Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Betulaceae

Genus:

Ostrya

Species:

Ostrya knowltonii

USDA Symbol:

OSKN

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Shrub , Tree

Height:

900 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

High

Bloom Months:

mar,apr,may

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:

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

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

birds, small mammals

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fall Color:

yellow

Fire Ecology:

Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire

Fire Notes:

Can resprout from the root crown following fire. Found in fire-prone canyon and slope habitats.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rocky, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil

pH:

6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

dry to moderate

Notes:

adapted to arid, rocky environments

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Warm then cold/moist stratification (double dormancy) — 150–180 days

Germination Time:

30–90 days

Notes:

Double dormancy requiring warm stratification followed by cold stratification. Germination can be erratic and may take two seasons.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI