Plant Data Sheet
Species: Ceanothus sanguineus
Commonly called: Redstem Ceanothus, Soap bush, and
Oregon Tea Tree
Range:
Redstem is found on both sides of the Cascades, from
Climate, elevation:
Redstem
can be found from low to moderate elevations
It is reported at 2,400
feet (732 m) in western
Local occurrence:
Redstem is usually found in disturbed areas particularly
in soils are often low in organics. They play a prominent role in dense brushfields that develop throughout its range after fire or
timber harvest and subsequent burns and disappears as tree canopy cover
increases.
Habitat preferences:
Dry
rocky crests, bluffs, borders of woods, clear cuts, logging roads.
Plant strategy:
Redstem is associated with early- or mid-seral stages of forest succession. It remains vigorous when
burned at 10- to 15-year intervals. This shrub may be best adapted to summer
wildfires that provide heat scarification followed by cold, moist
stratification over winter. Redstem cover was
positively correlated with years since disturbance. As tree canopy cover reached 56 to 100%, the
shrub disappeared. In the absence of subsequent disturbances, redstem may be replaced by oceanspray
and chokecherry
Associated species:
Redstem is found in several ecosystems that include;
Douglas-fir, Ponderosa pine, Western white pine, Fir-spruce, and Hemlock-Sitka
spruce.
May be collected as:
Redstem is typically collected as seed. Bags are placed over
the un-ripe fruit and are left on the plant until the seeds are ripe and the
plant ejects them into the bags. Cutting are possible as well.
Collection restrictions or
guidelines:
Do not cut branches with
unripe seeds because the seeds will not ripen correctly once removed from the
mother plant.
Seed germination:
Seeds
can be scarified by hot water at temperatures of 80 to 90° C (176 to 194° F).
Seeds are added to the boiling water for only 5 to 10 seconds and then
immediately transferred to a vat of cold water so that they cool quickly and
avoid killing the embryo. The seeds remain in, and imbibe, water for 1 day.
Following scarification, seeds are cold stratified for 90 days.
Seed life:
Seeds have the ability to
stay in dormancy for decades. Seed banks is a
prominent strategy used by redstem.
Recommended seed storage
conditions:
Seeds stored for 15 years
in an air-tight dry container at 1 - 5°c have shown little deterioration in
viability.
Propagation
recommendations:
Easiest and cheapest method
is to scarify and
sow seeds directly in the fall to self stratify. Next they can be container
grown in the nursery from seeds or cuttings to be planted out at 1yr old. It is
not recommended to leave in containers past the first year as the redstem doesn’t respond well to root disturbance.
Soil or medium
requirements:
The plant prefers light
(sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant
requires soil pH between 6.5 – 8.0. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or
no shade. It requires dry or moist soil. Redstem forms a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen fixing bacteria. Inoculate
seeds with Frankia bacteria at time of sowing.
Installation form:
One site stated that the
roots to do not like transplanting while another site stated that they were
suitable for bare root. Most recommend heat treating the seeds to scarify them
planting out in the fall to naturally stratify.
Recommended planting
density:
Minimum
and maximum density 100 plants per acre.
Care requirements after
installed:
No special care is
required after installation. It is noted the mortality is highest during dry
periods in August so a water regime in late summer may improve survival.
Normal rate of growth or
spread:
Most seedling losses occur
the 1st year after emergence, with many succumbing to August droughts. Those
that are still alive by the 2nd growing season generally survive. Early growth
of redstem is often rapid. Twigs have reportedly
grown as much as 48 inches (122 cm) in a single growing season. Growth slows as
plants age, with annual twig growth of older stands (32-36 years) averaging 9.3
to 12 inches (23.6-30.5 cm). Height of a mature redstem
is between 3 to 10 ft.
Sources cited:
Plants for a future
http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Ceanothus+sanguineus
http://www.cwnp.org/photopgs/cdoc/cesanguineus.html
http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/shrub/ceasan/all.html#GENERAL%20DISTRIBUTION
USDA Natural Resource Conservation
Service
http://plants.nrcs.usda.gov/cgi_bin/plant_attribute.cgi?symbol=CESA
http://www.nativeplantnetwork.org/Network/view.asp?protocol_id=2907
Data compiled by:
Nancy Toenyan
April 27, 2006