Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Berberidaceae

Genus:

Caulophyllum

Species:

Caulophyllum giganteum

USDA Symbol:

CAGI6

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Forb/herb

Height:

90 cm

Light Requirements:

Part Shade

Drought Tolerance:

Low

Bloom Months:

apr,may

Bloom Colors:

yellow, green

Wildlife Benefits

Caterpillars:

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

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:

★☆☆☆☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

birds

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rich, well-drained loamy soil

pH:

5.5 - 6.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

good drainage required

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

prefers shaded, forested environments

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Warm then cold/moist stratification (double dormancy) — 150–240 days

Germination Time:

365–730 days

Notes:

Double dormancy requiring warm then cold stratification; seeds often take two years to germinate. Best sown fresh in fall outdoors.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI