Sweetcicely
Osmorhiza berteroi
- Native to:
- Aleutian Is., Argentina, Canada, Chile, United States
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Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Apiaceae
- Genus:
- Osmorhiza
- Species:
- Osmorhiza berteroi
- USDA Symbol:
- OSBE
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 100 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun,jul
- Bloom Colors:
- white
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Agonopterix rosaciliella, Greya reticulata, white triangle tortrix (Clepsis persicana)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Fragrant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Prefers shaded woodland areas with organic matter
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–42 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require cold stratification and germinate best in cool conditions. Light is not required for germination.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are placed in cold moist stratification for 140 days. Soak seeds for 24 hours before stratification.
Establishment: Seeds are hand collected in early August when seeds turn black and are easily hand stripped from the inflorescence. Seeds are kept in paper bags in a well ventilated drying shed prior to cleaning. There are some variations in stratification period across protocols.
Source: npn.rngr.net