Ironweed

 

Most native prairie forb seed requires physical treatment such as cold, damp storage and scarification, before germinating. The following information describes the treatment processes performed on the seed that was acquired for the biodiversity project.

Seed Treatment

The seeds of many native plants have built-in dormancy mechanisms which protect them from germinating before killing frosts or in times of droughts. In the wild, seeds will lie dormant until the proper conditions for growth occur. But in cultivation, a restorationist must become familiar with several simple pre-sowing seed treatment methods which will unlock the dormancy mechanisms and stimulate quicker, more consistent germination.

Most prairie seed needs to be stratified (cold, damp storage) before they will break dormancy. This fact is useful in counteracting the problem of prairie grass out-competing forbs. Forbs can be stratified for an appropriate time (this varies depending on the species) while grasses are planted without a stratification period. This differential stratification will give prairie forbs an advantage over grasses in the initial phase of establishment. Different species have different germination requirements. In general, seeds must be encouraged to imbibe water, be exposed to proper temperatures, and have proper ventilation and adequate time in order to transform themselves into living plants.

Treatment processes include:

 

The following is a detailed description of the treatment activities used on the seed purchased for the biodiversity project:

Scientific Name

Common Name

Treatment *

Artemisia ludoviciana Prairie Sage a,d
Asclepias tuberosa Butterfly Weed c
Asclepias verticilliata Whorled Milkweed c
Aster azereus Sky Blue Aster a
Aster cordifolius Heart-Leaved Aster c
Aster ericoides Heath Aster a
Aster lateriflorus Calico Aster a
Aster pilosus Frost Aster c
Aster sericeus Silky Aster c
Baptisia australis Blue Wild Indigo c,h,i
Baptisia leucophaea Cream Indigo c,h,i
Campanula americana Tall Bellflower c,d
Desmanthus illinoensis Illinois Bundle Flower a,h,i
Desmodium canadense Showy Tick Trefoil a,i,j
Desmodium illinoensis Illinois Tick Trefoil a,i,j
Dodecatheon meadia Shooting Star c,d,g
Eupatorium purpureum Sweet Joe Pye Weed a,d
Euphorbia corollata Flowering Spurge c
Helenium autumnale Sneezeweed a
Heuchera richardsonii Alumroot a,l,d
Lespedeza capitata Round-Head Bush Clover c,h,i,j
Liatris Aspera Button Blazing Star c
Mertensia virgnica Virginia Bluebells c
Penstemon pallidus Pale Beardtongue c,g
Physotegia virginiana Obedient Plant c
Potentilla arguta Prairie Cinquefoil c,g,d
Pycnanthemum virginianum Mountain Mint a,d
Rudbeckia fulgida Orange Coneflower c
Sagittaria latifolia Arrowhead c
Sisyrinchium albidum Blue-Eyed Grass c,d
Verbena stricta Hoary Vervain c,d

*    Treatment Codes

A    Cold-Dry Storage

B    Hot Water Treatment

C    Moist, Cold Treatment

D    Very Small Seed - Needs Light to Germinate

E    Warm, Moist Treatment Followed by Cold, Moist TReatment

F    Double Dormancy - Takes 2 Years to Germinate

G    Cool Soil - Sow Seeds in Late Fall or Early Spring

H    Scarification - Using Sandpaper Followed by Moist, Cold Treatment

I    Seeds Need Inoculum

J    Remove Hulls Before Scarification

K    Parasitic Species - Needs Host Plant

L    Plant Fresh Seed

 

For a complete treatment guide for most native prairie plants:

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