American Spikenard (Aralia racemosa)
Difficulty: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
(Moderately easy — seeds are plentiful, but cleaning and stratification are essential for successful germination)
Seed Collection Time:
Late summer to early fall — typically August through September, when berries are fully ripe.
Signs Seeds are Ready:
Berry clusters turn dark purple to black when fully mature.
Ripe berries are soft and easily squished between your fingers.
Seeds inside are small, hard, and light brown when ready for collection.
Birds and wildlife feeding on the berries indicate peak ripeness.
Seed Collection Steps:
Harvest ripe berry clusters by hand or by clipping whole stems of berries.
Place berries in a bowl or bucket and gently mash to break up the pulp.
Add water and stir — viable seeds sink, while pulp and debris float.
Carefully pour off floating material and repeat rinsing several times until seeds are fully clean.
Spread cleaned seeds on a paper towel or fine mesh screen and allow them to air dry for several days in a cool, shaded, well-ventilated location.
Germination Tips:
American spikenard seeds have deep dormancy and require a two-step stratification process for reliable germination.
W(60–90): Start with warm, moist stratification for 2–3 months at about 70°F (21°C).
C(90–120): Follow with cold, moist stratification for 3–4 months at 34–40°F (1–4°C).
This cycle can be done by refrigerating seeds in moist sand, peat, or vermiculite, or by sowing outdoors in late fall to allow natural seasonal changes to break dormancy.
Sow seeds ¼ inch deep, lightly covering with soil.
Keep soil consistently moist during germination and early growth.
Germination can be slow and irregular, sometimes taking one full year or longer, with some seeds sprouting in the second spring after planting.
