Mendel’s Gardens

Kalmia hirsuta

Hairy Laurel · Hairy Wicky · Sandhill Laurel

Family EricaceaeGenus Kalmia

About the plant

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

Habit
Perennial, Shrub
Native range
Native to the lower 48 states

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

Source: PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS.

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Separate the seed from its case

    Crush the hard capsule so light can reach the seed.

  2. Hot-water treatment

    Temperature: 194°F 90°C Amount: 2 min

    Two minutes at 90 degrees C.

  3. Sow on the surface — do not cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

Jaynes's finding as Deno reports it: hot water, then light. No percentage is given.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, KalmiaPublic domain
Show the original text
Kalmia (Ericaceae). Kalmia requires light as found by R. Jaynes for K. angustifolia, K. cuneata, K. hirsuta, K. latifolia, K. microphylla, and K. polifolia (ref. 41) and confirmed by myself for K. angustifolia and K. latifolia. The seed is contained in hard spherical capsules. These must be crushed to allow light to reach the seed. The seed is small and hard to separate from the hard capsules so that seed counts and percent germination are inaccurate. K. hirsuta was reported by Jaynes to have germination improved by treatment with very hot water ranging from two minute treatment with water at 90 deg. C to twenty hours treatment with water at 60 deg. C. Light is then required for germination.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Kalmia. 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 Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Separate the seed from its case

    Crush the hard capsule so light can reach the seed.

  2. Hot-water treatment

    Duration: 1 dayTemperature: 140°F 60°C

    Twenty hours at 60 degrees C.

  3. Sow on the surface — do not cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

1 day from start to sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

The other end of Jaynes's range: cooler water, very much longer.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, KalmiaPublic domain
Show the original text
Kalmia (Ericaceae). Kalmia requires light as found by R. Jaynes for K. angustifolia, K. cuneata, K. hirsuta, K. latifolia, K. microphylla, and K. polifolia (ref. 41) and confirmed by myself for K. angustifolia and K. latifolia. The seed is contained in hard spherical capsules. These must be crushed to allow light to reach the seed. The seed is small and hard to separate from the hard capsules so that seed counts and percent germination are inaccurate. K. hirsuta was reported by Jaynes to have germination improved by treatment with very hot water ranging from two minute treatment with water at 90 deg. C to twenty hours treatment with water at 60 deg. C. Light is then required for germination.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Kalmia. 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.