Verbena (lasiostachys)

Michael Herrera Nursery Manager Catalina Island Conservancy PO Box 2739 Avalon, California 90704 (310) 510-2904 (310) 510-3157 (fax) mherrera@catalinaconservancy.org www.catalinaconservancy.org

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Family Scientific Name:	Verbenaceae
Family Common Name:	Vervain Family
Scientific Name:	Verbena lasiostachys Link
Common Synonym:	Verbena robusta Greene
Common Name:	Western vervain
Species Code:	VERLAS
Ecotype:	Catalina Island, California
General Distribution:	Western vervain is found in Oregon and California and the Channel islands. On Catalina Island, it inhabits pond margins, marshes and canyon streambeds.
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Stock Type:	Deepot 40 (40 cubic inches)
Time To Grow:	7 Months
Target Specifications:	Height: N/A<br> Caliper: N/A<br> Root System: Firm root plug in container.
Propagule Collection:	Seeds are hand collected when they are fully matured. We have collected seeds in July and August.
Propagule Processing:	Seeds dry in paper bags in a warm, dry room. We clean the seeds sifting material through a Graimans brand "K" pan. We blow product at 5 settting for 3 minutes and at 9 setting for 2 minutes. After seeds have been cleaned, they are stored under refrigeration in air tight glass containers at 40 F and 40% RH. With 7 collections, seeds average 0.027 grams per 100 seeds.
Pre-Planting Treatments:	We have used a 5 minute 5% bleach solution to surface sterilize seed coats prior to testing or sowing. We place seeds into a 6.5 week cold, moist stratification at 40 F for 6.5 weeks, however, we have obtained excellent germination without stratifying seeds. Germination percentages have ranged from 34 to 74%.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	The James H. Ackerman Native Plant Nursery is located on Catalina Island off the coast of southern California. From 1993 to 2004, the average maximum and minimum temperatures have been 75.4 F and 46 F, with an average of 361 frost free days per year and annual rainfall of 14 inches. The facility is comprised of shade houses, mist propagation house, and an outdoor growing area. All propagation environments are utilized at different stages of seedling growth to provide for the variance in temperature and shading requirements needed during the growing season. We irrigate all containers with an overhead emitter system in the shadehouses and use a drip system or hand water in the outdoor nursery.
Establishment Phase:	Seeds are germinated during early fall in a shadehouse were they remain for several weeks. Seeds are directly sown into flats filled with a 1 inch layer of special seed germination mix of 1:1 (v:v) Sunshine Professional Growing Mix and sand on top of 4:1:1 (v:v:v) peat, perlite, and organic compost. We incorporate Osmocote time release fertilizer (9 month release rate) (14 N:14P2O5:14K2O) at the rate of « cup per 0.75 cubic yard of medium. Seeded flats are watered with an overhead emitter system as needed. Seeds germinate 2 to 6 weeks after sowing.
Length of Establishment Phase:	1 to 2 months
Active Growth Phase:	After seedlings are well established and have at least 2 true leaves, they are transplanted into Deepot 40 (40 cubic inch)containers filled with a growing medium of 4:1:1 (v:v:v) peat, perlite, and organic compost. Osmocote time release fertilizer (9 mo release rate) (14 N:14P2O5:14K2O) is incorporated into the medium at a rate of of « cup per .75 cubic yards of medium. Following transplanting, seedlings are moved to another shadehouse with more temperature variance where they remain for several weeks.
Length of Active Growth Phase:	5 months
Hardening Phase:	Any nursery stock grown under shadehouse conditions are hardened by placing them in full sun exposure for a minimum of 2 weeks prior to outplanting.
Length of Hardening Phase:	2 to 4 weeks
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	Containerized seedlings are over wintered directly in the open growing area.
Length of Storage:	Variable; depends on out planting date.

Citation:

Herrera, Mike; Takara, Janet. 2006. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Verbena lasiostachys Link plants Deepot 40 (40 cubic inches); Catalina Island Conservancy Avalon, California. 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.