Ceanothus (velutinus)

Lee Riley Horticulturist USDA FS - Dorena Genetic Resource Center 34963 Shoreview Road Cottage Grove, Oregon 97424 541-915-7324 541-767-5709 (fax) lee.riley@usda.gov

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Family Scientific Name:	Rhamnaceae
Family Common Name:	Buckthorn
Scientific Name:	Ceanothus velutinus
Common Name:	Snowbrush
Species Code:	CEVE
Ecotype:	Deschutes, Umpqua, and Willamette National Forests, Oregon
General Distribution:	Open, wooded, hillsides and ledges, from 1060 to 3050 m (3500 to 10,000 ft); southern California to northern British Columbia, and east to Colorado and Black Hills, South Dakota.
Propagation Goal:	Plants
Propagation Method:	Seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Stock Type:	444 ml (27 in3) container
Time To Grow:	18 weeks
Target Specifications:	Stock Type: Container seedling Root System: Firm plug in container.
Pre-Planting Treatments:	Seeds are placed in fine mesh bags, soaked for 10 seconds in boiling water and then immediately transferred in cold water. Seeds are then placed into a 1% hydrogen peroxide (3:1 water/3% hydrogen peroxide) soak for 24 hours, rinsed, and placed in water for an additional 4 hours. Seeds are sown into trays filled with stabilized medium plugs (Q-plugs). Trays are sealed inside plastic bags and placed into refrigeration at 1 to 3 °C for 90 days. Trays are checked weekly and kept moist throughout the stratification period. If mold is evident, trays should be treated with 1% hydrogen peroxide.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	Greenhouse growing facility. Q-plugs are lightly covered with nursery grit. Seedlings are transplanted to target containers approximately 3 weeks following removal from stratification. Growing medium used is 40:20:20:20 peat:composted fir bark:perlite:pumice with Apex controlled release fertilizer (16N:5P2O5:10K2O with minors; 6 to 7 month release rate at 21C) at the rate of 2 gram Apex per 444 ml container.
Establishment Phase:	Germination is fairly uniform and is usually complete in 2 weeks. Following germination (while still in Q-plugs), plants are fertilized with soluble 12-2-14-6Ca-3Mg at 75 to 100 ppm for 2 weeks.
Length of Establishment Phase:	2 to 3 weeks
Active Growth Phase:	Plants grow rapidly following establishment. Soluble fertilizer (20-9-20 NPK, 20-18-18 NPK, or 17-5-24 NPK) at 100 to 150 ppm is applied weekly throughout the growing season.
Length of Active Growth Phase:	15 weeks
Hardening Phase:	No dry-down is done to induce dormancy. Seedlings are moved to an outdoor growing area in early September.
Length of Hardening Phase:	2 to 3 weeks
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	Harvest Date: Mid to late October Storage Conditions: Seedlings are usually outplanted in fall. No storage except in outdoor growing area. Plants are well irrigated prior to shipping and shipped in containers.
References:	Dorena Genetic Resource Center Propagation Records, unpublished. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. nd. Ceanothus velutinus Douglas ex Hook. URL: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CEVE (accessed 16 Oct 2019). USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Ceanothus velutinus Douglas ex Hook. snowbrush ceanothus. URL: https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=CEVE (accessed 16 Oct 2019).

Citation:

Riley, Lee E.. 2020. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Ceanothus velutinus Plants 444 ml (27 in3) container; USDA FS - Dorena Genetic Resource Center Cottage Grove, Oregon. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/11/21). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.