Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Your gift keeps resources like this database thriving!

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.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Wednesday - March 12, 2008

From: Queen Creek, AZ
Region: Southwest
Topic: Propagation
Title: Germination period for Snow Mountain beardtongue (Penstemon purpusii)
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

Why is the germination period for the Snowmountain Beardtongue so long?. I understand it to be approximately 690 days.

ANSWER:

I did find a record on The Seed Site from UK that reported "679" under the column heading "Winter-Out" for Penstemon purpusii (Snow Mountain beardtongue). According to their Germination Page: "Out = seeds sown in pots of compost and kept in uncovered trays outside in the open or on a shelf unit with covered sides."

Tom Clothier's Garden Walk and Talk web page has a Penstemon Germination Database that gives the germination time for P. purpusii as 8 weeks at 40° F. Perhaps the The Seed Site number was an entry error (maybe it was meant to be 67 or 79) or perhaps the outdoor temperature in the UK was not sufficiently consistent during the winter to germinate the seeds in the same amount of time as reported in the Penstemon Germination Database.

 

More Propagation Questions

Eliminating black locust volunteers in Rockville MD
September 27, 2011 - I am a landscape designer whose client has a very large, mature black locust in her front yard. Not surprisingly, she also has multitudes of black locust volunteers popping up all over her yard. The...
view the full question and answer

Propagating a magnolia by cuttings in Rochester, NY
May 15, 2009 - How can I start a magnolia snip from my already existing tree, to grow another one from it, like a starter to pass on to someone?
view the full question and answer

Should a bloom stalk be cut down in Yuma AZ?
May 07, 2010 - I have a plant in my front yard that looks like an aloe vera. It doesn't have any thorns or needles but does have a tall stalk like stem coming from the middle of it. The "stalk" is now approx. 5'...
view the full question and answer

Information about moist stratification
September 07, 2010 - I have some seeds of scarlet leatherflower I'd like to try and I read the instructions under 'Propagation' in your Native Plant Database that say "Moist stratify at 41 degrees".. What does "...
view the full question and answer

Why is my yaupon tree not producing berries in Metairie La?
November 04, 2009 - What is the lifespan of a Yaupon Tree? We live in Louisiana, and our Yaupon would always get the white flowers in the Spring but never the red berries. Why is that?
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.