RNGR.net is sponsored by the USDA Forest Service and Southern Regional Extension Forestry and is a colloborative effort between these two agencies.

U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA Forest Service Southern Regional Extension Forestry Southern Regional Extension Forestry

Skip to content. | Skip to navigation

Home → Native Plant Network → Journal → Articles → Growth, flowering, and survival of Fire Wheel Gaillardia Pulchella Foug. based on seed source and growing location

Native Plants Journal - Article

Growth, flowering, and survival of Fire Wheel Gaillardia Pulchella Foug. based on seed source and growing location

Abstract:

Home region failed to provide any clear short-term improvement in plant growth, vigor, flowering, quality, or survival of Gaillardia pulchella Foug. (Asteraceae; firewheel) when plants derived from natural populations in east Texas, northeast Florida, central west Florida, central east Florida, and southeast Florida were grown under low-input landscape conditions in northwestern, northern central, or southeastern Florida. During the 22-wk study, adaptability of east Texas plants was similar to that of northeast Florida and southeast Florida plants within the different sites. At the 2 northern sites, plant growth, vigor, and flowering were greater than for plants grown in southeastern Florida. The patterns of biweekly changes in plant vigor, flowering, and quality ratings were similar among plants of all seed sources within a site. Averaged over the entire study, these ratings were equally high for plants of all seed sources except central east Florida plants. Within a site, survival of northeast Florida, southeast Florida, and east Texas plants was equally high (83 to 100%). Also, 100% of central west Florida plants survived at the 2 northern sites, yet no central west Florida plants survived past week 16 in southeastern Florida. Differences in growth, vigor, flowering, quality, and survival were likely related to the loamier soils at the 2 northern sites and (or) flooding June rains in southeastern Florida.

Issue & Pages:

Spring 2007 Pages: 25-39

Article Download:

7-3NPJ315-323.pdf (PDF document)

Authors:

  • Helen E Hammond
  • Jeffrey G Norcini
  • Sandra B Wilson
  • Richard K Schoellhorn
  • Deborah L Miller

Keywords:

ecotype, Florida, wildflowers, home region