Photo by: Jamie Fenneman
Species: Valeriana sitchensis, Sitka Valerian, Mountain Heliotrope
Range: Coastal areas from
Climate, elevation: 1464-6080
meters, sub-alpine
Local occurrence:
State of
USDA
Habitat preferences: Moist ground on wooded slopes or meadows, sub-alpine, full
Sun to partial shade. May become dwarf
under extreme cold conditions, in young plants it has a pink or
redness which is anthocyanin, a pigment that protects
the plant from UV rays and also absorbs and concentrates infrared, heating the
plant.
Plant strategy type: Early to late
succesisional in meadow communities. Associated
species: Valeriana acutiloba
May be collected as: seed, allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect
seeds
Collection restrictions or
guidelines:
·
Seeds are hand collected in mid September when achenes
are turn tan and are easily separated from the receptacle. Seeds can be cleaned
using a hammermill.
·
Ripe seeds collected generally when pappus-like
"plumules" or plumose calyx appendages, are
beginning to unfurl are best: seeds shatter and blow away easily once these
have opened. However if collected too early you can find incomplete seed fill.
Seed germination:
Seed - sow spring in a cold frame and only
just cover the seed because it requires light for germination. Cold moist stratification is
needed for this species. *5 month outdoor cold moist stratification
Seed life: Seed longevity is unknown
Recommended seed storage
conditions; Dry,
seed dormancy is classified as physiological dormancy
Propagation
recommendations: Seeds preferred, but limited vegetative propagation, by cutting large rhizomes with several growing
crown points, was also successful for this species although seed propagation
was preferred to avoid the need for digging up rhizomes from their native sites
Propagation Methods:
From seed, direct sow outdoors in fall
If sowing indoors, stratify, winter sow in vented containers, coldframe or unheated greenhouse
Soil or medium requirements:
Soil pH requirements:
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline
Installation form (form,
potential for successful outcomes, cost):
Place seedlings
into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant out into
their permanent positions in the summer if sufficient growth has been made. If the
plants are too small to plant out, grow them on in the greenhouse or frame for
their first winter and plant them out early in the following summer. Division in spring.
Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. Pot smaller divisions and grow them on in
light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing well. Plant
them out in the summer or the following spring.
Recommended planting
density:
Spacing:
18-24 in. (45-60 cm)
Care requirements after installed : medium moisture requirements
Normal
rate of growth or spread; lifespan: establishment phase 3 months, active growth
phase May - August
Sources cited:
1.Dave’s Garden http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/67824/index.html
2.Hitchcock , C.L. and A. Cronquist 1973 Flora of the
3.
Mathews, Daniel. Cascade-Olympic Natural History.
1988
4.
USDA Natural Resources Conservation District, http://nativeplants.for.uidaho.edu/network/view.asp?protocol_id=2642
5.Wick, Dale; Evans,
Jeff; Luna,
Data compiled by: Maura Shelton, April 27, 2006