Solidago (missouriensis)

Dave Skinner PMC Farm Manager USDA NRCS - Pullman Plant Materials Center Room 211A Hulbert Hall WSU Pullman, Washington 99164-6211 509-335-9689 509-335-2940 (fax) abbie@wsu.edu http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/wapmc

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Family Scientific Name:	Asteraceae
Family Common Name:	Sunflower
Scientific Name:	Solidago missouriensis Nutt.
Common Name:	Missouri goldenrod
Species Code:	SOMI2
Ecotype:	Paradise Creek drainage near Pullman, WA.
General Distribution:	Western North America east to Michigan and south to Mississippi, except California and Louisiana, where mean annual precipitation averages 12-35 inches. In eastern Washington it is usually found in dry areas of open grassland and open Ponderosa pine forest.
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Time To Grow:	4 Months
Target Specifications:	Tight root plug in container.
Propagule Collection:	Fruit is an achene. Seed ripens in late September and early October. It is collected when the pappus begins to expand. Seed is brown in color and wind disseminated, so must be collected before it blows away. Seed maturity is indeterminant. Seed can be collected using a vacuum. This removes only mature seed, leaving immature seed to ripen, and reduces the amount of trash which subsequently must be cleaned from the seed. Harvested seed is stored in paper bags at room temperature until cleaned. We determined 1,998,238 seeds/lb for this ecotype.
Propagule Processing:	Small amounts are rubbed over a 10 mesh screen to remove the pappus, then cleaned with an air column separator. Larger amounts are threshed with a hammermill, then cleaned with air screen equipment. Sterile rice hulls can be added to the hammermill to facilitate removal of the pappus. This is not necessary if there are stems and leaves collected with the seed. Clean seed is stored in controlled conditions at 40 degrees Fahrenheit and 40% relative humidity.
Pre-Planting Treatments:	Seed germinates well without pretreatment, averaging 85%.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	In January seed is sown in the greenhouse in 10 cu. in. Ray Leach Super cell conetainers filled with Sunshine #4 and covered lightly. Head space of 1/4 to « inch is maintained in conetainers to allow deep watering. A thin layer of pea gravel is applied to prevent seeds from floating. Conetainers are watered deeply.
Establishment Phase:	Medium is kept moist until germination occurs. Germination usually begins in 7 days and is complete in 12-14 days.
Length of Establishment Phase:	2 weeks
Active Growth Phase:	Plants are watered deeply every other day and fertilized once per week with a complete, water soluble fertilizer containing micro-nutrients.
Length of Active Growth Phase:	3 months
Hardening Phase:	Plants are moved to the cold frame in late March or early April, depending on weather conditions. They are watered every other day if the weather is cool, and every day during hot, dry spells.
Length of Hardening Phase:	2-4 weeks
Other Comments:	A native leaf feeding beetle Trirhabda canadensis can cause serious damage if present in high numbers. Plants continue to produce good seed crops in increase plantings for at least 5 years. Plants may be propagated by division or by rhizome pieces. This method should only be used for plants growing in cultivation. Plants should not be dug up from stands in the wild. The plants spread aggressively by rhizomes and thus may not be good garden subjects.
References:	Hitchcock, C. Leo, and Arthur Cronquist. 1973. Flora of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press. Seattle, WA. Kruckeberg, Arthur R. 1996. Gardening with Native Plants of the Pacific Northwest. 2nd ed. University of Washington Press. Seattle, WA. Link, Ellen. 1993. Native Plant Propagation Techniques for National Parks Interim Guide. USDA SCS Rose Lake Plant Materials Center and USDI National Park Service. East Lansing, Michigan. St. John, Harold. 1963. Flora of Southeastern Washington and of Adjacent Idaho. 3rd edition. Outdoor Pictures. Escondido, CA. USDA, NRCS. 2004. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

Citation:

Skinner, David M,. 2004. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Solidago missouriensis Nutt. plants USDA NRCS - Pullman Plant Materials Center Pullman, Washington. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/05/18). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.