Stratification Nation

Everyone is talking about Brat –

But I want to talk about Strat! In which the theme is also *green*.
Seed stratification is when you keep seeds in the refrigerator for a cold damp period in order to help them germinate, mimicking what would happen in winter. Some species need this, it’s an adaptation to ensure they sprout in the spring, not in the fall when they would quickly get hit by frost.

Here are my seed stratification experiments, some started last December and some in April. Next year I’ll get my timing more precise.

Asclepias exaltata – Poke Milkweed. Monarchs!
Lupinus perennis – Sundial Lupine. Karner Blue butterfly host plant! Lesser known than the Monarch but also endangered!
Fragaria virginiana – native strawberry. Tough little plant.
Claytonia virginica – Fairy Spuds. Sprouted okay, foliage fading but I hope that’s because it’s ephemeral.
Also Campanula americana, Anaphalis margaritacea, Clematis virginiana, and Eutrochium purpureum, all germinated but growing rather slow. We’ll see if they can get up to speed before winter.