Senecio (integerrimus)

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:	Senecio integerrimus Nutt. exaltatus (Nutt.) Cronq.
Common Name:	Western groundsel, Columbia ragwort
Species Code:	SEINE
Ecotype:	Paradise Creek drainage near Pullman, WA.
General Distribution:	Western North America east to Montana and south to Colorado and California. In eastern Washington it is a wide ranging and common species occurring in dry to moderately moist, open areas from sagebrush desert to open Ponderosa pine forest. Mean annual precipitation range is from 10-24 inches (USDA NRCS 2009). Wetland indicator status is FACU (US Fish and Wildlife Service 1988).
Known Invasiveness:	not invasive
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Stock Type:	10 cu. in.
Time To Grow:	2 Years
Target Specifications:	Tight root plug in container.
Propagule Collection:	Fruit is an achene. Seed ripens in June. It is collected when the pappus begins to expand. Seed is tan in color and wind disseminated, so must be collected before it blows away. Seed matures over a 2-3 week period. Harvested seed is stored in paper bags at room temperature until cleaned. 400,000 seeds/lb (USDA NRCS 2009).
Propagule Processing:	Small amounts are rubbed to remove the pappus, then cleaned with an air column separator. The pappus is easy to remove. Clean seed is stored in controlled conditions at 40 degrees Fahrenheit and 40% relative humidity.
Pre-Planting Treatments:	Extended cold, moist stratification and cool spring temperatures are necessary. In trials at the PMC, no germination occurred without stratification. 30 days of cool, moist stratification resulted in 5% germination. 45 days of stratification increased germination to 45% but none of the seedlings were able to survive in the constant warmth of the greenhouse. Seedlings which germinated outside achieved 56% germination and survival was high. Effects of light on germination were not investigated.
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:	Containers remain outside. They are watered only during dry spells. Germination will begin as daytime temperatures warm in March, and may occur over 2-4 weeks.
Active Growth Phase:	Plants are watered every other day if the weather is cool, and every day during hot, dry spells. They are moved to the lath house in May. They are fertilized once per week with a water soluble complete fertilizer containing micro-nutrients. Fertilization is stopped and water is reduced in mid June. The plants will retain green leaves through the summer but cease growing as summer approaches and temperatures rise.
Hardening Phase:	Since the plants are grown outside, additional hardening is not needed.
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	Plants are stored in the lath house over winter. They should be afforded some protection from extreme cold temperatures. Mulch or foam sheets provide sufficient protection. The protection should be removed in late winter or early spring as temperatures begin to rise. Regrowth will begin in early March as soon as temperatures begin to warm.
Other Comments:	Some insect damage to seed may occur. No disease problems have been noted. Plants continue to produce good seed crops in increase plantings for at least 4 years.
References:	Hitchcock, C. Leo, and Arthur Cronquist. 1973. Flora of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press. Seattle, WA. Kruckeberg, Arthur R. 1996. Gardening with Native Plants of the Pacific Northwest. 2nd ed. University of Washington Press. Seattle, WA. McDonough, Walter T. 1969. Effective Treatments for the Induction of Germination in Mountain Rangeland Species. Northwest Science 43:18-22. Parish, Roberta, Ray Coupe, and Dennis Lloyd (eds.). 1996. Plants of Southern Interior British Columbia. Lone Pine Publishing, Vancouver, BC, Canada. St. John, Harold. 1963. Flora of Southeastern Washington and of Adjacent Idaho. 3rd edition. Outdoor Pictures. Escondido, CA. USDA, NRCS. 2009. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 7 March 2009). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA. US Fish and Wildlife Service. 1988. National list of vascular plant species that occur in wetlands. US Fish & Wildlife Service Biological Report 88 (24). Young, James A. and Cheryl G. Young. 1986. Collecting, Processing and Germinating Seeds of Wildland Plants. Timber Press, Portland, OR.

Citation:

Skinner, David M,. 2009. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Senecio integerrimus Nutt. plants 10 cu. in.; USDA NRCS - Pullman Plant Materials Center Pullman, Washington. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/07/01). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.