Virginia Glasswort
Salicornia virginica
- Native to:
- Bahamas, Canada, Cayman Is., Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Prince Edward I., Puerto Rico, Turks-Caicos Is., United States
Homer D. House, New York State Botanist. Walter B. Starr of the Matthews-Northrup Company, Buffalo, and Harold H. Snyder of the Zeese-Wilkinson Company, New York, photographers.
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Amaranthaceae
- Genus:
- Salicornia
- Species:
- Salicornia virginica
- USDA Symbol:
- SADE10
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Subshrub
- Height:
- 60 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- green
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Brephidium isophthalma, Western Pygmy Blue (Brephidium exilis)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, waterfowl
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- red, orange
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- saline, sandy, well-drained soil
- pH:
- 6.5 - 8.5 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- commonly found in salt marshes and coastal areas
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–28 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate best in saline conditions; fresh water may reduce germination rates.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Place seeds in a 24 hour fresh water soak.
Source: npn.rngr.net