Symphyotrichum (spathulatum)

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:	Symphyotrichum spathulatum (Lindl.) Nesom (Gray) Nesom
Common Synonym:	Aster occidentalis (Nutt.) T. & G. intermedius
Common Name:	Western Aster
Species Code:	SYSPI
Ecotype:	Paradise Creek drainage near Pullman, WA
General Distribution:	Western US east to Montana and south to California. Usually found in areas which are open and moist, such as north hillsides onthe Palouse and in open forested areas.
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Time To Grow:	4 Months
Target Specifications:	tight root plug in container
Propagule Collection:	Seed ripens in mid to late September. It is collected when the pappus expands. Seed is wind disseminated, so must be collected before it blows away. Seed maturity is indeterminate. Seed can be collected using a vacuum cleaner. This only removes mature seed, leaving immature seed to ripen.
Propagule Processing:	Harvested seed is stored in paper bags at room temperature until cleaned. Plants in seed increase plantings can be cut and dried under cover on tarps, but must be protected from wind. Whole plants should never be collected from the wild. Small amounts of seed are rubbed over a 10 mesh screen to remove the pappus, then cleaned with an air column separator. Larger amounts are run thru a hammermill, then cleaned with air screen equipment. Sterile rice hulls can be added to the hammermill to facilitate removal of the pappus. This is not necessary if there are stems and leaves collected with the seed.Cleaned seed is stored at 40 degrees F. and 40% relative humidity. We determined 1,292,308 seeds/lb for this ecotype.
Pre-Planting Treatments:	none
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. Head space of ¬ to « inch is maintained in conetainers to allow deep watering. A thin layer of pea gravel is applied to prevent seeds from floating. Conetainers are watered deeply.
Establishment Phase:	Medium is kept moist until germination occurs. Germination usually occurs in 8-10 days and is complete in 14-18 days.
Length of Establishment Phase:	3 weeks
Active Growth Phase:	Plants are watered deeply every other day and fertilized once per week with a complete, water soluble fertilizer containing micronutrients.
Length of Active Growth Phase:	2 months
Hardening Phase:	Plants are moved to a cold frame in late March or early April, depending on weather conditions.
Length of Hardening Phase:	4 weeks
Other Comments:	Plants produce prodigious amounts of seed and reseed themselves readily. Plants continue to produce good seed crops in increase plantings for at least 4 years. Plants are mildly rhizomatous and probably can be propagated by division. This method should only be used for plants growing in cultivation. Plants should not be dug up from stands in the wild.
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. USDA, NRCS. 2004. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

Citation:

Skinner, David M,. 2005. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Symphyotrichum spathulatum (Lindl.) Nesom plants USDA NRCS - Pullman Plant Materials Center Pullman, Washington. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2025/02/23). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.