Many plant seeds only germinate in warm temperatures. But some also or only in the cold season. The former are referred to as cold or chilled germs. With them, it is imperative that cold hit the seed in order for it to begin to germinate. If this does not happen, the seed will not sprout. You can find out below which are among the best-known cold germs.
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Kaltkeimer – Definition
As the name suggests, a cold germinator is a plant whose seeds only germinate in cool temperatures. A distinction is made between the main times between September and November and December and January. Some can also be sown between February and March/April. They are then not among the classic cold-seeding plants, but are referred to as cold-seeding plants, which in some cases need to be protected from late frost. Cold germs that are sown in autumn usually need the frost period of winter. Mostly they fall under the early bloomers. It is ideal if the cold and frosty periods are continuous. Other cold or frost germs sometimes take years to form flowers for the first time.
Cold germinating flowers and perennials
1. Acker-Krummhals (Anchusa arvensis)
- Growth height: up to 40 centimeters
- flowers: light blue to white
- Flowering period: May to September
2. Adonisröschen (Adonis)
- Growth height: between ten centimeters and 150 centimeters depending on the species
- Flowers: depending on the species, red, yellow, blue
- Flowering time: between May and September, depending on the species
3. Cyclamen (cyclamen)
- Growth height: an average of 20 to 25 centimeters
- Flowers: depending on the species, violet, blue, pink, white, yellow
- Flowering time: between May and September, depending on the species
4. Akelei (Aquilegia)
- Growth height: up to 40 centimeters
- flowers: multicolored, often violet
- Flowering period: May to July
- Special feature: very good germination if seeds are stored at 0 to minus five degrees Celsius, poisonous
5. Alpenastern (Aster alpinus)
- Growth height: up to about 20 centimeters
- Flowers: depending on the species, violet, pink, white, yellow
- Flowering period: May/June
- Special features: very easy-care cold germinator
6. Alraune (Mandragora officinarum)
- Growth height: up to 35 centimeters
- Flowers: yellow, violet, white, green, blue
- Flowering period: March, April, October, November
- Special feature: poisonous
7. Bergenie (Bergenia)
- Growth height: up to 50 centimeters
- Flowers: depending on the species, white, creamy, pink
- Flowering time: April/May
- Special feature: very undemanding in terms of care
8. Bergflockenblume (Centaurea montana)
- Growth height: 30 to 40 centimeters
- Flowers: blue
- Flowering period: May to July
- Special features: strong growth due to offshoots
9. Squill (Scilla mishchenkoana)
- Growth height: an average of 20 to 25 centimeters
- Flowers: white-blue
- Flowering Time: February to April if planted in late autumn/early winter
- Special features: very robust cold germ
10. Blausegge (Carex flacca Schreb., Synonym: Carex glauca Scop.)
- Growth height: 20 to 80 centimeters
- flowers: spike-shaped, black-brown
- Flowering time: April to May
- Special features: ideal for green roofs
11. Buschwindröschen (Anemone nemorosa)
- Growth height: ten to 15 centimeters
- Flowers: depending on the species, white or light blue
- Flowering time: March to April
- Features: ground cover
12. Christrose (Helleborus niger)
- Growth height: up to 40 centimeters
- Flowers: depending on the species, white, crimson, pink
- Flowering time: November to January or February to April
- Specialties: Classic among the winter bloomers
13. Clematis
- Growth height: up to 300 centimeters depending on the variety
- Flowers: depending on the species, violet, pink, white
- Flowering time: early flowering varieties April/May
- Special features: easy-care climbing plant
14. Fetthenne (Sedum)
- Growth height: up to 60 centimeters
- Flowers: yellow, pink, red, white
- Flowering time: between June and October, depending on the variety
- Special features: also thrive on poor, stony soil
15. Flammenblumen (bot. Phlox):
Phlox are very suitable for self-sowing if your winters are not too mild.
- Growth height: up to 150 centimeters
- Flowers: depending on the species, lilac, pink, white
- Flowering time: June/July to September/October
- Special features: very undemanding
16. Hosta / Sweetheart Lilies (Hosta)
- Growth height: between ten and 100 centimeters
- Flowers: violet, blue, light blue
- Flowering time: June to September
- Special features: very decorative ornamental foliage perennial
17. Pasque Flower (Pulsatilla vulgaris)
- Growth height: between 15 and 40 centimeters
- flowers: bluish-violet
- Flowering time: March to May
- Special features: very cold-tolerant, frost germs
18. Glockenblume (Campanula)
- Growth height: between five and 50 centimeters
- flowers: blue, white, blue-whitish
- Flowering period: May to September
- Special features: ideal for rock gardens and roof plants
19. Herbstzeitlose (Colchicum autumnale)
- Growth height: eight to 30 centimeters
- flowers: pink to violet
- Flowering time: September to October
- Special features: risk of confusion with autumn-flowering crocuses or wild garlic, extremely poisonous!
