Schisandra chinensis 5 seeds "Magnolia vine"

The seeds have a hard seed coat which inhibits germination, and may well have a second dormancy mechanism that further complicates things. The seeds should be soaked overnight to soften the hard seed coat; or as is sometimes the practice in China, seeds are treated with acid to remove part of the seed coat. Concentrated sulphuric acid is used: the seeds are soaked in acid for at least 10 minutes until they begin to swell and then rinsed thoroughly in running water. Concentrated sulphuric acid is very hazardous to work with: be sure to wear protective gloves and goggles when working with it. In China, seeds are then sown in outdoor seedbeds, in rows 60 cm (2 ft) apart and covered with 0.5 cm (1/4 inch) of soil.

Norman Deno, in his "Seed Germination Theory and Practice," reports that a three month cold treatment (5 degrees Celsius; 40 degrees Fahrenheit) followed by warm temperature (20 degrees Celsius; 70 degrees Fahrenheit) resulted in 100% germination (2 of 2 seeds germinating), although the two cotyledons (first pair of leaves) were slow to develop.