Douglas' Dustymaiden
Chaenactis douglasii
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
iNaturalist: © bassoont (iNaturalist #90535124)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Genus:
- Chaenactis
- Species:
- Chaenactis douglasii
- USDA Symbol:
- CHDO
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Biennial | Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 50 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul,aug
- Bloom Colors:
- white, pink, lavender
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:
- ★★★★☆ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Spotted Straw Moth (Heliothis phloxiphaga)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Central bumble bee (Bombus centralis), Hunt's bumble bee (Bombus huntii), Two-form bumble bee (Bombus bifarius) Butterflies:Becker's White (Pontia beckerii), Queen Alexandra's Sulphur (Colias alexandra), Small Wood-Nymph (Cercyonis oetus)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Pioneer species that colonizes disturbed and burned areas; reseeds after fire.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- Thrives in arid and semi-arid regions
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Light may aid germination. Seeds germinate readily after cold stratification.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are placed in cold stratification at 39.2°F for 30-90 days. A fungicide solution is applied after three days of incubation. Alternatively, seeds can be planted as a fall-dormant seeding to allow for natural stratification.
Establishment: Germination rates and times vary significantly between protocols. The highest germination rate was obtained with a 60-90 day cold stratification period. Seeds are easily dispersed by the wind and can be hand stripped into containers. Seed viability and dormancy may affect germination rates.
Source: npn.rngr.net