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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

Malacothamnus (fasiculatus)

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: Malvaceae
Family Common Name: Hollyhock Family
Scientific Name: Malacothamnus fasiculatus (Nutt. ex Torr. & Gray) Greene
Common Synonym: Malacothamnus fasiculatus (Nutt. ex Torr. & Gray) Greene catalinensis
Common Name: Catalina Bush Mallow
Species Code: MALFAS
Ecotype: Catalina Island, California
General Distribution: Catalina Bush Mallow is found in southern California and the Channel islands. On Catalina Island, it inhabits dry, rocky slopes, roadcuts and creek beds.
Propagation Goal: plants
Propagation Method: seed
ProductType: Container (plug)
Stock Type: #1 Treepots (173 cubic inches)
Time To Grow: 5 Months
Target Specifications: Height: N/A<br> Caliper: N/A<br> Root System: Firm root plug in container.
Propagule Collection: Capsules are hand collected when they are fully matured. We have collected capsules from late May to November. Mature seeds are brown.
Propagule Processing: Fruits dry in paper bags in a warm, dry room. We clean the seeds by rubbing dry fruits with a rubber mat and block we sift material through a US Standard sieve (#10) for large debris and a (#18) sieve for small debris. We blow material at 24 setting 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 4 collections, seeds average 0.8 grams per 100 seeds.
Inferred seed dormancy for Malacothamnus is physical dormancy.
Pre-Planting Treatments: We have used a 3 or 5 minute 5% bleach or Physan fungicide solution to surface sterilize seed coats prior to testing or sowing.
We have tried several scarification treatments to maximize germination rates: 1 hour warm water soak, 1.75 hour hot water soak,4 hour hot water soak, and fire treatment. When using the fire treatment, seeds are sown in a flat that is covered with 1 inch thick layer of pine needles, set on fire and allowd to burn down.
Germination percentages have ranged from 40%/ warm water treatment,22%/fire treatment,10 to 14%/ 1.75 hour hot water treatment, and 12%/4 hour hot water treatment.
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: Seeds are germinated during winter months in a shadehouse were they remain for several weeks. Flats and containers are filled with a 1 inch layer of special seed germination mix of 1:1 (v:v) Sunshine Professional Growing Mix and sand on top of 4:1:1 (v:v:v) peat, perlite, and organic compost. We incorporate Osmocote time release fertilizer (9 month release rate) (14 N:14P2O5:14K2O) at the rate of « cup per 0.75 cubic yard of medium. Seeded flats are watered with an overhead emitter system as needed.
Seeds germinate 2 weeks after sowing.
Length of Establishment Phase: 1 month
Active Growth Phase: After seedlings are well established and have at least 2 true leaves, they are transplanted into 2 inch containers 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.
Following transplanting, seedlings are moved to another shadehouse with more temperature variance where they remain for several weeks.

We shift 2 inch container plants once they are root tight to #1 treepots (173 cubic inches) by the end of May. We top prune as needed to encourage branching.
Length of Active Growth Phase: 3 months
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. 2006. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Malacothamnus fasiculatus (Nutt. ex Torr. & Gray) Greene plants #1 Treepots (173 cubic inches); Catalina Island Conservancy Avalon, California. 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.