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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

Bloomeria (crocea)

Michael Herrera
Nursery Manager
Catalina Island Conservancy
PO Box 2739
Avalon, California 90704
(310) 510-2904
(310) 510-3157 (fax)
mherrera@catalinaconservancy.org
www.catalinaconservancy.org
Family Scientific Name: Liliaceae
Family Common Name: Lily Family
Scientific Name: Bloomeria crocea (Torr.) Coville
Common Name: Common Golden Star
Species Code: BLOCRO
Ecotype: Catalina Island, California
General Distribution: Common Golden Star is a frequent species found in southern California and on Catalina island. It inhabits chaparral, coastal sage shrub communities and grassy slopes.
Propagation Goal: plants
Propagation Method: seed
ProductType: Container (plug)
Stock Type: 2 inch pots
Time To Grow: 3 Years
Target Specifications: Height: N/A<br> Caliper: N/A<br> Root System: Mature bulb with root plug in container.
Propagule Collection: Seeds are hand collected when seed capsules have fully matured. Seeds are black at maturity. We have collected capsules from mid-June to August. June and July are optimum for seed collection.
Propagule Processing: Capsules are dried in paper bags in a warm, dry room. We clean the seeds by rubbing dry fruits through a 6/64ths screen, using a rubber coated block to break up seed capsules. We sieve this material through a 1/12 inch screen several times to remove chaff. We use a seed blower at 17 to 18 settings to remove any remaining debris. After seeds have been cleaned, they are stored under refrigeration in air tight glass containers at 40 F and 40% RH.
With 5 collections, average seed weight is 11.5 grams per 100 seeds.
Pre-Planting Treatments: Seeds are directly sown into flats without pre-treatment. Seeds are sown in late January in deep flats using a growing medium of 1:1(v:v)of sand and Sunshine Professional Growing mix.
Flats are watered after sowing and placed in the shadehouse.
Growing Area Preparation/
Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:		 The James H. Ackerman Native Plant Nursery is located on Catalina Island off the coast of southern California. From 1993 to 2004, the average maximum and minimum temperatures have been 75.4 F and 46 F, with an average of 361 frost free days per year and annual rainfall of 14 inches.
The facility is comprised of shade houses, mist propagation house, 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 needed during the growing season. We irrigate all containers with an overhead emitter system in the shadehouses and use a drip system or hand water in the outdoor nursery.
Establishment Phase: Seedls germinate 1 mont after sowing in late February in a shadehouse were they remain for several weeks. Seeded flats are watered with an overhead emitter system as needed.
By April, the young seedlings begin to go dormant for the rest of the growing season and re-emerge in late fall.
Length of Establishment Phase: 3 months
Active Growth Phase: Seedlings require a minumum of 3 to 4 growing seasons to develop sizable bulbs. During year 3, seedlings are transplanted from the flats into 2 inch pots filled with a growing medium of 4:1:1 (v:v:v) peat, perlite, and organic compost. Osmocote time release fertilizer (9 mo release rate) (14 N:14P2O5:14K2O) is incorporated into the medium at a rate of
of « cup per .75 cubic yards of medium.
When bulbs begin to go dormant, seedlings are watered only as needed. Bulbs should not be watered regularly while they are in the dormant stage.
Length of Active Growth Phase: 4 months per year
Hardening Phase: Any nursery stock grown under shadehouse conditions are hardened by placing them in full sun exposure for a minimum of 2 weeks prior to outplanting.
Length of Hardening Phase: 2 to 4 weeks
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:

Herrera, Mike; Takara, Janet. 2006. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Bloomeria crocea (Torr.) Coville plants 2 inch pots; Catalina Island Conservancy Avalon, California. 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.