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The Forest Service National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources (RNGR) is a leading source of technical information for nurseries and land managers regarding production and planting of trees and other native plants for reforestation, restoration, and conservation.

 
NPN Protocol Details Image

Cleome (isomeris)

Jean Graham
Nursery Manager
USDI NPS - Joshua Tree National Park Native Plant Nursery
74485 National Park Drive
Twentynine Palms, California 92277
760-367-5565
http://www.ggnpa.org
Family Scientific Name: Capparaceae
Family Common Name: Caper Family
Scientific Name: Cleome isomeris Greene
Common Synonym: Isomeris arborea Nutt.
Common Name: Bladderpod
Species Code: CLEISO
Ecotype: Joshua Tree National Park, California
General Distribution: Cleome isomeris is found the western Mojave and Colorado deserts west to coastal sage scrub communities; from San Luis Obispo County to Lower California.
Propagation Goal: plants
Propagation Method: seed
ProductType: Container (plug)
Stock Type: 2 Gallon PVC Pipe container
Time To Grow: 8 Months
Target Specifications: Height: N/A<br> Caliper: N/A<br> Root System: Firm Root Plug in container.
Propagule Collection: Seeds are hand collected in early summer when pods have matured and begin to split open.
Propagule Processing: 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 tightcontainers at 7C.
Pre-Planting Treatments: Seeds are scarified by carefully clipping the seed coat on the side away from the embryo. It is easy to damage the seeds, so it is important not to overclip into the cotyledons. Seeds are soaked overnight following scarification in water.
Seeds are placed between sheets of blotter paper in nursery flats and wrapped in plastic bags to prevent desiccation. We transplant viable germinants into containers as soon as the radicle emerges. Flats are checked for new germinants daily.

Seeds can also be directly 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 the growing 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 that is covered with a 55% shadecloth during the summer months. The containers are irrigated by an automated drip system; the duration varies according to season
Length of Active Growth Phase: 5 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.

Citation:

Graham, Jean. 2004. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Cleome isomeris Greene plants 2 Gallon PVC Pipe container; USDI NPS - Joshua Tree National Park Native Plant Nursery Twentynine Palms, California. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2025/04/25). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.