Arctostaphylos (uva-ursi)
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Jan Schultz Forest Plant Ecologist USDA FS - Hiawatha National Forest 1030 Wright Street Marquette, Michigan 49855 906.228.8491 906.228.4484 (fax) jschultz@fs.fed.us http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/copmc/ |
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| Family Scientific Name: | Ericaceae | ||
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| Family Common Name: | Heath Family | ||
| Scientific Name: | Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Sprengal | ||
| Common Name: | Bearberry or Kinnikinick | ||
| Species Code: | ARCUVA | ||
| General Distribution: | Full sun to light shade. Sand dunes as well as pine to oak plains and on limestone pavements and gravelly ridges. One of the few Ericaceae not characteristic of acid habitats. Low shrub forming spreading or trailing mats. Flower is white tinged with pink. | ||
| Propagation Goal: | plants | ||
| Propagation Method: | seed | ||
| ProductType: | Container (plug) | ||
| Time To Grow: | 0 | ||
| Propagule Collection: | Seed is collected by hand from locally native plants within the eastern central Upper Peninsula. Flowers from April to August. Seed is a red berry (drupe) and is harvested from August to October. | ||
| Propagule Processing: | Remove the pulp as soon as possible after picking by stripping off the pulp by hand or very lightly using a blender with water or rubbing the berry on a sieve and floating off the pulp. Dry seeds for 1-2 weeks. Once seeds have dried out begin scarification. | ||
| Pre-Planting Treatments: | Scarification: Boil enough water to cover the cleaned seeds. Put the seeds in a mug/cup. Pour boiling water onto the seeds and leave it for one day. Drain. Stratification: Mix the scarified seeds with an equal amount of either moist perlite or vermiculite in a sealable plastic bag. Add enough water to the mixture to moisten it and seal the bag/container. Keep at room temperature for 2-4 months followed by 2-3 months in a cool dry place (refrigerator or cold garage). Cold store until planted (up to 3 years). | ||
| Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops: |
Propagation Environment: Greenhouse made of Standard U.V. 3 HL Clear 6 mil (J.R. Johnson's Greenhouse Supply Inc.) Fans run continuously to circulate the air. Vents open during the summer months for cooling. Heat for the cold months. Container Type: grows best in 24 cell (2"diameter) 14"x8.5"x4" deep flats, and other flats with 2" diameter or more and depths of 4" or more. Sowing Media: Scotts Redi-earth Plug and Seedling Mix. Contains vermiculite, and sphagnum peat moss. Soil is sterile. Thoroughly moisten the soil with water, mixing in the water with a trowel. Cover the holes in the bottom/sides of the plug tray cells with newspaper so that the soil does not fall out. Fill cells with damp soil and press soil down with a spoon. Refill the cell plugs with soil to the top, this time not pressing it down. Water the soil in the plug cells again. Sow the seeds by hand at a rate of about 1 seed in each small cell and 2 seeds in each cell with a diameter greater than 2.5". Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil or gently press the seeds into the dirt. Sow year-round due to the slow germination rate. |
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| Establishment Phase: | From Jan. until Aug. the greenhouse thermostat is set at 65 degrees F both day and night. Ambient greenhouse temperatures may reach 100 degrees F during the day in the summer. From Sept. through Dec. the thermostat is set at 55 degrees F. During this season ambient greenhouse temperatures may reach 75 degrees F during the day. The greenhouse holds plants at all stages of growth so the temperature setting stays the same for all plants at all stages of growth. Soil is kept consistently damp during germination. Water using a fine mist or light hose setting only. Newly planted trays are placed on the southside of the greenhouse. No artificial light is used. | ||
| Active Growth Phase: | The soil does not need to be consistently moist. Move trays to cooler north greenhouse tables. No fertilizers are used. | ||
| Hardening Phase: | In early-late spring, mature plants can be moved into a cold frame with a cover of material that diffuses sunlight to prevent scorching of the plants. When danger of frost has passed leave plants outside. Water less frequently. | ||
| Harvesting, Storage and Shipping: | In the Upper Peninsula, flats are planted from late May to early October. Flats that are not planted in the summer remain in the greenhouse for another season. | ||
| Other Comments: | Excellent ground cover if established. | ||
Citation:
Schultz, Jan; Beyer, Patty; Williams, Julie. 2001. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Sprengal plants USDA FS - Hiawatha National Forest Marquette, Michigan. 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.
