Western Stoneseed
Lithospermum ruderale
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
Thayne Tuason
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Boraginaceae
- Genus:
- Lithospermum
- Species:
- Lithospermum ruderale
- USDA Symbol:
- LIRU4
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 60 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun,jul
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Carmenta verecunda
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Central bumble bee (Bombus centralis), Hunt's bumble bee (Bombus huntii), Indiscriminate cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus insularis), Nevada bumble bee (Bombus nevadensis), van Dyke bumble bee (Bombus vandykei), Yellow bumble bee (Bombus fervidus)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from deep taproot following fire; common in fire-prone sagebrush steppe and grasslands.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- prefers open, sunny habitats
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Cold stratification improves germination. Seeds may germinate erratically over several weeks.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are soaked in water for 24 hours, placed in clear plastic germination boxes with moistened blotter paper, and stored at 4°C in the dark. After 28 days, the persistent receptacle is removed from the seeds, which are then washed with tap water and treated with Thiram, an anti-fungal seed protectant.
Establishment: Receptacle removal may be key to inducing germination but can only be accomplished following imbibition. Some seedlings may show signs of yellowing or chlorosis after developing the third or fourth set of leaves, but no mortality resulted from this condition.
Source: npn.rngr.net