery

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The following procedures are some “Tricks of the Trade” that we have learned at Prairie Nursery over the past 30-plus years. We want to provide you with the best possible information, so that you can successfully grow your native seeds.

The most common method of breaking seed dormancy and increasing germination rate is a pre-planting treatment known as “Moist Stratification.” This simple treatment can dramatically improve germination of certain native plants by conditioning them for germination (please see directions on the following page). When pre-treating seed using Moist Stratification, begin the process the appropriate number of days ahead of the projected seeding date, so that the seed will be ready at planting time.

Planting in fall typically achieves the same results as Moist Stratification. It is not necessary to use this pre-treatment for seed that is to be planted in the fall, as dormancy will be broken naturally in the soil over winter.

When planting Moist Stratified seed, it is best to water the area for one to two months after seeding. Though the seed is conditioned to germinate by stratification, it may revert to dormancy if it does not receive rain or moisture within a certain number of days after planting. All direct seedings in spring or early summer, pre-treated or not, will benefit from irrigation during the first two months after seeding.

Most prairie grasses generally do not benefit from Moist Stratification. Please note that many of the prairie flowers also do not require Moist Stratification for good germination. These can be safely planted in spring and early summer with good results (recommended planting no later than June 30). Watering can greatly increase germination and overall success in late spring and early summer seedings.

Certain species have specific times of the season when they germinate best:

Most wildflowers will exhibit higher germination when seeded in the fall. Seed can be planted directly into the ground, or into flats or pots that are allowed to over-winter in a cool, damp location protected from drying winds.

Cool season grasses and flowers, such as Junegrass, Prairie Dropseed, and Asters do best when planted in early spring when temperatures are cooler. Sedges also do better when planted in fall or early spring.

Many prairie species do well when planted in mid to late spring after temperatures have warmed up. This is particularly true of the warm season prairie grasses, such as Big Bluestem, Little Bluestem, Side Oats Grama, Indiangrass, and Switchgrass.

If your goal is to establish both flowers and grasses together, it is best to plant in fall or early spring, provided that the site has been properly prepared and is free of weed problems.

We hope that this information is useful to you in growing and establishing your native flowers and grasses. If at any time you have any questions about our products and how to best grow them, please do not hesitate to call us. Thank you for choosing Prairie Nursery as your native seed supplier. We truly appreciate your business!

Sincerely,

Kirk Shillinglaw - Seed Division Manager

Moist Stratification is a seed pre-treatment wherein seed is mixed with slightly damp sawdust or clean sand, and placed in a refrigerator at 32-36 degrees F (0-2 degrees C.) for the recommended number of days. This will break seed dormancy and increase germination of many native wildflowers. Please note that although moist stratification can increase germination, it is not required for good germination of all wildflowers. Most prairie grasses do not require moist stratification for good germination.
Scarification of seed is the process of scratching the seed coat to allow moisture to enter the seed itself. Gently scratch the seed with a sandpaper block prior to planting or moist stratification. Many legumes (members of the pea family) benefit from scarification.
"Double Dormant" species have seeds that must spend two consecutive winters in the ground to break dormancy. These seeds are best planted in the fall, although they typically will germinate two years after being seeded in the spring.
Hot Water is used for several species that require heat to stimulate germination. Scarify the seed then place it in a bowl. Pour boiling water over the seed and allow to cool. This mimics the effects of a prairie fire.

		PROPAGATION METHOD
		A) Greenhouse Propagation		B) Direct Seeding in Field Optimal Planting Times
		# Days to Moist Stratify (#1) to Improve Germ	Moist Stratify Not Required for Good Germ.	B) Direct Seeding in Field Optimal Planting Times
WILDFLOWERS	LATIN NAME
Lavender Hyssop	Agastache foeniculum	10	x	Fall, Spring
Nodding Pink Onion	Allium cernuum	30		Fall
Leadplant	Amorpha canescens	10/#2	x	Spring, Early Summer
Thimbleweed	Anemone cylindrica	30	x	Fall, Spring
Angelica	Angelica atropurpurea	30		Fall
Columbine	Aquilegia canadensis	30	x	Fall, Early Spring
Red Milkweed	Asclepias incarnata	10	x	Fall, Spring, Early Summer
Common Milkweed	Asclepias syriaca	10	x	Fall, Spring, Early Summer
Butterflyweed	Asclepias tuberosa	10	x	Fall, Spring, Early Summer
Butterflyweed for Clay	Asclepias tuberosa var. Clay	10	x	Fall, Spring, Early Summer
Sky Blue Aster	Aster azureus	30	x	Fall, Early Spring
Smooth Aster	Aster laevis	30	x	Fall, Early Spring
Savory Leaved Aster	Aster linariifolius	30		Fall
New England Aster	Aster novae-angliae	30	x	Fall, Early Spring
Frost Aster	Aster pilosus	30		Fall
White Aster	Aster ptarmicoides	30		Fall
Canada Milk Vetch	Astragalus canadensis	10	x	Fall, Spring, Early Summer
Blue False Indigo	Baptisia australis	90/#2		Fall
White False Indigo	Baptisia leucantha	90/#2		Fall
Cream False Indigo	Baptisia leucophaea	90/#2		Fall
Pale Indian Plantain	Cacalia atriplicifolia	30	x	Fall, Early Spring
Poppy Mallow	Callirhoe triangulata	30/#2		Fall
Tall Bellflower	Campanula americana	30		Fall
Partridge Pea	Cassia fasciculata	10/#2	x	Fall, Spring, Early Summer
Wild Senna	Cassia hebecarpa	10/#2	x	Fall, Spring, Early Summer
New Jersey Tea	Ceanothus americanus	#4/#2		Fall
Lanceleaf Coreopsis	Coreopsis lanceolata	10	x	Fall, Spring, Early Summer
Tall Coreopsis	Coreopsis tripteris	30	x	Fall, Spring, Early Summer
Canada Tick-Trefoil	Desmodium canadense	10	x	Fall, Spring, Early Summer
Shooting Star	Dodecatheon meadia	30		Fall
Narrow-leaf Purple Coneflower	Echinacea angustifolia	60		Fall
Pale Purple Coneflower	Echinacea pallida	60		Fall
Purple Coneflower	Echinacea purpurea	30	x	Fall, Spring, Early Summer
Fireweed	Epilobium angustifolium	30		Fall
Rattlesnake Master	Eryngium yuccifolium	90		Fall
Joe Pye Weed	Eupatorium maculatum	30		Fall
Boneset	Eupatorium perfoliatum	30		Fall
Sweet Joe Pye Weed	Eupatorium purpureum	30		Fall
Prairie Smoke	Geum triflorum	30	x	Fall, Early Spring, Fresh Seed
Sneezeweed	Helenium autumnale	30	x	Fall, Early Spring
Sawtooth Sunflower	Helianthus grosseserratus	30		Fall
Showy Sunflower	Helianthus laetiflorus	30		Fall
Downy Sunflower	Helianthus mollis	30		Fall
Western Sunflower	Helianthus occidentalis	30	x	Fall, Spring, Early Summer
Woodland Sunflower	Helianthus strumosus	30		Fall
Ox-Eye Sunflower	Heliopsis helianthoides	30	x	Fall, Spring, Early Summer
Alum Root	Heuchera richardsonii	30	x	Fall, Spring, Early Summer
Wild Iris	Iris shrevei	90/#2		Fall
Blue Flag Iris	Iris versicolor	90/#2		Fall
False Boneset	Kuhnia eupatorioides	30	x	Fall, Spring, Early Summer
Roundheaded Bushclover	Lespedeza capitata	10	x	Fall, Spring, Early Summer
Rough Blazingstar	Liatris aspera	30		Fall
Meadow Blazingstar	Liatris ligulistylus	30		Fall
Dotted Blazingstar	Liatris punctata	30		Fall
Prairie Blazingstar	Liatris pycnostachya	30		Fall
Dense Blazingstar	Liatris spicata	30		Fall
Cardinal Flower	Lobelia cardinalis	30	x	Fall, Early Spring
Great Blue Lobelia	Lobelia siphilitica	30	x	Fall, Early Spring
Lupine	Lupinus perennis	10		Fall
Bergamot	Monarda fistulosa	30	x	Fall, Spring, Early Summer
Dotted Mint	Monarda punctata	30	x	Fall, Spring, Early Summer
Evening Primrose	Oenothera biennis	10	x	Fall, Spring, Early Summer
Wild Quinine	Parthenium integrifolium	30	x	Fall
Smooth Penstemon	Penstemon digitalis	30		Fall
Slender Penstemon	Penstemon gracilis	30		Fall
Beardtongue	Penstemon grandiflorus	30		Fall
White Prairie Clover	Petalostemum candidum	10	x	Fall, Spring, Early Summer
Purple Prairie Clover	Petalostemum purpureum	10	x	Fall, Spring, Early Summer
False Dragonhead	Physostegia virginiana	30		Fall
Great Solomon's Seal	Polygonatum canaliculatum	#3		Fall
Prairie Cinquefoil	Potentilla arguta	30		Fall
Mountain Mint	Pycnanthemum virginianum	30	x	Fall, Spring, Early Summer
Yellow Coneflower	Ratibida pinnata	10	x	Fall, Spring, Early Summer
Meadow Rose	Rosa blanda	#3		Fall
Pasture Rose	Rosa carolina	#3		Fall
Black-Eyed Susan	Rudbeckia hirta	10	x	Fall, Spring, Early Summer
Green-headed Coneflower	Rudbeckia laciniata	10	x	Fall, Early Spring
Sweet Black-Eyed Susan	Rudbeckia subtomentosa	10	x	Fall, Spring, Early Summer
Brown Eyed Susan	Rudbeckia triloba	10	x	Fall, Spring, Early Summer
Rosinweed	Silphium integrifolium	30		Fall
Compassplant	Silphium laciniatum	30		Fall
Cupplant	Silphium perfoliatum	30		Fall
Prairie Dock	Silphium terebinthinaceum	30		Fall
Solomon's Plume	Smilacina racemosa	#3		Fall
Sweet-Scented Goldenrod	Solidago jejunifolia	30		Fall
Ohio Goldenrod	Solidago ohioensis	30	x	Fall, Spring, Early Summer
Riddell's Goldenrod	Solidago riddelli	30	x	Fall, Spring, Early Summer
Stiff Goldenrod	Solidago rigida	30	x	Fall, Spring, Early Summer
Showy Goldenrod	Solidago speciosa	30		Fall
Meadowrue	Thalictrum dasycarpum	60		Fall
Spiderwort	Tradescantia ohiensis	90		Fall
Blue Vervain	Verbena hastata	30		Fall
Hoary Vervain	Verbena stricta	30		Fall
Ironweed	Vernonia fasciculata	30		Fall
Culver's Root	Veronicastrum virginicum	30		Fall
Heartleaf Golden Alexanders	Zizia aptera	30		Fall
Golden Alexanders	Zizia aurea	30		Fall

