Native Seed Germination Chart
Western redbud (Cercis occidentalis)
Bigelow’s sneezeweed (Helenium bigelovii)
Silver lupine (Lupinus albifrons)
Oregon checkermallow (Sidalcea oregana)
Klamath-Siskiyou Native Seeds
Native Seed Germination Chart
(Click on the title to view and download the chart in Excel format.)
It can be difficult to find information regarding seed germination for native plant species. Through our own native plant propagation and growing experience, as well as long-term seed germination experimentation, we have developed a seed germination chart for species we often have in our inventory. This chart specifies the pretreatment needs for seed through cold-moist stratification (chilling requirements) or heat treatment, for natural or artificial seed germination, as well as recommendations for planting seed outside for natural seed germination. Germination rates can vary so your own personal experimentation is encouraged!
| Common Name | Botanical Name | Seed Germination Instructions |
| Vine maple | Acer circinatum | 30-60 days warm-moist stratification followed by 90-120 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall. |
| Common yarrow | Achillea millefolium | No pretreatment required. Sow in fall or spring on or just below the soil surface. Needs warm soil and light to germinate. |
| Vanillaleaf | Achlys triphylla | 60 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to late winter. |
| Columbia monkshood | Aconitum columbianum | 60 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to late winter. |
| Horse mint | Agastache urticifolia | 30-60 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to late winter. |
| Western joepiweed | Ageratina occidentalis | No pretreatment required. Sow outside in fall to early spring. Germination may be improved with 30 days cold stratification |
| California dandelion | Agoseris grandiflora | No pretreatment required. Sow outside in fall to early spring. Germination may be improved with 30 days cold stratification. |
| Tapertip onion | Allium acuminatum | 30-60 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to late winter. |
| Pacific mountain onion | Allium validum | 60-90 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to late winter. |
| Menzies’ fiddleneck | Amsinckia menziesii | 60 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall for best germination. |
| Sharptooth angelica | Angelica arguta | 60 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to late winter. |
| Woodland madia | Ansiocarpus madioides | 30-60 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to late winter. |
| Western columbine | Aquilegia formosa | 60 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to late winter. |
| California spikenard | Aralia californica | 90-120 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall for best germination. |
| Goat’s beard | Aruncus dioicus | 30-60 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to late winter. Plant on soil surface or lightly cover. Seed needs light to germinate. |
| Heartleaf milkweed | Asclepias cordifolia | 60 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to early spring. |
| Narrowleaf milkweed | Asclepias fascicularis | 60 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to early spring. |
| Showy milkweed | Asclepias speciosa | 60 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to early spring. |
| California harebell | Asyneuma prenanthoides | 60 days cold-moist stratification. Sow in fall to late winter. Sow on soil surface or lightly cover. Seed needs light to germinate. |
| Deltoid balsamroot | Balsamorhiza deltoidea | 90 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall. |
| Tall Oregon grape | Berberis (Mahonia) aquifolium | 90 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to late winter. |
| Cascade Oregon grape | Berberis (Mahonia) nervosa | 60 days cold-moist stratification. Sow in fall to late winter. |
| California brome | Bromus carinatus | No pretreatment required. Sow outside in fall to early spring. |
| Chinook brome | Bromus laevipes | No pretreatment required. Sow outside in fall. |
| Tolmie’s cats ear | Calochortus tolmiei | 30-60 days cold-moist stratification. Sow in fall to late winter. |
| Marsh marigold | Caltha leptosepala | 60-90 days cold-moist stratification. Sow in fall to late winter. |
| Large camas | Camassia leichtlinii | 60-90 days cold-moist stratification. Sow in fall to late winter. |
| Deer brush | Ceanothus integerrimus | Soak in hot (not boiling) water for 24 hours, then 60-90 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to late winter. |
| Birch leaf mountain mahogany | Cercocarpus betuloides | 60 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to late winter. |
| Soaproot | Chlorogalum pomeridianum | No pretreatment required. Sow outside in fall to early spring. |
| Fireweed | Chamerion angustifolia | 60 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to late winter. |
| Western redbud | Cercis occidentalis | Soak in hot (not boiling) water for 24 hours, then 60-90 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to late winter. |
| Western clematis | Clematis ligusticifolia | 30-60 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to late winter. |
| Hound’s tongue | Cynoglossum grande | 30-60 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to late winter. |
| Mountain larkspur | Delphinium glaucum | 90-120 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall. |
