Symphyotrichum (laeve)
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Mark E. Majerus USDA NRCS - Bridger Plant Materials Center 99 South River Road, Rte. 2, Box 1189 Bridger, Montana 59014-9718 (406) 662-3579 (406) 662-3428 (fax) mmajerus@mt.nrcs.usda.gov http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/mtpmc |
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| Family Scientific Name: | Asteraceae | ||
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| Family Common Name: | Sunflower Family | ||
| Scientific Name: | Symphyotrichum laeve (L.) A.& D. L”ve laeve | ||
| Common Synonym: | Aster laevis L. | ||
| Common Name: | Smooth aster | ||
| Species Code: | SYMLAE | ||
| Ecotype: | Glacier National Park seed source from Avalanche area. | ||
| Propagation Goal: | plants | ||
| Propagation Method: | seed | ||
| ProductType: | Container (plug) | ||
| Stock Type: | Ten-cubic-inch containeris | ||
| Time To Grow: | 0 | ||
| Propagule Collection: | Mature seeds can be collected in several fashions. Ripening is very indeterminate, so collection is either at intervals over the growing season or at one time when the greatest amount of seed appears ripe. The latter seems to be the most efficient method if the cost of multiple collections is compared to the additional amount of seed obtained. Depending on the amount of seed, harvesting may be accomplished by vacuuming, hand clipping of seed heads, or mechanical harvesting with a swather. Clipped seed heads are spread on a tarp to ripen and even marginally ripe seed will mature in a warm, dry place. | ||
| Propagule Processing: | Flail ripe seed heads against the inside of a barrel and discard the stems. Process the seed in a hammermill 2 to 3 times using a #5 (0.08 in diameter holes). Clean the processed material over a fanning mill using a fairly high amount of wind to remove the chaff. | ||
| Pre-Planting Treatments: | No pretreatment of fresh seed was required to break dormancy. Old seed lots may benefit from a 30- to 60-day cold, moist stratification. Seven to 10-cubic-inch conetainers are adequate if the seedlings are to be lined out the same summer. Forty-cubic-inch conetainers are recommended for 1-0 production. Sow several seeds onto the surface of each container into a well-drained commercial peat-lite mix, cover with athin layer of vermiculite, moisten thoroughly, then place directly in a greenhouse maintained at 75 to 80øF days and 65 to 70øF nights for 16-hour photoperiods. | ||
| Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops: |
For container production, sow in 10-cubic-inch conetainers in a well-drained peat-lite mix with baseline nutrition. | ||
| Establishment Phase: | Germination and growth is rapid, and plants will require additional growing room and/or larger container sizes in about 8 weeks. In lieu of transplanting to larger pots, prune the plants periodically until they can be safely lined out in the field. | ||
| Length of Establishment Phase: | Approximately 10 to 12 weeks to fill a 10-cubic-inch conetainer. | ||
| Hardening Phase: | Move containerized material (at least 2 months old) started in the greenhouse that winter to an outdoor hoophouse in late spring/early summer (i.e. "finish" the plants in the hoophouse). The hoophouse is ventilated but not cooled, and the containers are usually exposed to full sunlight for 2 to 4 weeks early in the season. The hoophouse is then covered with a 50% shade cloth until temperatures cool in the fall. We have field planted Aster laevis in mid-May without any hardening-off period with good success. This was possible because the weather was relatively mild and supplemental irrigation was readily available at the site. Another option is to finish container plants and rooted cuttings in the greenhouse and then move them to the shadehouse in late summer, allowing 30 to 60 days of hardening prior to winter. The shade is usually removed in late summer/early fall and replaced with clear plastic. The plants harden-off gradually in the hoophouse prior to winter. Bridger is characterized by a high number of solar days that keeps the environment inside the hoophouse relatively mild until winter. In the case of premature and severely cold weather, a small propane heater is used at keep temperatures above freezing. | ||
| Length of Hardening Phase: | As a standard practice, we allow a minimum of 30 days of hardening off prior to lining out or killing frost, 60 days is preferred. No experience with hardening off this species. | ||
| Length of Storage: | No experience | ||
Citation:
Scianna, Joe. 2003. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Symphyotrichum laeve (L.) A.& D. L”ve plants Ten-cubic-inch containeris; USDA NRCS - Bridger Plant Materials Center Bridger, Montana. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/05/06). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.
