Alaska Native Plant Seed Germination

We have conducted numerous studies over the past 20 years on seed germination of Alaska native plants. Our goal is to learn how to propagate our wild plants, provide information for commercial growers on methods of propagation, and encouraged consumers to purchase native plants from local nurseries rather than dig plants from the wild. Our latest experiments involved the three Alaska species of Sanguisorba, burnet. An abstract of a published article is included below. The complete article reference is also included.

Seeds of great burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis L. [Rosaceae]), Menzies’ burnet (S. Menziesii), and Canadian burnet (S. canadensis L.) germinated most rapidly and completely at 24 to 25 0C (75 to 77 0F) constant temperatures following 6 mo dry storage at 4 0C (39 0F). Presence or absence of light (150mM.m-2.s-1, 18-h photoperiod), removal of the calyx hull or dry storage at 4 0C (39 0F) for 1 y did not affect germination percentages of great and Canadian burnet. Canadian burnet and Menzies’ burnet showed little or no germination at 5oC (410F), and poor germination (<50 %) at 30 0C (86 0F). In contrast, great burnet germinated at all temperatures from 5 to 30 0C (39 to 86 0F). All 3 species have potential in roadside revegetation, wildflower meadows and home landscapes. Germination under controlled conditions is rapid and requires no special pre-treatments for optimal results.

Holloway, P. and G. Matheke. 2003. Germination of three Alaska species of Sanguisorba. Native Plants Journal. 4(2): 95-99.