Range

Alaska, British Columbia, South to California, Also found east to Ontario, Wyoming, South Dakota and Minnisota.

Climate, elevation

3000 ft and higher, drier sites

Local occurrence (where, how common)

Common in the Cascades and Olympics usually as an understory of Silver fir and Mountain Hemlock, also a dominant understory species in the eastern Olympics’ subalpine fir zone.

Habitat preferences

Open alpine meadows.

Plant strategy type/successional stage

Early to late seral species.

Associated species

Silver Fir, Mountain Hemlock, Subalpine Fir, Beargrass

May be collected as: (seed, layered, divisions, etc.)

Seed, Cuttings.

Collection restrictions or guidelines

Collect berries in August.

Seed germination (needs dormancy breaking?)

Mean seed germination 42%.

Seed life (can be stored, short shelf-life, long shelf-life)

Seed Storage up to 12 years

Recommended seed storage conditions

Remove seeds from berries (crush and float technique), dry seed, store cool.

Propagation recommendations (plant seeds, vegetative parts, cuttings, etc.)

Vegetative cuttings taken in late June. (Native Plant Network)

Soil or medium requirements

Prefers pH of 5.5, loamy silt/clay. Mesic soil preferred.

Installation form

Transplant seedlings to container.

Recommended planting density

Mature plants should be spaced at least 3 ft apart.

Care requirements after installed.

Water weekly, keep in full sun.

Normal rate of growth or spread; lifespan

Mature in 2 years.

Sources cited

Native Plant Network : http://www.nativeplantnetwork.org/network/view.asp?protocol_id=106

FEIS database: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/shrub/vacmem/

Hitchcock, C. Leo; Cronquist, Arthur. Flora of the Pacific Northwest: An Illustrated Manual. University of Washington Press. 1987.

MacKinnon, Andy; Pojar, Jim. Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast:Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and Alaska. Lone Pine Publishing. 1994.

Data compiled by (student name and date)

Christer Lundstrom – June 10, 2003