The medicinal plant Coptis chinensis has low seed vigor and high water permeability in its seed coat. The optimal temperature for germination is 22℃, with a germination rate of 52.9%. Treatment with GA3 at 5.0 mg·L-1 significantly stimulates germination, reaching a rate of 71.2%. However, higher concentrations of GA3 inhibit germination. The main causes for the vulnerability of C. chinensis are low seed vigor and seed dormancy.