Arenaria (congesta)

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

---

Family Scientific Name:	Caryophyllaceae
Family Common Name:	Pink
Scientific Name:	Arenaria congesta Nutt.
Common Name:	capitate sandwort, ballhead sandwort, dense-flowered sandwort
Species Code:	ARCO5
Ecotype:	Paradise Ridge
General Distribution:	Western US east to Montana and south to Arizona. In the Palouse region of eastern Washington and adjacent northern Idaho it is usually found on dry, open slopes especially where soils are shallow.
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Stock Type:	10 cu. in.
Time To Grow:	4 Months
Target Specifications:	Tight root plug in container.
Propagule Collection:	Fruit is a capsule. Seed is black in color and round in shape. Seed is collected when the capsules begin to split in late July or early August and is stored in paper bags or envelopes at room temperature until cleaned.
Propagule Processing:	Small amounts are rubbed to free the seed, then cleaned with an air column separator. Larger amounts can be threshed with a hammermill, then cleaned with air screen equipment. Clean seed is stored in controlled conditions at 40 degrees Fahrenheit and 40% relative humidity.
Pre-Planting Treatments:	Extended cold, moist stratification increases germination. Unpublished data from trials conducted at the Pullman Plant Materials Center revealed that 25% germination occurred without stratification. 45 days of cold, moist stratification resulted in 22.5% germination.90 days of cold, moist stratification resulted in 60% germination. Seed sown in containers in November and left outdoors under cool, fluctuating spring temperatures began emerging in mid-March and ultimately reached 67% germination. Some seed will germinate during stratification. Seedlings which germinated in the greenhouse thrived in the constant warmth, so it is likely the longer stratification time and not the cool, fluctuating temperature was the factor in the increased germination.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	In October or early November seed is sown in 10 cu. in. Ray Leach Super cell conetainers filled with Sunshine #4 and covered lightly. A thin layer of pea gravel is applied to prevent seeds from floating. Conetainers are watered deeply and placed outside. Conetainers are moved to the greenhouse in January. Alternately, seed can be moist stratified in a refrigerator at 35-40 degrees F for 90+ days before sowing in the greenhouse.
Establishment Phase:	Containers are moved to the greenhouse in early January. Emergence usually begins in 1 day and is complete in 7 days.
Length of Establishment Phase:	1 week
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:	No insect or disease problems have been noted.
References:	Hitchcock, C. Leo, and Arthur Cronquist. 1973. Flora of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press. Seattle, WA. 730 pp. Larrison, Earl J., Grace W. Patrick, William H. Baker, and James A. Yaich. 1974. Washington Wildflowers. The Seattle Audubon Society. Seattle, WA. 376 pp. Piper, C.V., and R.K. Beattie. 1914. The Flora of Southeastern Washington and Adjacent Idaho. Lancaster, PA. Press of the New Era Printing Company. 296 p. Rickett, Harold W. 1973. Wildflowers of the United States: The Central Mountains and Plains. Vol. 6. (3 parts). McGraw Hill, New York. St. John, Harold. 1963. Flora of Southeastern Washington and of Adjacent Idaho. 3rd edition. Outdoor Pictures. Escondido, CA. 583 pp. USDA, NRCS. 2006. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov). Data compiled from various sources by Mark W. Skinner. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

Citation:

Skinner, David M,. 2006. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Arenaria congesta Nutt. plants 10 cu. in.; USDA NRCS - Pullman Plant Materials Center Pullman, Washington. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/05/05). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.