Artemisia (michauxiana)

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:	ASTERACEAE
Family Common Name:	Sunflower Family
Scientific Name:	Artemisia michauxiana Besser.
Common Name:	Michaux mugwort
Species Code:	ARTMIC
Ecotype:	Open talus slopes, Glacier National Park, MT.
General Distribution:	A. michauxiana occurs in rocky places in the mountains, from B.C. and Alberta to California, south to Nevada, Utah and Wyoming.
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Stock Type:	160 ml conetainers
Time To Grow:	9 Months
Target Specifications:	Height: 6 to 10 true leaves, 3 cm<br> Caliper: n/a<br> Root System: firm plug in 160 ml conetainer
Propagule Collection:	Seeds are hand collected in mid September when achenes turn grey and are easily removed from the disc. Seeds are collected in paper bags and kept in a well ventilated drying shed prior to cleaning. Seed Collection Locality: Near Haystack Butte, Glacier National Park.
Propagule Processing:	Seed Storage is estimated at 5 to 7 years in sealed conetianers at 1 to 3C. Seed dormancy is classified as physiological dormancy. Seeds/Kg: 5,500,000/kg % Purity: 100% % Germination:50%
Pre-Planting Treatments:	5 month outdoor winter stratification. A minimum of 3 month cold, moist stratification is recommended for optimum germination.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	Outdoor nursery growing facility. Sowing Method:Direct Seeding. Seeds are surface sown; needs light for germination. 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 Osmocite and 0.20 gram of Micromax per 172 ml conetainer. Conetainers are filled and sown in late fall and irrigated thoroughly prior to winter stratification.
Establishment Phase:	Medium is kept slightly moist during germination. Initial germination appeared uniform and occurred following 2 weeks of temperatures at 22C or above during the day. 2 to 4 true leaves were evident 3 weeks after germination. Seedlings are thinned to one per conetainer at this stage. Careful attention to irrigation frequency is needed during the establishment phase and should be done in early morning so foliage can dry during the day. Once established, seedlings should dry down between irrigations.
Length of Establishment Phase:	4 weeks
Active Growth Phase:	Root and shoot development occurs rapidly following germination. Plants were fertilized with 20-20-20 liquid NPK fertilizerat 100 ppm during the growing season. Plants were fully root tight 12 weeks after germination. Plants were 3 cm in height with 10 to 12 true leaves in a tight rosette.
Length of Active Growth Phase:	8 weeks
Hardening Phase:	Irrigation is gradually reduced in September and October. Plants are leached with clear water and fertilized with 10-20-20 liquid NPK at 200 ppm once before winterization.
Length of Hardening Phase:	2 weeks
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	Total Time To Harvest: 9 months Harvest Date: August and September Storage Conditions: Overwinter in outdoor nursery under insulating foam cover and snow.
Length of Storage:	5 months
Other Comments:	A. michuaxiana is a mat forming species that produces am extensive root system. It occurs in rocky soils on exposed slopes and is a good species for erosion control or stabilizing unstable rock slides .
References:	Flora of the Pacific Northwest, Hitchcock and Cronquist, 7th edition, University of Washington Press, 1973. Seeding Rate Statistics for Native and Introduced Species, Hassell, Wendel, U.S.D.I. and U.S.D.A., April 1996. Seeds: Ecology, Biogeography, and Evolution of Dormancy and Germination, Baskin and Baskin, Academic Press, 1998. Growing Colorado Plants From Seed; A State of the Art. Vol. 3 : Forbs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, NTIS General Report, 1982. Seed Germination Theory and Practice, Deno, Norman, Penn State University, 1993. Glacier National Park Native Plant Nursery Propagation Records, unpublished

Citation:

Luna, Tara; Evans, Jeff; Wick, Dale. 2008. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Artemisia michauxiana Besser. plants 160 ml conetainers; USDI NPS - Glacier National Park West Glacier, Montana. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2025/04/03). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.