Zygophyllaceae (Larrea)

Protocol Information for:

Label_title:
Larrea (tridentata)

Family Names:

Family Scientific Name:
Zygophyllaceae

Family Common Name:
Lignum Vitae Family

Scientific Names:

Genus:
Larrea

Species:
tridentata

Scientific Classification:

Scientific SubSpecies:

Species Authority:
(Sesse & Moc ex DC.) Coville

Scientific SubAuthority:

Authors:

Jean Graham

Common Synonym:

Genus:

Species:

Synonym Classification:

Synonym SubSpecies:

Species Authority:

Synonym SubAuthority:

Other Information:

Common Name:
Creosote

Species Code:
LARTRI

Ecotype:
Joshua Tree National Park, California

General Distribution:
Larrea tridentata is the dominant shrub over great areas of desert below 5,000 ft elevation; from Inyo County, California east to Utah, Texas and Mexico.

Known Invasiveness:

Propagation Goal:
plants

Propagation Method:
seed

Product Type:
Container (plug)

Stock Type:
2 Gallon PVC Pipe Containers

Grow Time:
12 Months

Target Specifications:
Height: N/A
Caliper: N/A
Root System: Firm Root Plug in container.

Propagation Collection:
Seeds are hand collected in late spring when pods have matured and begin to split open.

Propagation Processing/Propagule Characteristics:
Seeds are allowed to dry for 4 to 6 weeks in paper bags in a warm, dry room. After seeds have been cleaned, they are stored under refrigeration in air tight containers at 7C.

Pre-Planting Propagule Treatments:
Seeds are soaked in water for 24 to 48 hrs to remove any inhibitors and to allow full imbibition of seeds prior to sowing. Seeds are sown in open flats using a growing medium of 2 parts sand, 1 part mulch and 2 parts perlite (v:v:v).

Growing Area Preparation / Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:
The Joshua Tree Native Plant Nursery is located in the Mojave Desert of southern California and has an average of 250 frost free days per year and annual rainfall of 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4 in.)
The facility is comprised of two greenhouses, shade structures, mist propagation beds and an outdoor growing compound. All propagation environments are utilized at different stages of seedling growth to provide for the variance in temperature and shading requirements during thegrowing season.

Establishment Phase:
Seedlings are germinated on flats in a germination chamber or under mist where they remain until well established, approximately 2-3 weeks. They are transplanted into newspaper cylinders wrapped with polyvinyl food wrap. The newspaper container is 29 cm (11.5 in) tall and 7.5 cm (3 in) in diameter. These containers are filled with a growing medium of 2:1:1 (v:v:v) sand, mulch, and perlite.

Length of Establishment Phase:
4 weeks

Active Growth Phase:
Seedlings are ready for transplanting into larger containers at 8 to 12 weeks. The entire newspaper pot minus the plastic wrap is transplanted into the PVC containers using the same medium described for the newspaper containers. Osmocote time release fertilizer (9 mo release rate) (13 N:13P2O5:13K2O) is incorporated into the medium at the approximate rate of 22 g per 6L ( 2 gal).
PVC containers are 37.5 cm tall(15 in) and are 15 cm (6 in)in diameter.
Following transplanting, seedlings are moved to the open growing compound. The containers are irrigated by an automated drip system; duration varies according to season.

Length of Active Growth Phase:
9 months

Hardening Phase:
Irrigation frequency and duration is gradually reduced for 4 to 8 weeks prior to out-planting. The shadecloth is removed from the open growing compound in October when daytime temperatures begin to cool.

Length of Hardening Phase:
2 months

Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:
Containerized seedlings are over wintered directly in the open growing compound.

Length of Storage:
Variable; depends on out planting date.

Guidelines for Outplanting / Performance on Typical Sites:

Other Comments:

References:

Citation:
Graham, Jean. 2004. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Larrea tridentata (Sesse & Moc ex DC.) Coville plants 2 Gallon PVC Pipe Containers; USDI NPS - Joshua Tree National Park Native Plant Nursery Twentynine Palms, California. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2025/05/10). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.

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