Range

L. rediviva occurs in gravelly to dry soils, from sagebrush plains to lower elevations in the mountains; from southern B.C. to southeast Alberta, east of the Cascades in Washington and Oregon south to California; east to Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and Arizona.(1)

Climate, elevation

L. rediviva grows in a wide range of climates and can be found from 60 to 3000 m (2)

Local occurrence

L. rediviva occurs all along the east side of the cascades (3)

Habitat preferences

Gravelly to dry, heavy soil, commonly on lithosol, from sagebrush plains to mid-elevations in the mountains (3)

Plant strategy type/successional stage

L. rediviva is a late successional strategy type and it takes up too 3 or 4 years to produce viable seeds. (2)

Associated species

Springbeauty, minerslettuce, purslane, talinopsis, pussypaws (2)

May be collected as:

Seed

Collection restrictions or guidelines

Seeds are collected in mid summer when the corolla turns papery and the disseminule breaks away from the stem. Seeds are shiny black at maturity.(1)

Seed germination

Seed dormancy is classified as physiological dormancy 60 to 90 day cold moist stratification. Germination occurs in early spring at temperatures slightly above freezing to 10c (1)

Seed life

Seed storage is at least 5 years under cool, dry conditions(1)

Recommended seed storage conditions

Cool dry conditions in a paper bag until planting time (2)

Propagation recommendations

Conetainers are filled and sown in late fall and irrigated thoroughly prior to winter stratification.
Seedlings germinate in spring under fluctuating outdoor temperatures and are grown under full sun exposure. Plants are fertilized in the fall, pots are flushed with water, and irrigation frequency is gradually reduced in June through October. (1) The plant becomes dormant during the hot months and is prone to being overwatered during this period (2)

Soil or medium requirements

Growing media used is 6:1:1 milled spaghnum peat, perlite, and vermiculite (1)

L. rediviva grows in a wide range of soils from shale, clay, sand, granite, serpintine, and talus (2)

Installation form

Seed

Recommended planting density

During the third or fourth year when the plants are dormant out-plant the plants in full sun in a well drained soil. Plant the plants 4-6 inches apart and don’t add any water, wait for the rains to come. (2)

Care requirements after installed

Weed periodically as the plants need full sun. (2)

Normal rate of growth or spread; lifespan

Plant is mature within 3-4 years, the lifespan is not reported.

Sources cited

1. DeSanto, Jerry; Luna, Tara; Evans, Jeff; Wick, Dale. 2004. Propagation protocol for production of container Lewisia rediviva Pursh plants (116 ml conetainers); Glacier National Park, West Glacier, Montana. In: Native Plant Network. URL: http://www.nativeplantnetwork.org (accessed 17 May 2005). Moscow (ID): University of Idaho, College of Natural Resources, Forest Research Nursery.

2. USDA, NRCS. 2004. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

3. Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture 5/15/05 (http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/collections/herbarium/index.php)

Data compiled by

Pat Kendzierski 5/15/05