20. Lampionblume (Physalis alkekengi)
- Growth height: 50 to 80 centimeters
- flowers: yellowish-white
- Flowering period: early June to August
- Special features: very decorative fruits, at least 0 degrees Celsius required for a longer period of time for seed germination
21. Lupins (Lupinus)
- Growth height: 80 to 120 centimeters
- Flowers: one or two colors in white, pink, blue, violet, yellow, crimson
- Flowering period: May to August
- Special features: very bushy perennial
22. Daffodils (Narcissus)
- Growth height: ten to 90 centimeters
- Flowers: yellow, orange and white
- Flowering time: March to May
- Special features: perennial plant, this cold germ is poisonous
23. Pfingstrose (Paeonia)
- Growth height: 40 to 80 centimeters
- Flowers: pink, pink, red, crimson, white, pink
- Flowering period: May to June
- Special features: very long-lived, first flowers often only appear after five or ten years
24. Crambe cordifolia
- Growth height: up to 150 centimeters
- flowers: white
- Flowering period: June to July
- Special features: very easy to care for, ideal for decorating cut flowers
25. Poppy (Meconopsis)
- Growth height: 20 to 120 centimeters
- Flowers: white, orange, blue, yellow
- Flowering period: June to July
- Special features: rarity, thrives well in rock gardens
26. Cowslip (Primula veris)
- Growth height: 10 to 20 centimeters
- flowers: deep yellow
- Flowering time: April to May
- Special features: very low pollen count, ideal for allergy sufferers
27. Irises (Iridaceae)
- Growth height: 10 to 20 centimeters
- Flowers: depending on the species, violet, whitish-bluish, white, reddish
- Flowering time: March to May or October to December, depending on the species
- Special features: this cold germ can be poisonous
28. Silberdistel (Carlina acaulis)
- Growth height: 20 to 30 centimeters
- flowers: silvery white
- Flowering period: July to August
- Special features: stinging foliage, very hardy
29. Sun hat (Echinacea)
- Growth height: up to 80 centimeters
- Flowers: bicolored in white, pink, yellow
- Flowering period: July to September
- Special features: attracts butterflies, very hardy perennial
30. Steinbrech (Saxifraga)
- Growth height: three to eight centimeters
- Flowers: white-yellow, pink-red
- Flowering time: April to May
- Special features: cushion-like growth
31. Steppenkerzen (Eremurus)
- Growth height: up to 200 centimeters
- Flowers: pink-white or apricot
- Flowering period: June and July
- Special features: solitary plant, enormous blooms
32. Stockrosen (Alcea)
- Growth height: 200 to 250 centimeters
- Flowers: white, apricot, red, yellow
- Flowering period: June to September
- Special features: classic cold germinator, biennial perennial, double flower, germinates in the cold but not frost, must therefore be protected from late frost in spring
33. Bleeding heart (lamprocapnos spectabilis)
- Growth height: 50 to 80 centimeters
- Flowers: bicolored in pink-white
- Flowering time: April to May
- Special features: under good care conditions, age up to 50 years possible, only germinates in the cold
34. Traubenhyazinthen (Muscari)
- Growth height: ten to 15 centimeters
- flowers: blue, violet-blue
- Flowering time: between March and May
- Special features: Frost germs, poisonous for animals, especially cats
35. Trollblume (Trollius europaeus)
- Growth height: 20 to 60 centimeters
- flowers: bright yellow
- Flowering period: May to June
- Special features: classic cold germ, bee-friendly, poisonous, loves wet zones
36. Violet (Viola sororia)
- Growth height: ten to 15 centimeters
- flowers: white with blue spots, white
- Flowering period: May to June
- Special features: best-known cold germ, heart-shaped leaves, also known as Whitsun violets
37. Wolfsmilch (Euphorbia polychroma)
- Growth height: 30 to 40 centimeters
- flowers: yellow, golden-yellow
- Flowering period: May to June
- Special features: frost germs, plant sap irritates sensitive skin, often red-brown autumn leaves
38. Allium
- Growth height: 20 to 120 centimeters
- Flowers: White or violet flower balls
- Flowering period: early June to late June
- Special features: cool germ, pleasantly scented
Vegetables as well as aromatic and medicinal herbs
39. Arnica (Arnica montana)
- Growth height: 20 to 60 centimeters
- flowers: yellow
- Flowering time: depending on sowing from May to early September
- Special features: best sowing time end of March to mid-May, poisonous plant
40. Bärlappe (Lycopodium)
- Growth height: ten to 15 centimeters
- flowers: beige, granular
- Flowering period: July to September
- Specialties: traditional remedy, evergreen herb, creeping growing
41. Wild garlic (Allium ursinum)
- Growth height: ten to 30 centimeters
- flowers: white-yellow
- Flowering time: April to May
- Special features: smells of garlic, cold/frost germ, which should be sown between autumn and February at the latest
42. Bitterwurz (Lewisia cotyledon)
- Growth height: five to 25 centimeters
- Flowers: pink-white
- Flowering period: May to July
- Special features: suitable for stone plants, evergreen, must be stratified before sowing
43. Christophskraut (Actaea)
- Growth height: 50 to 70 centimeters
- flowers: white
- Flowering period: May to June
- Special features: suitable for semi-shade to shade, chilled germinator that should be sown in autumn
44. Engelwurz (Angelica)
- Growth height: 200 to 300 centimeters
- flowers: greenish-white, violet
- Flowering period: July to August
- Special features: Cold germs with sowing March/April
45. Enzian (Gentiana accaulis)
- Growth height: five to ten centimeters
- Flowers: blue-violet
- Flowering period: May to June
- Special features: needs cold stratification before sowing in spring (from February).
46. Hopfen (Humulus lupulus)
- Growth height: up to 1000 centimeters
- flowers: spike-shaped, light green fruits
- Flowering period: June to September
- Special features: fast-growing, sow March/April because cold germs with frost tolerance
47. Kornblume (Centaurea cyanus)
- Growth height: 20 to 100 centimeters
- Flowers: blue
- Flowering period: June to September
- Special features: annual, said to have a healing effect, sow directly in the bed from mid-April, protect cool germs from late frost
48. Waldmeister (Galium odoratum)
- Growth height: 10 to 30 centimeters
- flowers: white
- Flowering time: April to May
- Specialties: fragrant, sown in autumn or winter in frost-free soil
