Mirabilis (laevis)
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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 |
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| Family Scientific Name: | Nyctaginaceae | ||
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| Family Common Name: | Four O'Clock Family | ||
| Scientific Name: | Mirabilis laevis (Benth.) Curran | ||
| Common Synonym: | Mirabilis californica Gray | ||
| Common Name: | Wishbone Bush | ||
| Species Code: | MIRCAL | ||
| Ecotype: | Catalina Island, California | ||
| General Distribution: | Wishbone Bush is found throughout southern California and the channel islands. On Catalina Island, it inhabits dry rocky slopes and sea bluffs. | ||
| Propagation Goal: | plants | ||
| Propagation Method: | seed | ||
| ProductType: | Container (plug) | ||
| Stock Type: | #1 Tree pot (173 cu in) | ||
| Time To Grow: | 2 Years | ||
| 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 June to December. | ||
| Propagule Processing: |
Fruits dry in paper bags in a warm, dry room. We clean the seeds by rubbing dry calyx from seeds with sandpaper. We sift material through a coarse screen for large debris. We blow material at 70 to 72 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 3 collections, seeds average 1.59 grams per 100 seeds. |
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| Pre-Planting Treatments: |
We have used a 3 minute Physan fungicide soak to surface sterilize seed coats prior to testing or sowing. Seeds are sown in late winter, but do not germinate until the second winter. We have obtained 15% germination using this method. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| Length of Establishment Phase: | 1 year until germination | ||
| 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 (4 months after germination). We top prune as needed to encourage branching. This species forms thick tuber-like roots and requires a large container to accomaodate root system. |
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| Length of Active Growth Phase: | 6 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:
Serrill, Doug; Herrera, Mike; Takara, Janet. 2006. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Mirabilis laevis (Benth.) Curran plants #1 Tree pot (173 cu in); 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.