| Meadow larkspur | Delphinium nuttallianum | 90-120 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall. |
| Henderson’s shooting star | Dodecatheon hendersonii | 60-90 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to late winter. |
| Squirreltail grass | Elymus elymoides | No pretreatment required. Sow outside in fall to early spring. |
| Blue wildrye | Elymus glaucus | No pretreatment required. Sow outside in fall to early spring. |
| Capitate sandwort | Eremogone congesta | 60-90 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to late winter. |
| Tall wooly buckwheat | Eriogonum elatum | 60 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to late winter. |
| Arrowleaf buckwheat | Eriogonum compositum | 60 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to late winter. |
| Barestem buckwheat | Eriogonum nudum | 60 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to late winter. |
| Sulphur flower buckwheat | Eriogonum umbellatum | 60 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to late winter. |
| Oregon sunshine | Eriophyllum lanatum | 30 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to late winter. |
| Henderson’s fawn lily | Erythronium hendersonii | 90 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall. |
| Scarlet monkey flower | Erythranthe (Mimulus) cardinalis | No pretreatment required. Sow outside in fall to early spring. Seeds need light to germinate, surface sow. |
| Yellow seep monkey flower | Erythranthe (Mimulus) guttata | No pretreatment required. Sow outside in fall to early spring. Seeds need light to germinate, surface sow. |
| California poppy | Eschscholzia californica | 30 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall or early spring. |
| Western goldentop | Euthamia occidentalis | No pretreatment required. Sow outside in fall to early spring. |
| California fescue | Festuca californica | 30 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall or early spring. |
| Roemer’s fescue | Festuca roemeri | 30 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall or early spring. |
| Cascara | Frangula purshiana | 60-90 days cold-moist stratification. Sow in fall to late winter. |
| Bluehead gilia | Gilia capitata | 30 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall. |
| White rushlily | Hastingsia alba | 60-90 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to late winter. |
| Bigelow’s sneezweed | Helenium bigelovii | 30 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to late winter. |
| Cowparsnip | Heracleum maximum | 120 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall. |
| Alum root | Heuchera micrantha | 60 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall. Seeds need light to germinate, surface sow. |
| Oceanspray | Holodiscus discolor | 90-120 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall. |
| Broad leaved lotus | Hosackia crassifolia | Soak in hot (not boiling) water for 24 hours, then 60-90 days cold-moist stratification. Sow in fall to late winter. |
| Scarlet gilia | Ipomopsis aggregata | 30 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to early spring. |
| Red beardtongue | Keckiella corymbosa | 30 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall or early spring. |
| Bush beardtongue | Keckiella lemmonii | 30 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall or early spring. |
| Bolander’s tarweed | Kyhosia bolanderi | 30-60 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to late winter. |
| Siskiyou lewisia | Lewisia cotyledon | 30-60 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to late winter. |
| Blue wild flax | Linum lewisii | 30 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall or early spring. |
| California lomatium | Lomatium californicum | 60 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to late winter. |
| Fernleaf biscuitroot | Lomatium dissectum | 60 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall. |
| Bigseed biscuitroot | Lomatium macrocarpum | 60 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to late winter. |
| Nineleaf buscuitroot | Lomatium triternatum | 60 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to late winter. |
| Common lomatium | Lomatium utriculatum | 60 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to late winter. |
| Pink honeysuckle | Lonicera hispidula | 60-90 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall. |
| Sickelkeel lupine | Lupinus albicaulis | Soak in hot (not boiling) water for 24 hours, then 30 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to early spring. |
| Silver bush lupine | Lupinus albifrons | No pretreatment required. Sow outside in fall to early spring. |
| Velvet lupine | Lupinus leucophyllus | Soak in hot (not boiling) water for 24 hours, then 30 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to early spring. |
| Elegant tarweed | Madia elegans | No pretreatment required. Sow outside in fall to early spring. |
| Large false Soloman’s seal | Maianthemum racemosum | Seed takes two years to germinate. Sow outside in fall. 6 months cold-moist stratification, followed by 4 months warm-moist stratification, followed by another 5 months cold-moist stratification. |
| Giant blazingstar | Mentzelia laevicaulis | 60-90 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall. |
| Coyote mint | Monardella odoratissima | 30 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to late winter. |
| Coyote tobacco | Nicotiana attenuata | No pretreatment required. Sow outside, or start in a greenhouse in spring. |
