Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Apiaceae

Genus:

Lomatium

Species:

Lomatium observatorium

USDA Symbol:

LOOB3

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Forb/herb

Height:

30 cm

Drought Tolerance:

High

Bloom Months:

apr,may,jun

Bloom Colors:

yellow

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)

Butterflies & Moths:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

bees, butterflies, native pollinators

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fire Ecology:

Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire

Fire Notes:

As a taprooted perennial in sagebrush steppe habitat, it can resprout from the root crown following fire.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rocky, well-drained sandy loam

pH:

6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

dry to moderate

Notes:

native to rocky outcrops and slopes

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days

Germination Time:

14–60 days

Notes:

Seeds require cold-moist stratification; germination can be erratic and may take multiple seasons.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI