Propagation of native plants for restoration projects in the Southwestern U.S.: preliminary investigations

Abstract

Seed treatments to enhance germination capacity of a variety of native tree. shrub. forb. and grass species are reported. Scarification methods including hot water immersion (HW). mechanical scarification (MS). tumble scarification (TS), proximal end cuts (PEC), and sodium hypochlorite (SH) have been tested: Psorothamnus fremontii (HW. TS). Ceanothus integerrimus (HW). Ceanothus sanguineus (HW). Rhus g/abra (HW). Pte/ea trifoliata (PEG of seed separated by size and color). Rubus strigosus (SH), Oryzopsis hymenoides (TS), Co/eogyne ramosissima (TS). and a variety of native woody and herbaceous perennial legume species (HW. TS. MS). Gibberellic acid treatments were examined to overcome endo-dormancy of A/nus tenuifo/ia. A. ob/ongifolia, Rubus strigosus, and Oryzopsis hymenoides. Vegetative propagation methods investigated include mound\nlayering of Platanus wrightii, root propagation of Populus tremu/oides. and pole plantings of riparian understory species (Amorpha fruticosa, Baccharis glutinosa, Forestiera neomexicana. and Chilopsis Iinearis).