The vitality and germination rate of Glehnia littoralis Fr. Schmidt ex Miq. seeds were investigated. The results indicated that the ratio of seeds having necrotic embryo and endosperm reached to 40%. The cold stratification could obviously enhance the seed vitality of G. littoralis. At 0℃ and -10℃,the seed vitality were 46.7% and 48.1% respectively. The germination rate of G. littoralis seeds was 12.1% after the cold stratification(0℃).