Mendel’s Gardens

Wyethia helianthoides

Sunflower Mule-ears

Family AsteraceaeGenus Wyethia

About the plant

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

Habit
Perennial, Forb/herbPLANTS Database
Native range
Native to the lower 48 statesPLANTS Database
Note
GA-3 killed the seed outright: every seed rotted.Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed.

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

Sources: PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno.

This source reports three treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around January 18, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

    Four of ten, over 9-11 weeks -- it germinates in the cold.

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

    Two more of ten, on the second day.

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 77 days to germinate.

40% germination in 63–77 days.

Four seeds of ten in the cold, two more on the second day after the move. Deno's samples were small and he does not call the GA-3 differences significant.

This source doesn't state how long.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, WyethiaPublic domain
Show the original text
Wyethia (Asteraceae). Samples were small, and differences between GA'3 treated seeds and the controls are not regarded as significant. As with some other Asteraceae, GA-3 treatment did not significantly stimulate germination and in some species it killed the seed. W. helianthoides germ. 70(1/9 in 10- d) and 40(4/10 in 9-11 w)-70(2/10 on 2nd d).. All rotted when treated with GA-3.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Wyethia. 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 March 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

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

11% germination.

One seed of nine. Deno's germination time is damaged in this scan and is not given here. Deno's samples were small and he does not call the GA-3 differences significant.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, WyethiaPublic domain
Show the original text
Wyethia (Asteraceae). Samples were small, and differences between GA'3 treated seeds and the controls are not regarded as significant. As with some other Asteraceae, GA-3 treatment did not significantly stimulate germination and in some species it killed the seed. W. helianthoides germ. 70(1/9 in 10- d) and 40(4/10 in 9-11 w)-70(2/10 on 2nd d).. All rotted when treated with GA-3.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Wyethia. 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

  1. Gibberellic acid soak

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

    All rotted.

No stated waiting before sowing.

0% germination.

Every seed rotted, as with W. amplexicaulis.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, WyethiaPublic domain
Show the original text
Wyethia (Asteraceae). Samples were small, and differences between GA'3 treated seeds and the controls are not regarded as significant. As with some other Asteraceae, GA-3 treatment did not significantly stimulate germination and in some species it killed the seed. W. helianthoides germ. 70(1/9 in 10- d) and 40(4/10 in 9-11 w)-70(2/10 on 2nd d).. All rotted when treated with GA-3.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Wyethia. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record; the step names come from a fixed list.