Rocky Mountain Groundsel

Packera streptanthifolia

Rocky Mountain Groundsel

Dave Powell, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Asteraceae
Genus:
Packera
Species:
Packera streptanthifolia

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb
Height:
1-2 ft
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
may, jun, jul, aug
Bloom Colors:
Yellow

Native Range

United States: Alaska, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan, Yukon

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:
★★★★★ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Agonopterix senecionella, Phyllocnistis insignis

Reported Fauna Sightings

Bees: Black-tailed bumble bee (Bombus melanopygus), Black-tailed bumble bee (Bombus melanopygus), Fernald cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus flavidus), Fernald cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus flavidus), Forest bumble bee (Bombus sylvicola), Forest bumble bee (Bombus sylvicola), Fuzzy-horned bumble bee (Bombus mixtus), Fuzzy-horned bumble bee (Bombus mixtus), Half-black bumble bee (Bombus vagans), Half-black bumble bee (Bombus vagans), High country bumble bee (Bombus kirbiellus), High country bumble bee (Bombus kirbiellus), Indiscriminate cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus insularis), Indiscriminate cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus insularis), Sitka bumble bee (Bombus sitkensis), Sitka bumble bee (Bombus sitkensis), Two-form bumble bee (Bombus bifarius), Two-form bumble bee (Bombus bifarius), Western bumble bee (Bombus occidentalis), Western bumble bee (Bombus occidentalis)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rocky, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
Common in alpine and subalpine regions

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: 5 month cold moist stratification period

Establishment: Seeds are hand collected in late September when achenes are easily separated from the disk. Seeds are grey at maturity. Seeds are collected in paper bags and kept in a well ventilated greenhouse during the drying process and prior to cleaning. P. cymbalarioides is found in wet often organic soil of alpine and subalpine meadows and along small high elevation streams; from British Columbia and Alberta south to California, Idaho, and Wyoming.

Source: npn.rngr.net