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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

Dodecatheon (clevelandii)

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: Primulaceae
Family Common Name: Primrose Family
Scientific Name: Dodecatheon clevelandii Greene
Common Name: Island Shooting Star
Species Code: DODCLE
Ecotype: Catalina Island, California
General Distribution: Island shooting star is a frequent species throughout southern California and on Catalina Island. It inhabits grassy slopes that are typically clayey.
Propagation Goal: plants
Propagation Method: seed
ProductType: Container (plug)
Stock Type: 2 or 4 inch containers
Time To Grow: 2 Years
Target Specifications: Height: N/A<br> Caliper: N/A<br> Root System: Firm root plug in container.
Propagule Collection: Seeds are hand collected when seed capsules have fully matured. Seeds are orange at maturity. We have collected capsules from early August until October. Early August is optimum for collection.
Propagule Processing: Fruits dry in paper bags in a warm, dry room. Most seeds easily fall out of the dehiscent capsuleswhile drying. We clean remaining seeds from capsules by crushing the capsules and sieve the fine material by using a 5/64ths screen. We use a seed blower set at 20 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 15 collections, seeds weigh an average of 0.10 grams per 100 seeds.
Pre-Planting Treatments: No pre-treatment is necessary. Seeds are held in cold storage until they are sown in late fall (October through mid-December).
Total average germination: 46%
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.
Seedlings emerge 1 to 2 months after sowing. By mid April to early June, seedlings begin to go dormant in flats and re-emergein early winter during the rainy season.
Active Growth Phase: After seedlings are 9 months to 1 year old (September-November), and are well established and have at several true leaves, they are transplanted into 2 or 4 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.
These are watered thorughly once and then allowed to become dry so that seedlings go dormant. Growth resumes during second winter with rains.
Finished nursery stok have thick fleshy horizontal roots that hold a firm plug and multiple true leaves.
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) Dodecatheon clevelandii Greene plants 2 or 4 inch containers; 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.