Studies to facilitate reintroduction of Golden paintbrush (Castilleja levisecta) to the Willamette Valley, Oregon. Chapter five: Growing Castilleja for restoration and the garden
Hemiparasitic Castilleja have been described as “nearly impossible to cultivate in a garden” (Art 1990), with “many problems associated with growing them from seed” (Borland 1994). Nevertheless, through may trials
Hemiparasitic Castilleja have been described as “nearly impossible to cultivate in a garden” (Art 1990), with “many problems associated with growing them from seed” (Borland 1994). Nevertheless, through may trials and experimentation we have successfully grown more than 3000 individuals of golden paintbrush (Castilleja levisecta), an endangered perennial endemic to the Pacific Northwest, for restoration purposes.
This chapter discusses the outcomes of our experimental germination and growing methods for C. levisecta conducted within the greenhouse as well as experimental plots within the Willamette Valley. We aimed to study the effect of such variables as seed bank source, timing of seed collection and stratification, soil type, resource availability, host plant presence and species type, as well as site community variability.
We hope that the results discussed in this chapter will be used in future C. levisecta (and other Castilleja species) restoration and reintroduction efforts within the Pacific Northwest. These results may also be used by home gardeners in their attempts to cultivate Castilleja in their own gardens.