| Indian tobacco | Nicotiana quadrivalvis | No pretreatment required. Sow outside, or start in a greenhouse in spring. |
| False turtlehead | Nothochelone nemorosa | 60-90 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall. |
| Douglas’ grasswidow | Olsynium douglasii | 90-120 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall. |
| Siskiyou Mountains owl’s clover | Orthocarpus cuspidatus | 90 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall. |
| Indian warrior | Pedicularis densiflora | 30 days cold-moist stratification. Sow in fall. Hemiparasite, needs host plant to thrive. Parasitic on members of the heath family, such as manzanita or madrone. |
| Siskiyou penstemon | Penstemon anguineus | 60-90 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to late winter. |
| Hot rock penstemon | Penstemon deustus | 60-90 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to late winter. |
| Mountain blue penstemon | Penstemon laetus | 60-90 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to late winter. |
| Small flowered penstemon | Penstemon procerus | 60-90 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to late winter. |
| Western sweet coltsfoot | Petasites frigidus | No pretreatment required. Sow outside in fall to early spring. |
| Varilieaf phacelia | Phacelia heterophylla | 30 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall or early spring. Seeds need light to germinate, surface sow. |
| Tall phacelia | Phacelia procera | 30 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall. Seeds need light to germinate, surface sow. |
| Mock orange | Philadelphus lewisii | 90-120 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall. |
| Pacific ninebark | Physocarpus capitatus | 30 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall or early spring. |
| Hooker’s fairybells | Prosartes hookeri | 60-90 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall. |
| Chokecherry | Prunus virginiana | 90-120 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall. |
| Bitter cherry | Prunus emarginata | 90-120 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall. |
| Golden currant | Ribes aureum | 90 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall. |
| Wax currant | Ribes cereum | 90-120 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall. |
| Sierra gooseberry | Ribes roezlii | 90-120 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall. |
| Sticky currant | Ribes viscosissimum | 90 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall. |
| Thimbleberry | Rubus parviflorus | 30 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall or early spring. |
| Waxy coneflower | Rudbeckia glaucescens | 30 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall or early spring. |
| Western coneflower | Rudbeckia occidentalis | 30 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall or early spring. |
| Blue elderberry | Sambucus nigra spp. caerulea | 60-90 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall. |
| Pacific blacksnakeroot | Sanicula crassicaulis | 30-60 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall or early spring. |
| Lambstongue ragwort | Senecio integerrimus | 30-60 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to late winter. |
| Arrowleaf ragwort | Senecio triangularis | 30-60 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall or early spring. |
| Oregon checkermallow | Sidalcea oregana | 60-90 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall. |
| Bell catchfly | Silene campanulata | 30-60 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to late winter. |
| West coast Canada goldenrod | Solidago elongata | No pretreatment required. Sow outside in fall to early spring. |
| Western mountain ash | Sorbus scopulina | 90-120 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall. |
| Douglas’ spiraea | Spiraea douglasii | 30-60 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to late winter. |
| Subalpine spiraea | Spiraea splendens | 30-60 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall to late winter. |
| Lemmon’s needlegrass | Stipa lemmonii | 90 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall. |
| Claspleaf twistedstalk | Streptopus amplexifolius | Seed takes two years to germinate. Sow outside in fall. 6 months cold-moist stratification, followed by 4 months warm-moist stratification, followed by another 5 months cold-moist stratification. |
| Leafybract aster | Symphyotrichum foliaceum | No pretreatment required. Sow outside in fall to early spring. |
| Fringe cups | Tellima grandiflora | 30 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall or early spring. |
| Western false asphodel | Triantha occidentalis | 60-90 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall. |
| Vinegarweed | Trichostema lanceolatum | 60-90 days cold-moist stratification. Sow in fall to late winter. |
| California false hellebore | Veratrum californicum | 30-60 days warm-moist stratification followed by 90-120 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in early fall. |
| Western verbena | Verbena lasiostachys | 30-60 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall or early spring. |
| American vetch | Vicia americana | No pretreatment required. Sow outside in fall to early spring. |
| Narrowleaf mule’s ears | Wyethia angustifolia | 90 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall. |
| Beargrass | Xerophyllum tenax | 90-120 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall. |