Thurber's Wirelettuce

Stephanomeria thurberi

Thurber's Wirelettuce

Patrick Alexander from Las Cruces, NM

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Asteraceae
Genus:
Stephanomeria
Species:
Stephanomeria thurberi

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, sep
Bloom Colors:
White, Pink, Purple

Native Range

United States: Arizona, New Mexico

Keystone Species Ranking

Bee Keystone:
★★★☆☆ Based on number of native bee species using this genus for pollen and nectar (Source: National Wildlife Federation)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
pH:
6.0 - 8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
native to arid regions, prefers open, sunny areas

Germination Information

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

Source: OpenAI GPT-4o