RNGR.net is sponsored by the USDA Forest Service and Southern Regional Extension Forestry and is a colloborative effort between these two agencies.

U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA Forest Service Southern Regional Extension Forestry Southern Regional Extension Forestry

Skip to content. | Skip to navigation

Home Native Plant Network
 
NPN Protocol Details Image

Atriplex (canescens)

Wayne Crowder
Assistant Manager
USDA NRCS - Pullman Plant Materials Center
Room 211H Hulbert Hall
Pullman, Washington 99164
509-335-6894
509-335-2940 (fax)
crowder@wsu.edu
http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/wapmc

Family Scientific Name: Chenopodiaceae
Family Common Name: Goosefoot family
Scientific Name: Atriplex canescens (Pursh) Nutt.
Common Name: fourwing saltbush
Species Code: ATRCAN
Ecotype: Snake River Plains
General Distribution: from the Dakotas south to Texas and all states west. British Columbia, Alberta and Mexico
Propagation Goal: plants
Propagation Method: vegetative
ProductType: Container (plug)
Stock Type: 10 cubic inch containers
Time To Grow: 18 Weeks
Target Specifications: firm root plug with enough cohesiveness to hold potting mix together
Propagule Collection: Leafy tip cuttings (semi-hardwood) are collected in the later half of July or first half of August. Cuttings are firm and woody, 4 - 6 inches long. Strip lower end of the stem of leaves. Keep as many leaves on the cuttings as possible. Protect cuttings by keeping them cool and moist until planting. Cuttings that are too soft will not survive and root well.
Pre-Planting Treatments: Drench cuttings with a fungicide suspension prior to planting. Treat fresh cut ends of cuttings from ends to 1/2 inch up the stem with 0.3% indole-butyric acid rooting powder. Plant in moist, coarse grade horticultural perlite.
Growing Area Preparation/
Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:
We use metal pans, 4 inches deep with bottom drain holes. Bottom heat (heat mats) is used to keep the perlite at 75 - 77 deg F. Room (air) temperature is kept 5 - 10 deg cooler. Mist is set for 15 seconds of mist every 20 minutes. Too much mist is usually worse than not enough. Metal halide lights (1000 watt) on 24 hrs/day are used. Rooting should occur in 3 to 4 weeks at usually 60 to 75% of cuttings planted.
Hardening Phase: Move plants from rooting mist to hardening mist without bottom heat when plants have a minimum of 3 to 4 roots at least 1/4 inch long. Plant into containers with good draining mix such as Sunshine #4 when moving plants to hardening. Start plants in hardening at same mist interval, gradually increasing length of time between mistings over 1 to 2 weeks. After hardening, place plants in a general plant growth facility.
Length of Hardening Phase: 1 to 2 weeks
References: Hitchcock, C.L. and A. Cronquist. 1981. Flora of the Pacific Northwest. Univ. of Washington Press, Seattle.

Macdonald, B. 1986. Practical woody plant propagation for nursery growers. Volume 1. Timber Press, Portland, OR

USDA, NRCS. 2006. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, Sept. 11, 2006) National Plant Data Center, Baton Route, LA 70874-4490 USA

Citation:

Crowder, Wayne. 2006. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Atriplex canescens (Pursh) Nutt. plants 10 cubic inch containers; USDA NRCS - Pullman Plant Materials Center Pullman, Washington. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/05/19). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.