Ericaceae (Arctostaphylos)

Protocol Information for:

Label_title:
Arctostaphylos (uva-ursi)

Family Names:

Family Scientific Name:
Ericaceae

Family Common Name:
Heath Family

Scientific Names:

Genus:
Arctostaphylos

Species:
uva-ursi

Scientific Classification:

Scientific SubSpecies:

Species Authority:
(L.) Spreng.

Scientific SubAuthority:

Authors:

Joe Scianna

Common Synonym:

Genus:

Species:

Synonym Classification:

Synonym SubSpecies:

Species Authority:

Synonym SubAuthority:

Other Information:

Common Name:
Kinnikinnick

Species Code:
ARCUVA

Ecotype:
Ecotype from Firehole area of Yellowstone National Park.

General Distribution:

Known Invasiveness:

Propagation Goal:
plants

Propagation Method:
vegetative

Product Type:
Container (plug)

Stock Type:
Five-inch azalea pots

Grow Time:
1 Years

Target Specifications:

Propagation Collection:
We collect stem cuttings in mid-summer in Yellowstone National Park. Time of collection reflects poor access to this ground cover in the winter months more than anything else. Collect 6- to 10-inch cuttings and place them in a ziplock bag moistened with water. Store immediately in a cooler with ice until they can be refrigerated. Minimize storage to assure the quality of the cuttings.

Propagation Processing/Propagule Characteristics:
See Pre-Planting Treatments below.

Pre-Planting Propagule Treatments:
Trim cuttings to a uniform size (5 to 8 inches), recut base, wound, treat with 1,000 ppm to 3,000 ppm IBA in talc. Cuttings often have small roots at time of collection that will continue to grow if handled, stored, and placed in propagation bench properly.

Growing Area Preparation / Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:
: Use an excessively drained propagation media containing sand, perlite, or vermiculite as this species is susceptible to rot in the bench. Spray the entire bench with a broad spectrum fungicide prior to sticking the cuttings. Use 75øF bottom heat and intermittent mist during propagation.

Establishment Phase:
Transplant rooted cuttings to a very well drained media containing sand, vermiculite, and/or perlite with a very small percentage of peat added for water holding and nutrient exchange.

Length of Establishment Phase:

Active Growth Phase:

Length of Active Growth Phase:

Hardening Phase:
When rooted summer cuttings are not adequately developed in time to harden off for winter, we keep them in the greenhouse through the winter months and then move them to a hoophouse in April or May of the following year. Move containerized material to an outdoor hoophouse in late spring/early summer (i.e. "finish" the plants in the hoophouse). The hoophouse is ventilated but not cooled, and the containers are usually exposed to full sunlight for 2 to 4 weeks early in the season. The hoophouse is then covered with a 50% shade cloth until temperatures cool in the fall. Another option is to finish container plants and rooted cuttings in the greenhouse and then move them to the shadehouse in late summer, allowing 30 to 60 days of hardening prior to winter. The shade is usually removed in late summer/early fall and replaced with clear plastic. The plants harden-off gradually in the hoophouse prior to winter. Bridger is characterized by a high number of solar days that keeps the environment inside the hoophouse relatively mild until winter. In the case of premature and severely cold weather, a small propane heater is used atkeep temperatures above freezing.

Length of Hardening Phase:
As a standard practice, we allow a minimum of 30 days of hardening off prior to killing frost, 60 days is preferred.

Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping: Since nearly all containerized stock is shipped dormant from Bridger in the spring, we overwinter containers in an unheated hoophouse. The hoophouse is ventilated when temperatures reach 35 to 40øF and heated to maintain a temperature of 5 to 10øF. The containers are placed on 2 inches of pea gravel and arranged in a side-by-side pattern. The stock is watered over the fall and winter as needed. If temperatures in the spring are too warm to assure dormancy, plant material that is designated for dormant spring planting is moved to a walk-in cooler (34 to 37øF, 80+% relative humidity) until shipping. Plants may be shipped with or without containers in heavy waxed boxes by priority ground mail (avoid weekend holdover at post offices).

Length of Storage:
Stores well for several weeks in a walk-in cooler as previously described.

Guidelines for Outplanting / Performance on Typical Sites:

Other Comments:
Propagation by seed reportedly requires specific durations of acid scarification followed by cold moist chilling. This species needs to be propagated, cultivated, and outplanted in very well drained sites.

References:

Citation:
Scianna, Joe. 2006. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. plants Five-inch azalea pots; USDA NRCS - Bridger Plant Materials Center Bridger, Montana. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/04/24). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.

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