Germination experiments were conducted on seeds of Aureolaria virginica (L.) Penn. in 1977, 1985, and 1986. The seeds were innately dormant when dispersed in early fall. Dormancy was broken by cold stratification. Optimum stratification temperatures were near 5℃ and the optimum germination thermoperiod was approximately 20/10℃. Higher and lower stratification temperatures and summer-like germination thermo-periods significantly reduced germination percentages. There was a differential seed germination response among years. Maximum germination percentages were not only highest for 1985 but higher germination percentages were achieved after shorter stratification times and significant germination occurred in the higher incubation thermoperiods. These differential results may be associated with clearcutting of two of the collection sites in 1985. The variable stratification and germination response may be adaptations for maximizing the likelihood of surviving in a patchy and unpredictable environment.