Veratrum californicum
California False Hellebore · Corn Lily
About the plant
What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.
Safety
- Toxicity
- Poisonous to sheep. All parts. Cylcopamine.
The plant
- Habit
- Perennial, Forb/herb
- Height
- 6 ft
- Flower
- White
- Blooms
- Mid Spring
- Native range
- Native to the lower 48 states
Growing conditions
- Sun
- Shade tolerance: Low
- Moisture
- Moisture use: High
Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.
Sources: PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; Plants Poisonous to Livestock — Cornell University Department of Animal Science.
This source reports three treatments. All are shown.
Protocol 1
DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993Difficulty Moderate
Start around July 30, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on July 29, 2026.
Warm moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C
Deno gives no length for this period; three months is his standard cycle.
Cold moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C
Deno gives no length for this period; three months is his standard cycle.
Warm moist stratification
Temperature: 70°F 21°C
about 6 months from start to sowing. Then 70 days to germinate.
75% germination in 7–70 days.
Three seeds of four. A warm period before the cold is what makes the difference: cold first gives nothing.
This source doesn't state how long.
Protocol 2
DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993Difficulty Moderate
Start around December 1, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.
Cold moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C
Deno gives no length for this period; three months is his standard cycle.
Gibberellic acid soak
Warm moist stratification
Temperature: 70°F 21°C
about 3 months from start to sowing. Then 35 days to germinate.
67% germination in 35 days.
Two seeds of three. GA-3 rescues the cold-first route, which gives nothing without it.
This source doesn't state how long.
Protocol 3
DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993Cold moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C
Deno gives no length for this period; three months is his standard cycle.
Warm moist stratification
Temperature: 70°F 21°C
Nothing.
about 3 months from start to sowing.
0% germination.
Nothing at all. The same treatment with GA-3 gave two seeds of three.
This source doesn't state how long.