Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Saturday - October 18, 2014
From: Elmendorf, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Propagation, Seeds and Seeding, Shrubs
Title: How to germinate seed for Styrax grandifolius
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
How do I germinate seed for the Styrax grandifolius?ANSWER:
The USDA Plants Database shows that Styrax grandifolius (Bigleaf snowbell) is listed as "Endangered" in both Illinois and Indiana and "Presumed Extirpated" from Ohio. It occurs in several counties in extreme eastern Texas and eastward through Arkansas and Louisiana to Georgia, Florida, South and North Carolina and north to Indiana, Illinois and Ohio.
One study, Conservation Assessment for the Bigleaf Snowbell (Styrax grandifolius Ait.), by Steve R. Hill from the USDA Forest Service, Eastern Region, says that there nothing is known about the the seeds longevity and whether they persist in the soil seed bank. The study doesn't give germination information for Styrax grandifolius, but does give it for a related species, Styrax japonicus, that says that this species germinates best if it receives one month of warm stratitification and two months of cold stratification but they don't offer temperatures for either stratification.
The Randy Stewart Landscape Design blog says that Styrax species usually need stratification to easily germinate.
Garden Guides says that cold stratification is NOT required.
The Permaculture Research Institute has instructions on How to Germinate Your Seeds that gives instructions for stratification. Germination Instructions for Seeds from Wild Ones has more information on stratification. Schumacher Tree & Shrub Seeds talks about warm stratification in How to Treat Seeds.
If you have plenty of seeds, you might do your own experiment for germinating them by trying some with cold stratification, some with warm stratification and then cold stratification treatments and some with no stratification.
From the Image Gallery
More Propagation Questions
Transplanting False Gaura in Austin
October 27, 2010 - I am transplanting my false gaura. Do they transplant well, and should I cut them back?
view the full question and answer
Starting Yarrow (Achillea) and Daucus from Seed
July 16, 2014 - I need to deadhead my cottage yarrow. I assume it has gone to seed. What do I do to plant it as seed? If I can do it, can I do it now or do I need to wait until spring. If I need to wait until spring,...
view the full question and answer
Planting time for native yucca seeds
August 11, 2008 - When and how do you plant yucca plant seeds and or/pods ?
I took them off of the stalks when I cut the stalks today .
view the full question and answer
Planting wildflower seeds in a drought in Grimes Co. TX
November 03, 2010 - I have a dilemma, shared by others I'm sure. My place, which is in Oakland prairie, has seen no real rainfall since sometime in August, and the soil (sand, loam, and blackland clays)is extremely dry....
view the full question and answer
How to grow milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) for monarch butterflies
March 31, 2010 - I tried and tried and tried to grow Asclepias viridis, A. asperula and even A. oenotheroides from seeds and even tubers for fourteen years! Do you have advice for growing these and other milkweed plan...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |