Effects of dry cold storage and sterilization of Juncus effusus seeds were assayed, with seeds stored dry in the dark at 4°C for 2 and 52 weeks compared with freshly collected seeds. At 28–29°C, with a 14-hour photoperiod, germination of non-sterilized, 2-week-stored seeds lagged considerably behind similarly treated seeds stored for 0 or 52 weeks (52%, 75%, and 81% final germination, respectively). Additional germination trials at 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, and 24 weeks indicated that reduced germination in non-sterilized, cold-stored seeds persisted through 24 weeks of cold storage. Sterilization with sodium hypochlorite stimulated germination to almost 100%, irrespective of the length of dry cold storage in seeds stored for 0, 2, or 52 weeks. Results of these studies support the general stimulation of seed germination by sodium hypochlorite treatment and indicate that while short periods of dry cold storage may depress germination percentages somewhat, long periods of storage impose no significant germination deterrence in J. effusus.