Seeds of Arbutus andrachne possess a physiological dormancy that prevents synchronized and rapid germination. The seeds were subjected to different pretreatments involving hot water, concentrated sulphuric acid, gibberellic acid and cold-moist stratification to break the dormancy. To determine the effects of temperature and light on seed germination they were treated with gibberellic acid and incubated at 20 and 24°C in light or dark. Germination ability of seeds from different sources was also compared to determine the effect of source environment. Compared with the control, sulphuric acid treatments were not effective in enhancing germination of A. andrachne seeds and hot water scarification was also not successful. When averaged over all provenances, cold moist-stratification at 4°C for 8 to 12 weeks or treatment of seeds with 200-800 mg l^-1 gibberellic acid (GA₃) greatly increased germination percentage at 24°C in dark. Also, there was a remarkable effect of provenance on the germination percentage. Seeds treated with 400 mg l^-1 GA₃ did not exhibit an obligate light requirement during germination, but germination rate was higher under light condition although temperature (20 or 24°C) did not affect germination performance.