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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

Bromus (purgans)

John M. Englert
USDA NRCS - Norman A. Berg National Plant Materials Center
Bldg. 509, BARC - East, E. Beaver Dam Road
Beltsville, Maryland 20705
(301) 504-8175
(301) 504-8741 (fax)
john.englert@wdc.usda.gov
http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/mdpmc/
Family Scientific Name: Poaceae
Family Common Name: Grass Family
Scientific Name: Bromus purgans
Common Name: Arctic brome
Species Code: BROPUR
Ecotype: Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, Skyline Drive, 1200' elevation.
General Distribution: Bromus purgans is widely distributed from Quebec, south to northern Florida, and west to Alberta and Arizona; it is generally found in rich, moist woods and on rocky slopes.
Propagation Goal: plants
Propagation Method: vegetative
ProductType: Container (plug)
Stock Type: Container seedlings
Time To Grow: 11 Weeks
Target Specifications: Height: About 6-8" at out-planting after cutbacks. Root System: Firm plug in container.
Propagule Collection: Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, by J. Englert 7/15/93, J. Kujawski, J. Englert 8/7/96; National Plant Materials Center, Maryland, by D. Dusty.
Pre-Planting Treatments: Seed Treatments: None, although 2 weeks of cold stratification @ 45 F improves the uniformity of germination in many cool season grasses.
Growing Area Preparation/
Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:		 Propagation Environment: Greenhouse with alternating day/night temperatures (set at 75/68F) during the winter. Fans, coolers and shade during the summer. No extended day-length.

Seed Propagation Method: Hand sown in germination plug trays.

Container Type and Volume: 392 and 72 plug trays.

Growing Media: Sunshine #5 with l8Oda Nutricote Plus total SR (18-6-8) @ 0.15lb/cu ft.
Establishment Phase: Sowing Date: Early spring, August for fall planting.

Emergence and Date: 3-4 weeks from sowing to first germination.

Sowing/Planting Technique: Direct sown in 72 plug trays @ 2 seeds per cell for germination test.

Establishment Phase: Hand-water, light fertilization as needed, cutbacks as seedlings get too spindly.
Active Growth Phase: Rapid Growth Phase: Cutbacks to enhance vigor and ease of watering. Infrequent fertilization.
Hardening Phase: Hardening Phase: 2-3 weeks prior to outplanting move plugs outside to sheltered location and stop fertilization.
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping: Total Time to Harvest: 10-11 weeks from sowing to outplanting.

Harvest Date: Outplanted in spring, late fall.

Storage Conditions: N/A - Plugs are not over-wintered.
Length of Storage: <b>Storage Duration:</b> N/A
Other Comments: Plugs that weren't outplanted but held in the greenhouse for several weeks became pot bound and needed root pruning.
References: Manual of the Grasses of the United States, Hitchcock, 2nd edition, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1950.

Manual of Vascular Plants, Gleason and Cronquist, D. Van Nostrand Co., 1963.

Citation:

Kujawski, Jennifer L.; Davis, Kathy M.. 2001. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Bromus purgans plants Container seedlings; USDA NRCS - Norman A. Berg National Plant Materials Center Beltsville, Maryland. 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.