Winterfat
Krascheninnikovia lanata
- Native to:
- Canada, Mexico, United States
Chris Woodrich
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Amaranthaceae
- Genus:
- Krascheninnikovia
- Species:
- Krascheninnikovia lanata
- USDA Symbol:
- KRLA2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Subshrub
- Height:
- 90 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Bucculatrix eurotiella
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals, pronghorn, deer, elk
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from root crown following fire; often increases in post-fire plant communities in sagebrush steppe ecosystems.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- Thrives in arid and semi-arid regions
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily without pretreatment; best results with fall planting or cool temperatures around 50-60°F.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Freshly harvested seed may require prechilling of 41°F for 14 days prior to germination. Seeds are also soaked in water for 1 to 2 hrs to remove any inhibitors and to allow full imbibition of seeds prior to sowing.
Establishment: Germination rates heavily depend on the age of the seed. Fresh (1-2 years old) seed germination rates are typically 85-95% but seed 3 years old or older has germination rates of 0-15%, even under optimal storage conditions. The plant does not tolerate excessive moisture or acidic soils and is usually found on slopes and plains, sometimes on alkaline soils from 2,000–7,000 ft (500-2100m).
Source: npn.rngr.net