Potentilla (arguta)

Dave Skinner PMC Farm Manager USDA NRCS - Pullman Plant Materials Center Room 211A Hulbert Hall WSU Pullman, Washington 99164-6211 509-335-9689 509-335-2940 (fax) abbie@wsu.edu http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/wapmc

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Family Scientific Name:	Rosaceae
Family Common Name:	Rose
Scientific Name:	Potentilla arguta Pursh
Common Synonym:	Potentilla convallaria Rydb.
Common Name:	Tall, Valley or Glandular cinquefoil
Species Code:	POAR7
Ecotype:	Paradise Creek drainage near Pullman, WA
General Distribution:	Native to prairies and open forest of much of North America except the southeastern US. P. arguta ssp. convallaria is the common subspecies on the Palouse, while ssp. arguta has a more easterly distribution. Mean annual precipitation range for the species is from 10-50 inches (USDA NRCS 2008). Wetland indicator status is FACU (US Fish and Wildlife Service 1988).
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Time To Grow:	4 Months
Target Specifications:	Tight root plug in container.
Propagule Collection:	Fruit is an achene. Seed is collected in August when the inflorescence is dry and the seeds are brown in color. Harvested seed is stored in paper bags at room temperature until cleaned. Seed from wild plants can be collected by shaking into an envelope. Plants in seed increase plantings can be cut and dried under cover on tarps or in bags. Wild plants should never be collected whole. We determined 4,403,883 seeds/lb for this ecotype (USDA, NRCS, Pullman Plant Materials Center 2005).
Propagule Processing:	Small amounts are rubbed to free the seed, then cleaned with an air column separator. Larger amounts are threshed with a hammermill, then cleaned with air screen equipment. Clean seed is stored in controlled conditions at 40 degrees Fahrenheit and 40% relative humidity.
Pre-Planting Treatments:	One germination study of a seed source from South Dakota found no germination for untreated seed. Seed given 30 and 60 days cold moist stratification germinated at 58 and 49% respectively (Sorenson & Holden 1974). Using seed from a Wisconsin source, Greene and Curtis (1950) achieved 6% germination without pretreatment and 21% germination after 2 months of cold moist stratification. Unpublished data from trials conducted at the Pullman Plant Materials Center comparing untreated seed with seed treated by cold moist stratification for 30 days resulted in no germination for untreated seed while stratified seed germinated at 78%.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	In late November or early December seed is sown in 10 cu. in. Ray Leach Super cell conetainers filled with Sunshine #4 and covered lightly. A thin layer of pea gravel or #2 hen grit is applied to prevent seeds from floating. Conetainers are watered deeply and placed outside. Alternately, seed can be moist stratified in a refrigerator for 30 days before sowing in the greenhouse.
Establishment Phase:	Containers are moved to the greenhouse in early January. Germination usually begins in 5 days and is complete in 14 days.
Length of Establishment Phase:	2 weeks
Active Growth Phase:	Plants are watered deeply every other day and fertilized once per week with a complete, water soluble fertilizer containing micro-nutrients.
Length of Active Growth Phase:	3 months
Hardening Phase:	Plants are moved to the cold frame in late March or early April, depending on weather conditions. They are watered every other day if the weather is cool, and every day during hot, dry spells.
Length of Hardening Phase:	2-4 weeks
Other Comments:	No insect or disease problems have been noted. Plants continue to produce good seed crops in increase plantings for at least 5 years.
References:	Greene, H.C. and J.T. Curtis. 1950. Germination Studies of Wisconsin Prairie Plants. American Midland Naturalist 43:186-194. Hitchcock, C. Leo, and Arthur Cronquist. 1973. Flora of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press. Seattle, WA. 730 pp. Larrison, Earl J., Grace W. Patrick, William H. Baker, and James A. Yaich. 1974. Washington Wildflowers. The Seattle Audubon Society. Seattle, WA. 376 pp. Lyons, C.P. 1997. Wildflowers of Washington. Lone Pine Publishing, Renton, WA. 192 pp. Mohlenbrock, Robert H. Undated. Western Wetland Flora: A Field Office Guide to Wetland Species. USDA, NRCS Western Region. Sacramento, CA. Piper, C.V., and R.K. Beattie. 1914. The Flora of Southeastern Washington and Adjacent Idaho. Lancaster, PA. Press of the New Era Printing Company. 296 p. Rickett, Harold W. 1973. Wildflowers of the United States: The Central Mountains and Plains. Vol. 6. (3 parts). McGraw Hill, New York. Sorensen, J.T. and D.J. Holden. 1974. Germination of Native Prairie Forb Seeds. Journal of Range Management 27:123-126. St. John, Harold. 1963. Flora of Southeastern Washington and of Adjacent Idaho. 3rd edition. Outdoor Pictures. Escondido, CA. 583 pp. USDA ARS National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN) [Online Database]. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. URL: http://www.ars-grin.gov2/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?448068 (8 February 2008). USDA, NRCS. 2008. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 7 February 2008). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA. USDA, NRCS, Pullman Plant Materials Center. 2005. Seed Weights of Some Palouse Native Species. Pullman Plant Materials Center, Pullman, Washington. Online at http://www.wsu.edu/~pmc_nrcs/Docs/Seed_Weights_Palouse_Native_Species.pdf Accessed 2/8/08. US Fish and Wildlife Service. 1988. National list of vascular plant species that occur in wetlands. US Fish& Wildlife Service Biological Report 88 (24). Young, James A. and Cheryl G. Young. 1986. Collecting, Processing and Germinating Seeds of Wildland Plants. Timber Press. Portland, OR. 236 pp.

Citation:

Skinner, David M,. 2008. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Potentilla arguta Pursh plants USDA NRCS - Pullman Plant Materials Center Pullman, Washington. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2025/02/24). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.