California Sweetcicely

Osmorhiza brachypoda

Native to:
United States
California Sweetcicely

Anthony Valois and the National Park Service

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Apiaceae
Genus:
Osmorhiza
Species:
Osmorhiza brachypoda
USDA Symbol:
OSBR

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb
Height:
60 cm
Light Requirements:
Part Shade
Drought Tolerance:
Low
Bloom Months:
apr,may,jun
Bloom Colors:
white

Wildlife Benefits

Caterpillars:
★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Greya suffusca

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:
good drainage preferred
Moisture:
consistently moist

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
Germination Time:
14–42 days
Notes:
Seeds require cold stratification. Best sown in fall for natural stratification outdoors.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI

Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).

Source: Claude AI