Germinating Tree Seeds for a Science Project: Realistic Timelines

Crepe myrtle seeds germinate in ~30 days, but dogwood and red maple require cold stratification (3–6 months at 40°F or below) followed by a warm period. This dormancy cannot be reliably compressed to a few weeks.

Options for a One-Month Project

• Use pre-stratified seeds (if available from a supplier).
• Focus on crepe myrtle and compare with fast-germinating annuals (beans, radishes).
• Purchase seedlings instead of seeds for the slow species.

No commercial source reliably sells pre-germinated tree seeds for classroom use.