Abstract Seed germination requirements for S. alata were investigated using cold stratification and phytohormones. Treatments included no stratification (control), two week, three week, four week, five week, and six week cold stratification. Hormone treatments included no stratification with cytokinin, no stratification with gibberellins, no stratification with cytokinin and gibberellins, no stratification with auxin, and one with six week stratification with abscisic acid. Three weeks cold stratification was required to yield a significant increase in percent germination. Gibberellin was the only hormone which caused a significant increase in germination in S. alata seeds.