Ericameria (nauseosa)

John T. Harrington Professor New Mexico State University-Mora Research Center P. O. Box 359 Mora, New Mexico 87732-0359 575-387-2319 575-387-9012 (fax) joharrin@nmsu.edu www.arborday.org

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Family Scientific Name:	Asteraceae
Family Common Name:	Aster Family
Scientific Name:	Ericameria nauseosa (Pallas ex Pursh) Nesom & Baird
Common Synonym:	Chrysothamnus nauseosus (Pallas ex Pursh) Britt. nauseosus
Common Name:	Rubber rabbitbrush
Species Code:	ERNA
General Distribution:	Rubber rabbitbrush is widely distributed in western North America from sea level to 3,203 m (Tirmenstein 1999). Up to 25 subspecies and numerous races and ecotypes adapted to various climatic and edaphic conditions occupy numerous plant communities and habitats (Tirmenstein 1999).
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Stock Type:	164 ml conetainer
Time To Grow:	0
Target Specifications:	Height: 15 to 20 cm Caliper: 2 to 3 mm Root System: Firm root plug.
Propagule Collection:	Fruits ripen from September to December depending on elevation, latitude, and aspect of seed source (Meyer 2001) When ripe, achenes are easily striped from branches.
Propagule Processing:	None.
Pre-Planting Treatments:	None. Seed dormancy in rubber rabbitbrush varies widely among seed sources. With increasing elevation and latitude, seeds tend to require a greater length of stratification for germination at low temperatures (3›¦C) (Meyer and McArthur 1989). However, at warm temperatures (30›¦C), untreated seeds from most sources germinate well (Meyer and McArthur 1989).
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	Propagation occurs in a greenhouse and outdoor nursery (shadehouse) facility. During establishment and initial portion of the active growth period seedlings are kept in the greenhouse. During the later portion of the active growth period through the storage period seedlings are kept in the shadehouse. Seed is sown in early May and seedlings are moved into the shadehouse in late June when seedlings are between 7 and 10 cm tall. Growing media is a 2:1:1 (v:v:v) peat:perlite:vermiculite mixture. Controlled release fertilizer 14-14-14 (N-P-K) 3 -4 month is incorporated into the media at the rate of 4 kg/m3. Greenhouse and shadehouse irrigation is provided via computer controlled irrigation system utilizing RainBird plastic MPR nozzles. Irrigation heads are spaced to provide head to head coverage. Seedlings are fertilized using a fertigation system, which utilizes the irrigation system.
Establishment Phase:	The top of the media is dibbled between 2 and 4 mm and seed, along with attached flower parts and debris, is placed in the dibble hole. A 2 to 5 mm layer of fine chicken grit is placed on the top of the media/seed to serve as a gravel mulch. To control the number of seeds sown per cell, and limit under- and over-sowing, the quantity of material sown is predetermined by a trial run 2 to 3 weeks before actual sowing. The goal is to have every cell filled, with the fewest number of extra germinants per cell. The containers are irrigated 4 to 8 times daily to keep the surface of the media moist. Greenhouse night and day temperatures range from 18 to 26 C and no supplemental light is provided. Thinning of germinants to one seedling per cell begins after 14 days. The container system allows for the consolidation of germinants to separate containers, which are removed from daily misting. Consolidation begins after14 days.
Length of Establishment Phase:	28 days
Active Growth Phase:	The first portion (through week 4 to 5) of the active growth phase is performed in the greenhouse. The remaining 8 to 10 weeks is performed in the shade house. Containers are irrigated as needed, which usually involves irrigation once every 4 to 5 days for the first several weeks then one every 2 to 3 days through the remainder of the active growth period. Containers are allowed to dry down to a moderate state between irrigations. This irrigation regime is used to help minimize root disease problems. All irrigations are done early in the morning, which allows foliage to sufficiently dry before nightfall, minimizing foliar disease problems. During the active growth phase, seedlings are fertigated every other irrigation with a liquid based fertilizer (20-10-10; N-P-K) at a rate of 50 ppm N until they attain the target shoot height (15 to 18 cm). During the greenhouse portion of the active growth period greenhouse temperatures during the day are 21 to 26 C and during the night 18 to 22 C. Ambient photoperiod is supplemented with 5 min light interruptions every 2 hours throughout the night from 75 watt incandescent lights suspended 2 meters above greenhouse benches. Once transferred outside, ambient temperature and light regimes are utilized. If space is available, containers are spaced to every other slot in racks when transferred to the shadehouse to improve air flow and reduce the likelihood of foliar disease problems. Growing tips are pinched back at this time to promote branching and prevent leggy growth.
Length of Active Growth Phase:	12 to 15 weeks
Hardening Phase:	This phase begins in late summer to early fall as soon as seedlings attain their target shoot height. Containers are leached with a heavy irrigation and a series of incrementally increasing water stresses is applied to restrict any further height growth. In Las Cruces, ambient day temperatures are still quite warm, butthe interval between irrigations becomes progressively longer due to seedlings becoming acclimated to water deficits and the gradual cooling associated with the onset of fall. Seedlings are fertilized every third irrigation (fertigated) with a liquid based fertilizer (10-30-20; N-P-K) at a rate of 25 ppm N.
Length of Hardening Phase:	4 to 6 weeks
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	Seedlings are kept in the shadehouse through the winter and are usually shipped in late February to early March. Irrigation intervals are extended during this period and fertilizer is provided every fourth irrigation as described above.
Length of Storage:	5 months
References:	[ITIS] Integrated Taxonomic Information System. 2001. (On-line database). http://www.itis.usda.gov. Accessed 11 Nov 2001. Tirmenstein D. 1999. Chrysothamnus nauseosus. In: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory. Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/ [(2002, June)]. Meyer SE. 2001. Chrysothamnus Nutt. rabbitbrush. In: Bonner, FT. Woody Plant Seed Manual interim website; www.wpsm.net Washington, DC: USDA Forest Service. Meyer SE, McArthur ED, Jorgenson GL. 1989. Variation in germination response to temperature in rubber rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus: Asteraceae) and its ecological implications. American Journal of Botany 76:981-991.

Citation:

Rosner, Lee S.; Harrington, John T. 2007. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Ericameria nauseosa (Pallas ex Pursh) Nesom & Baird plants 164 ml conetainer; New Mexico State University-Mora Research Center Mora, New Mexico. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2025/04/20). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.