Gaillardia (aristata)

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:	Asteraceae
Family Common Name:	Sunflower
Scientific Name:	Gaillardia aristata Pursh
Common Name:	Blanketflower
Species Code:	GAAR
Ecotype:	Paradise Creek drainage, Pullman, WA.
General Distribution:	Western North America east to Saskatchewan and south to New Mexico, except Nevada. Also found in the north central and northeastern states. Mean annual precipitation range is from 16-30 inches (USDA NRCS 2006).
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Stock Type:	10 cu. in.
Time To Grow:	4 Months
Target Specifications:	Tight root plug in container.
Propagule Collection:	Fruit is an achene which is grey in color and ripens in August. Seed maturity is indeterminant. Seed is collected by cutting the stem below the flower head when the seed begins to fall from the inflorescence. Seed can also be collected by hand without cutting the stem, but is prickly and can irritate the fingers. Seed can be collected using a vacuum. This removes only mature seed, leaving immature seed to ripen, and reduces the amount of trash which subsequently must be cleaned from the seed. Harvested seed is stored in paper bags at room temperature until cleaned.
Propagule Processing:	A bristly pappus is attached to the achene. This is difficult to remove and seriously reduces seed flowability and the ability to clean the seed. It can also create feeding problems with mechanical seeding equipment. In trials conducted at the PMC, aggressive attempts to remove the pappus bristles damaged the seed and greatly reduced germination. Best results were obtained by using a belt thresher, or for small amounts, by rubbing between corrugated rubber sheets such as stair tread. This does not remove the bristles, but folds them up so they do not protrude beyond the seed and vastly increases seed flowability. Seed isis then cleaned with an air column separator. Larger amounts are cleaned with air screen equipment. Clean seed is stored in controlled conditions at 40 degrees Fahrenheit and 40% relative humidity. 132,000 seeds/lb (Kingery et al 2003) 199,000 seed/lb (Hassell et al 1996). We determined 186,436 seeds/lb or 411 seeds/gram for this ecotype.
Pre-Planting Treatments:	Under laboratory conditions, seed collected from Washington germinated at 84% under alternating light/dark cycles and alternating temperatures of 20/30 degrees Centigrade, while seed subjected to alternating temperatures of 20/30 degrees Centigrade in the dark germinated at 80% (Maguire & Overland 1959). Untreated seed germinated at 85% or better in trials conducted at the PMC.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	In January seed is sown in the greenhouse 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. A 1/4 to 1/2 inch head space is maintained in conetainers to allow deep watering. Conetainers are watered deeply.
Establishment Phase:	Medium is kept moist until germination occurs. Germination usually begins in 5-7 days and is complete in 14-16 days.
Length of Establishment Phase:	2 weeks
Active Growth Phase:	Plants are watered deeply every other day and fertilized once per week with a complete, water soluble fertilizer containing micro-nutrients.
Length of Active Growth Phase:	3 months
Hardening Phase:	Plants are moved to the cold frame in late March or early April, depending on weather conditions. They are watered every other day if the weather is cool, and every day during hot, dry spells.
Length of Hardening Phase:	2-4 weeks
Other Comments:	Plants are short-lived but perpetuate themselves well by abundant seed production. No insect problems have been noted. Rodents will sometimes eat part of the crown during the winter, but the plants generally survive unless damage is severe. Gaillardia aristata should be seeded in early spring in Idaho (Kingery et al 2003) Preliminary results from direct seeding trials at the PMC indicate spring seedings generally result in more consistent stands than fall seedings.
References:	Buhler, Douglas D., and Melinda L. Hoffman. 1999. Andersen's Guide to Practical Methods of Propagating Weeds and Other Plants. Weed Science Society of America. Lawrence, Kansas. 248pp. Craighead, John J., Frank C. Craighead, and Ray J. Davis. 1963. A Field Guide to Rocky Mountain Wildflowers. Houghton Mifflin Co. Boston, MA. 277 pp. Faust, Ralph and Peggy Faust. 1999. Wildflowers of the Inland Northwest. Museum of North Idaho. Coeur d'Alene, ID. 141 pp. Hassell, Wendell, W. Rocky Beavers, Steve Ouellette, and Thomas Mitchell. 1996. Seeding Rate Statistics for Native and Introduced Species. USDI National Park Service and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. 25 pp. Hitchcock, C. Leo, and Arthur Cronquist. 1973. Flora of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press. Seattle, WA. 730 pp. Jolley, Russ. 1988. Wildflowers of the Columbia Gorge. Oregon Historical Society Press. Portland, OR. 332pp. Kingery, James, Angela Cotter, and Kendra Moseley. 2003. Idaho Roadside Revegetation Handbook. Prepared for The Idaho Transportation Department by the Department of Rangeland Ecology and Management, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID. Online at http://h237-41.state.id.us/highways/ops/maintenance/Manuals/fullVegetationManual.pdf. Accessed 11/20/05. Larrison, Earl J., Grace W. Patrick, William H. Baker, and James A. Yaich. 1974. Washington Wildflowers. The Seattle Audubon Society. Seattle, WA. 376 pp. Link, Ellen (ed.). 1993. Native Plant Propagation Techniques for National Parks Interim Guide. USDA SCS Rose Lake Plant Materials Center and USDI National Park Service. East Lansing, Michigan. 240 pp. Lyons, C.P. 1997. Wildflowers of Washington. Lone Pine Publishing, Renton, WA. 192 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. Parish, Roberta, Ray Coupe, and Dennis Lloyd (eds.). 1996. Plants of Southern Interior British Columbia. Lone Pine Publishing, Vancouver, BC, Canada. 463 pp. Piper, C.V., and R.K. Beattie. 1914. The Flora of Southeastern Washington and Adjacent Idaho. Lancaster, PA. Press of the New Era Printing Company. 296 p. Rickett, Harold W. 1973. Wildflowers of the United States: The Central Mountains and Plains. Vol. 6. (3 parts). McGraw Hill, New York. St. John, Harold. 1963. Flora of Southeastern Washington and of Adjacent Idaho. 3rd edition. Outdoor Pictures. Escondido, CA. 583 pp. Strickler, Dee. 1993. Wayside Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest. The Flower Press, Columbia Falls, MT. 272 pp. Taylor, Ronald J. 1992. Sagebrush Country. Mountain Press Publishing Co. Missoula, MT. 211 pp. Underhill, J.E. 1986. Sagebrush Wildflowers. Hancock House Publishers, Inc. Blaine, WA. and Surrey, BC, Canada. USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN) [Online Database]. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. URL: http://www.ars-grin.gov2/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?448068 (02 February 2006). USDA, NRCS. 2006. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov). Data compiled from various sources by Mark W. Skinner. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

Citation:

Skinner, David M,. 2006. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Gaillardia aristata Pursh plants 10 cu. in.; USDA NRCS - Pullman Plant Materials Center Pullman, Washington. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/07/03). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.