Keckiella (cordifolia)

Michael Herrera Nursery Manager Catalina Island Conservancy PO Box 2739 Avalon, California 90704 (310) 510-2904 (310) 510-3157 (fax) mherrera@catalinaconservancy.org www.catalinaconservancy.org

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Family Scientific Name:	Scrophulariaceae
Family Common Name:	Snapdragon Family
Scientific Name:	Keckiella cordifolia (Benth.) Straw
Common Name:	Heart-leaf Keckiella
Species Code:	KECCOR
Ecotype:	Catalina Island, California
General Distribution:	Heart-leaf Keckiella is found throughout southern California and the Channel islands. On Catalina Island, it inhabits chaparral, coastal sage shrub communities, washes, bluffs, and disturbed open places.
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Stock Type:	4 inch container
Time To Grow:	6 Months
Target Specifications:	Height: N/A<br> Caliper: N/A<br> Root System: Firm root plug in container.
Propagule Collection:	Capsules are hand collected when they are fully matured. We have collected capsules from June to January. Seeds are reddish-brown at maturity.
Propagule Processing:	Capsules dry in paper bags in a warm, dry room. We clean the seeds by sifting the collection through a Graimans brand (size W)pan to separate large debris and capsules. We sift repeatedly through a Graimans brand (size K) pan. We use a seed blower at 5 setting to remove lighter chaff. After seeds have been cleaned, they are stored under refrigeration in air tight glass containers at 40 F and 40% RH. With 8 collections, seeds average 0.02 grams per 100 seeds.
Pre-Planting Treatments:	We have used a 3 minute Physan fungicide soak or a 3 minute 5% bleach solution to surface sterilize seed coats prior to testing or sowing. Germination percentages have ranged from 37 to 57%.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	The James H. Ackerman Native Plant Nursery is located on Catalina Island off the coast of southern California. From 1993 to 2004, the average maximum and minimum temperatures have been 75.4 F and 46 F, with an average of 361 frost free days per year and annual rainfall of 14 inches. The facility is comprised of shade houses, mist propagation house, and an outdoor growing compound. All propagation environments are utilized at different stages of seedling growth to provide for the variance in temperature and shading requirements needed during the growing season. We irrigate all containers with an overhead emitter system in the shadehouses and use a drip system or hand water in the outdoor nursery.
Establishment Phase:	Seeds are germinated during winter months in a shadehouse were they remain for several weeks. Flats and containers are filled with a 1 inch layer of special seed germination mix of 1:1 (v:v) Sunshine Professional Growing Mix and sand on top of 4:1:1 (v:v:v) peat, perlite, and organic compost. We incorporate Osmocote time release fertilizer (9 month release rate) (14 N:14P2O5:14K2O) at the rate of « cup per 0.75 cubic yard of medium. Seeded flats are watered with an overhead emitter system as needed. Seeds germinate 2 to 4 weeks after sowing.
Length of Establishment Phase:	2 months
Active Growth Phase:	After seedlings are well established and have at least 2 true leaves, they are transplanted into containers filled with a growing medium of 4:1:1 (v:v:v) peat, perlite, and organic compost. Osmocote time release fertilizer (9 mo release rate) (14 N:14P2O5:14K2O) is incorporated into the medium at a rate of of « cup per .75 cubic yards of medium.
Length of Active Growth Phase:	3 months
Hardening Phase:	Any nursery stock grown under shadehouse conditions are hardened by placing them in full sun exposure for a minimum of 2 weeks prior to outplanting.
Length of Hardening Phase:	2 to 4 weeks
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	Containerized seedlings are over wintered directly in the open growing compound.
Length of Storage:	Variable; depends on out planting date.

Citation:

Herrera, Mike. 2006. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Keckiella cordifolia (Benth.) Straw plants 4 inch container; Catalina Island Conservancy Avalon, California. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2025/04/21). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.