SEDGES
Porcupine Sedge	Carex hystericina	30	x	Fall, Early Spring
Lake Sedge	Carex lacustris	30	x	Fall, Early Spring
Fox Sedge	Carex vulpinoidea	30	x	Fall, Early Spring
Dark Green Bulrush	Scirpus atrovirens	30	x	Fall, Early Spring
Woolgrass	Scirpus cyperinus	30	x	Fall, Early Spring

GRASSES
Big Bluestem	Andropogon gerardi	Not Required	x	Spring, Early Summer
Sideoats Grama	Bouteloua curtipendula	Not Required	x	Spring, Early Summer
Canada Wild Rye	Elymus canadensis	Not Required	x	Spring, Early Summer
Silky Wild Rye	Elymus villosus	Not Required	x	Spring, Early Summer
Virginia Wild Rye	Elymus virginicus	Not Required	x	Spring, Early Summer
Rattlesnake Grass	Glyceria canadensis	Not Required	x	Fall, Early Spring
Fowl Manna Grass	Glyceria striata	Not Required	x	Fall, Early Spring
Bottlebrush Grass	Hystrix patula	Not Required	x	Fall, Early Spring
Junegrass	Koeleria cristata	Not Required	x	Fall, Early Spring
Switchgrass	Panicum virgatum	Not Required	x	Spring, Early Summer
Little Bluestem	Schizachyrium scoparium	Not Required	x	Spring, Early Summer
Indiangrass	Sorghastrum nutans	Not Required	x	Spring, Early Summer
Sand Dropseed	Sporobolus cryptandrus	Not Required	x	Spring, Early Summer
Prairie Dropseed	Sporobolus heterolepis	Not Required	x	Fall, Early Spring