| I investigated various nursery production aspects of Intermountain West (IMW) native perennial wildflowers. A 2-year study was conducted to compare root zone temperatures, water use, and growth of six Intermountain West native herbaceous perennial grown in pot-in-pot (PIP) to conventional above-ground (CAG) production systems. The PIP system kept average growing media temperatures up to IOC (50F) cooler than the CAG that resulted in generally lower water loss and increased growth rate, thus enhancing nursery production. Greenhouse studies investigated optimal nitrogen and pH ranges for selection native perennial wildflowers. The optimum pH range of two native herbaceous perennials was evaluated. Growth, quality, chlorophyll content, flower response and dry weight responses to media pH ranging from 4.3-8.7 showed that Penstemon strictus and Spaheralcea grossularifolia performed well down to pH 5.1-5.5, indicating that conventional moderately acid growing can be used to produce IMW native perennials. |
