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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

Desmodium (canadense)

Cathy Thomas
Propagator
Chicago Botanic Garden - Propagation
1000 Lake Cook Rd.
Glencoe, Illinois 60022
847-835-8240
847-835-1635 (fax)
cthomas@chicagobotanic.org
http://chicagobotanic.org

Family Scientific Name: Fabaceae
Family Common Name: Pea family
Scientific Name: Desmodium canadense (L.) DC.
Common Synonym: Meibornia canadensis (L.) Kuntze
Common Name: showy ticktrefoil
Species Code: DEDCN
Ecotype: mesic prairie, Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, IL
General Distribution: Prairies, wet meadows and open thickets. Range: Quebec to North Dakota and Saskatchevan south to Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illionis, Missouri and Oklahoma.
Propagation Goal: plants
Propagation Method: seed
ProductType: Container (plug)
Stock Type: 2 1/2 inch container
Time To Grow: 16 Weeks
Target Specifications: Firmly rooted 2 1/2 inch container.
Pre-Planting Treatments: Scarification: rubbed between two pieces of coarse emery cloth. Stratification: mixed with damp sand and stored at 38 F for 4 weeks in a sealed plastic bag. Inoculation: inoculated with inoculum for Desmodium.
Growing Area Preparation/
Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:
Growing Environment: Fully automated greenhouse.
Containers: Seed sown into ITML brand 128 cell plug trays. Plugs transplanted into T.&O. Plastics brand SVD2 1/2 inch containers.
Media: Seed sown into Fafard Super Fine Germinating Mix. Plugs transplanted into Sunshine SB300 Universal bark mix.
Establishment Phase: Sow date was late February. Seeds were hand sown 2 to 3 seeds per cell to compensate for possible lower germination rates. Seed was then covered with a thin layer of coarse vermiculite and watered in under a mist system. Flats were places in a shaded greenhouse under an automated mist system set at 3 seconds of mist every 30 minutes. Air temperature was set at 65 F and bottom heat was run at 70 F days and 65 F nights. Seedlings were moved to a fully automated full sun greenhouse after germination. Temperatures were set at 68 F days and 64 F nights. Day length was extended to 12 hours using HID lights. Constant feed with 20-2-20 fertilizer at 100 ppm was used. Seedlings were thinned to one per cell.
Length of Establishment Phase: 5 weeks from sowing until plugs were ready to transplant
Active Growth Phase: Plugs were transplanted when firmly rooted. Plants were grown in a fully automated greenhouse where temperatures were set at 65 F days and 61 F nights. Day length was extended to 12 hours using HID lights. Plants were hand watered when dry and fertilized with 20-10-20 fertilizer at 237 ppm weekly.
Length of Active Growth Phase: 5 weeks
Hardening Phase: Plants were moved outdoors to a cold frame in early May.
Length of Hardening Phase: 2 weeks
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping: N/A
Length of Storage: N/A
References: USDA, NRCS. 2006. The PLANTS Database (http:/plants.usda.gov, 27 October 2006) National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

Citation:

Thomas, Catherine Suzanne. 2007. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Desmodium canadense (L.) DC. plants 2 1/2 inch container; Chicago Botanic Garden - Propagation Glencoe, Illinois. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/07/02). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.