Propagation, Production and Transplanting Practices for Native Plants with Landscape Potential
Grant
Overview
abstract
Production of native plants and their use in managed landscapes (residential and commercial landscapes in urban and rural areas) is increasing in the United States and in Idaho. Native plants are used for many reasons, including reduced water and fertilizer inputs. The use of native plants has caught on slowly due to limited availability from wholesale production nurseries. The research to be conducted under this Hatch Proposal will involve examining methods to propagate, produce, or transplant native species, including herbaceous perennials and woody plants that can be used in managed landscapes or for habitat restoration. The goal of the project is to develop propagation techniques or cultural practices that enable nursery stock growers to produce native plants in an economical and environmentally responsible manner. In this research project,
seed propagation along with cutting, grafting, or layering propagation may be used to reproduce native plant species. The type of propagation used will depend on the plant species, its growth characteristics, and production objectives. If plant numbers need to be increased rapidly or a specific plant species is difficult to propagate by conventional means, plant tissue culture will be used. Cultural practices, such as growing native plants in potting mixes made with agricultural wastes or root pruning conifers, will also be examined in this study. The expected outcomes are that improved propagation and production techniques will be developed for native plant species (herbaceous or woody plants) that will allow nursery stock producers in Idaho and the region to improve their production practices while reducing economic costs and environmental impacts. Other outcomes of the research work
are refereed journal publications that will publicize improved propagation and production practices. The impact of this research is that growers will be able to save money while producing more species of native plants that they can sell to the public, and growers can reduce their use of valuable resources (water, fertilizers, and labor) while producing quality plants.
