Mendel’s Gardens

Phemeranthus teretifolius

Quill Fameflower

Family MontiaceaeGenus Phemeranthus

Also published as Talinum teretifolium. You are in the right place.

About the plant

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

Habit
Perennial, Forb/herb, Subshrub
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 8 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around July 6, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on July 5, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Sow on the surface — do not cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

    90%, on the fourth day.

about 9 months from start to sowing. Then 4 days to germinate.

90% germination in 4 days.

90%, all of it on the fourth day -- the best of eight by a wide margin. Seed dry-stored six months at 70.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, TalinumPublic domain
Show the original text
Talinum (Portulacaceae). Sowing at 40was better than sowing at 70. T. teretifolium required both light and a prior 3 m at 40 for fresh seed as shown by 70L(1%),• 70D(none), 40-70L(47% in 3-5 d), and 40-70D(1%). Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70L(27% in 2nd w), 70D(none), 40-70D(5%), and 40-70L(90% on 4th d).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Talinum. 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.

Start around December 31, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Sow on the surface — do not cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 3 months from start to sowing. Then 5 days to germinate.

47% germination in 3–5 days.

Fresh seed needs both halves: three months cold and then light. Deno's fresh seed.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, TalinumPublic domain
Show the original text
Talinum (Portulacaceae). Sowing at 40was better than sowing at 70. T. teretifolium required both light and a prior 3 m at 40 for fresh seed as shown by 70L(1%),• 70D(none), 40-70L(47% in 3-5 d), and 40-70D(1%). Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70L(27% in 2nd w), 70D(none), 40-70D(5%), and 40-70L(90% on 4th d).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Talinum. 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 Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 23, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow on the surface — do not cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 6 months from start to sowing. Then 14 days to germinate.

27% germination in 14 days.

Dry storage stands in for some of the cold: 27% with no chilling at all, against 1% fresh. Seed dry-stored six months at 70.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, TalinumPublic domain
Show the original text
Talinum (Portulacaceae). Sowing at 40was better than sowing at 70. T. teretifolium required both light and a prior 3 m at 40 for fresh seed as shown by 70L(1%),• 70D(none), 40-70L(47% in 3-5 d), and 40-70D(1%). Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70L(27% in 2nd w), 70D(none), 40-70D(5%), and 40-70L(90% on 4th d).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Talinum. 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 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Very 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. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 9 months from start to sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

5% germination.

Storage lifts the dark result off zero, and nowhere near the lit one. Seed dry-stored six months at 70.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, TalinumPublic domain
Show the original text
Talinum (Portulacaceae). Sowing at 40was better than sowing at 70. T. teretifolium required both light and a prior 3 m at 40 for fresh seed as shown by 70L(1%),• 70D(none), 40-70L(47% in 3-5 d), and 40-70D(1%). Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70L(27% in 2nd w), 70D(none), 40-70D(5%), and 40-70L(90% on 4th d).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Talinum. 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 5

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. 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.

1% germination.

1%. Light without the cold gets fresh seed almost nowhere. Deno's fresh seed.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, TalinumPublic domain
Show the original text
Talinum (Portulacaceae). Sowing at 40was better than sowing at 70. T. teretifolium required both light and a prior 3 m at 40 for fresh seed as shown by 70L(1%),• 70D(none), 40-70L(47% in 3-5 d), and 40-70D(1%). Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70L(27% in 2nd w), 70D(none), 40-70D(5%), and 40-70L(90% on 4th d).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Talinum. 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 6

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 15, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 3 months from start to sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

1% germination.

1%. The cold is no use without the light. Deno's fresh seed.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, TalinumPublic domain
Show the original text
Talinum (Portulacaceae). Sowing at 40was better than sowing at 70. T. teretifolium required both light and a prior 3 m at 40 for fresh seed as shown by 70L(1%),• 70D(none), 40-70L(47% in 3-5 d), and 40-70D(1%). Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70L(27% in 2nd w), 70D(none), 40-70D(5%), and 40-70L(90% on 4th d).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Talinum. 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 7

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

    Nothing.

No stated waiting before sowing.

0% germination.

Nothing -- neither of the two things it needs. Deno's fresh seed.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, TalinumPublic domain
Show the original text
Talinum (Portulacaceae). Sowing at 40was better than sowing at 70. T. teretifolium required both light and a prior 3 m at 40 for fresh seed as shown by 70L(1%),• 70D(none), 40-70L(47% in 3-5 d), and 40-70D(1%). Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70L(27% in 2nd w), 70D(none), 40-70D(5%), and 40-70L(90% on 4th d).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Talinum. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 8

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

    Nothing.

about 6 months from start to sowing.

0% germination.

Nothing in the dark, stored or fresh. Seed dry-stored six months at 70.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, TalinumPublic domain
Show the original text
Talinum (Portulacaceae). Sowing at 40was better than sowing at 70. T. teretifolium required both light and a prior 3 m at 40 for fresh seed as shown by 70L(1%),• 70D(none), 40-70L(47% in 3-5 d), and 40-70D(1%). Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70L(27% in 2nd w), 70D(none), 40-70D(5%), and 40-70L(90% on 4th d).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Talinum. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record; the step names come from a fixed list.