Chamerion (angustifolium)

Tara Luna USDI NPS - Glacier National Park West Glacier, Montana 59936 (406) 888-7835 http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/azpmc

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Family Scientific Name:	Onagraceae
Family Common Name:	Evening Primrose family
Scientific Name:	Chamerion angustifolium (L.) Holub. angustifolium
Common Synonym:	Epilobium angustifolium L.
Common Name:	Fireweed
Species Code:	CHAANG
Ecotype:	Waterton Lakes National Park
General Distribution:	Fireweed is a perennial, circumboreal species ranges from Alaska south throughout the western United states to Arizona and New Mexico, and east the upper Midwestern and northeastern states south to south to Tennessee and North Carolina. It is drought resistant and well adapted to a variety of upland sites. It is common on shallow soils or on heavier loam soils in forests, mountain meadows and hillsides; often forming pure stands following a fire or other disturbances(Hitchcock et al 1994). The subspecies angustifolium is found only in Alaska south to Washington, Montana, and Wyoming.
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Stock Type:	116 ml (7 cu in)
Time To Grow:	9 Months
Target Specifications:	Root tight plug with a rossette of multiple leaves.
Propagule Collection:	Fireweed flowers in July and August and produces lavender to bright pink flowers borne in a terminal raceme. The fruits are long elliptical dehiscent follicles that are tan at maturity. Seeds are small grey to black embedded in white hairs. Seeds mature in September and are dispersed by wind. Collect fully seeds just prior to dispersal by hand.
Propagule Processing:	Large collections can be cleaned with a hammermill and air column separator. Small collections can be cleaned by rubbing the achenes over a screen to separate the pappus from the achenes. Fireweed seeds stored at 1 to 3ø C (33 to 37ø F) in sealed containers remain viable for at least a few years. Seeds in the natural seed bank remain viable for many years.
Pre-Planting Treatments:	Seeds exhibit physiological dormancy. General recommendations include cold, moist stratifying seeds for 30 to 60 days at 2 C results in ore uniform germination. Seeds germinate at 21øC (70ø F)(day and 15 C (night) temperatures.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	Seedlings are grown in a fully automated greenhouse. Growing medium used is milled sphagnum peat, perlite, and vermiculite with Osmocote controlled release fertilizer (13N:13P2O5:13K2O; 8 to 9 month release rate at 21C) and Micromax fertilizer (12%S, 0.1%B, 0.5%Cu, 12%Fe, 2.5%Mn, 0.05%Mo, 1%Zn) at the rate of 1 gram of Osmocote and 0.20 gram of Micromax per 172 ml conetainer.
Establishment Phase:	Seedlings need to be kept evenly moist during germination and establishment.
Length of Establishment Phase:	1 month
Active Growth Phase:	During active growth, seedlings are watered as needed and are allowed to dry down slightly between irrigations. Seedlings are spaced and trimmed back as needed.
Length of Active Growth Phase:	3 months
Hardening Phase:	During early summer, seedlings are moved to the outdoor growing area to undergo hardening during the late summer and fall months.
Length of Hardening Phase:	3 months
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	Seedlings can be outplanted in fall or overwinterd in the nursery under Microfoam sheets and planted in early spring.
Length of Storage:	5 months
References:	Hitchcock CL, Cronquist A, Ownbey M, and Thompson JW. 1994 (sixth printing). Flora of the Pacific Northwest. Part 3 Saxifragaceae to Ericaceae. University of Washington Press. Seattle (WA) 614p. ISBN 0-295-73985-1.

Citation:

Luna, Tara; Dedekam, Sara. 2008. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Chamerion angustifolium (L.) Holub. plants 116 ml (7 cu in); USDI NPS - Glacier National Park West Glacier, Montana. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/07/23). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.