Plant Data Sheet
Species
(snowbrush, Ceanothus velutinus Dougl. Ex Hook.)
2 varieties: var. velutinus, var. hookeri M.C. Johnston
Range
var. velutinus: widespread across west – B.C.
through CA and NV and east of Cascades to SD and CO
var. hookeri M.C. Johnston: west side of
Cascades from northern CA to B.C.
Climate, elevation
Wide
elevational distribution.
1500-7000 feet in WA and OR. Common on sites with 18-23
inches of annual precipitation and warm, dry summers.
Local occurrence (where, how
common)
Early
to mid-seral dominant in most of dry Douglas-fir forests of PNW and northern
Habitat preferences
Open, rocky
hillsides and sunny sites or partially shaded forests until shaded out by
increasing tree cover. Moderately dry to moderately moist mountain slopes,
especially south aspects. Mesic sites best.
Plant strategy
type/successional stage (stress-tolerator, competitor, weedy/colonizer, seral,
late successional)
Early
and sometimes mid-seral dominant. Fire-adapted nitrogen fixer. Comes in 1-7
years following a disturbance and codominates with other plants. Forms large, dense colonies, thickets up to 33 feet wide. Can sprout from root crown after damaged or topkilled. Can also spread by layering.
Produces abundant seeds which are forcibly ejected
when ripe and seed banks in soil.
Associated species
Depends
on plant community. In ponderosa pine communities, bitterbrush, willow, snowberry, and
rose.
May be
collected as: (seed, layered, divisions, etc.)
Seed,
layered, cuttings.
Collection restrictions or
guidelines
Seed: Collect when
capsules brown and enclose in fine mesh bags. Seeds tan at maturity.
Cuttings: Summer
semi-hardwood stem cuttings. Collect late April to
early June.
Seed germination (needs
dormancy breaking?)
Seed must be
scarified. Heat or abrasion. Heat works best. 176-203
F (80-95 C) is optimal to break seed coat. Germinates better
if scarification is followed by cold stratification. (
Evans has used 20-30
minute sulfuric acid soak, followed by neutralization with lime, a 48-hour
running water soak, and then a 90-day cold moist stratification.
A 10-minute hot
water soak followed by a 60-day damp peat
stratification also works. (Evans)
Seed life (can be stored,
short shelf-life, long shelf-life)
Up
to 20 years in dry storage (Evans). But seed can regerminate from seed stored in soil for “several
centuries”, especially in dry soils. (
Recommended seed storage
conditions
Dry storage or maybe
in dry soil (seeds found in soil of Douglas-fir/Grand fir habitat types were
91% viable).
Propagation recommendations
(plant seeds, vegetative parts, cuttings, etc.)
Seed: Follow
dormancy-breaking requirements outlined above. Hand sow
seed.
Cuttings: Treat with
IBA and place in mist bed with bottom heat and cover with shade cloth. Root in
about 8 weeks. Roots susceptible to excess moisture and should be uppotted to
well-drained media. After potting, put in shadehouse for 4 weeks and then move
to full sun and leach containers. Fertilize in August-September and reduce
irrigation gradually September-October and give final irrigation before winter.
Transplant cuttings in spring, first or second year.
Soil or
medium requirements (inoculum necessary?)
Grows
in almost any soil. Best in medium to coarse-textured well-drained soils with low
nutrient content. Usually found in soils with PH 5.5-7.0.
Cuttings should be
inoculated with nitrogen-fixing organisms.
Installation form (form,
potential for successful outcomes, cost)
Seed,
plugs.
Recommended planting density
No information.
Care requirements after
installed (water weekly, water once etc.)
Cuttings require
frequent watering for first year.
Normal rate of growth or
spread; lifespan
Life
span 25+ years, although
stands may deteriorate after 15 years. Slow growing first 3-5 years, but then
rapid growth until about 10 years after which growth levels off. Produces first
seed when 3-6 years old. Produces abundant seed and seed
banks in soil up to 200 years.
Sources cited
Anderson, Michelle D. (2001, November). Ceanothus
velutinus. In:
Evans, Jeff; Luna,
USDA, NRCS. 2002. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov).
Data compiled by: Marlo
Mytty,