Besseya (rubra)

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

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Family Scientific Name:	Scrophulariaceae
Family Common Name:	Figwort
Scientific Name:	Besseya rubra (Dougl. ex Hook) Rydb.
Common Name:	Red besseya
Species Code:	BERU
Ecotype:	Paradise Creek drainage near Pullman, WA.
General Distribution:	Washington and Oregon east of the Cascades, east to Idaho and Montana. Occurs in open grasslands, dry meadows and prairies.
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Time To Grow:	18 Months
Target Specifications:	Tight root plug in container
Propagule Collection:	Seed is collected by cutting the stalk when the capsules begin to split. Seed is a reddish brown color. Seed is harvested in late June and stored in paper bags at room temperature until cleaned.
Propagule Processing:	Capsules are crushed by hand. Seed will pass a 10 mesh screen to remove pieces of crushed capsules. Fine material is removed with an air column separator. Seed is stored at 40 degrees Fahrenheit and 40% relative humidity after cleaning.
Pre-Planting Treatments:	Seed germination is very low without pretreatment (Maguire and Overland 1959). In trials conducted at the PMC, seed planted without pretreatment and seed subjected to 30 days cold, moist stratification failed to germinate. Seed sown in pots and placed outside in late November begins germinating in late March.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	In late November or early December 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.
Establishment Phase:	Conetainers are placed outside subject to winter temperatures. Germination begins in mid to late March, depending on the weather. Most of the seeds will germinate by late April, but some germination occurs into the summer. Some ungerminated seed will germinate after a second winter.
Length of Establishment Phase:	4 months
Active Growth Phase:	Plants are watered as needed and fertilized once every two weeks with a water soluble, complete fertilizer containing micronutrients. Conetainers are moved to the lath house in June. Plants do not grow beyond the 2 true leaf stage in the first season, but will remain green as long as moisture is available.
Length of Active Growth Phase:	5 months
Hardening Phase:	Fertilizer is withheld in August and watering cut back in September to harden the plants for winter.
Length of Hardening Phase:	3 months
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	Plants are stored in the lath house unprotected, except by snow, during the winter. Plants exposed to extreme low temperatures should be afforded some insulation. Rapid root growth will occur with the arrival of early spring temperatures and the plants will be ready for outplanting in early May.
Length of Storage:	5 months
Other Comments:	No insect or disease problems have been noted.
References:	Faust, Ralph, and Peggy Faust. 1999. Wildflowers of the Inland Northwest. Museum of North Idaho. Coeur d'Alene, ID. 141 pp. 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. Maguire, James D. and Alvin Overland. 1959. Laboratory Germination of Seeds of Weedy and Native Plants. Washington State Agricultural Experiment Station Circular 349, Pullman, WA. 15 p. Piper, C.V., and R.K. Beattie. 1914. The Flora of Southeastern Washington and Adjacent Idaho. Press of the New Era Printing Company. Lancaster, PA. 296 pp. St. John, Harold. 1963. Flora of Southeastern Washington and of Adjacent Idaho. 3rd edition. Outdoor Pictures. Escondido, CA. 583 pp. USDA, NRCS. 2004. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA. Rickett, Harold W. 1973. Wildflowers of the United States: The Central Mountains and Plains. Vol. 6. (3 parts). McGraw Hill, New York.

Citation:

Skinner, David M,. 2005. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Besseya rubra (Dougl. ex Hook) Rydb. plants USDA NRCS - Pullman Plant Materials Center Pullman, Washington. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2025/04/11). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.