Buttecandle
Oreocarya celosioides
Matt Lavin from Bozeman, Montana, USA
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Boraginaceae
- Genus:
- Oreocarya
- Species:
- Oreocarya celosioides
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Biennial | Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 1-2 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- may
- Bloom Colors:
- White
- Ground Cover:
- Yes
Native Range
United States: Colorado, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, Wyoming, Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan
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 and semi-arid regions
Germination Information
Pre-treatment: 5 month outdoor cold, moist stratification.
Establishment: Seeds are collected in late August. Hand collect mature seed capsules when they begin to split and turn tan in color. Seed is black at maturity. Seeds are kept in a well ventilated drying shed prior to cleaning. Cryptantha celosioides is a biennial to short lived perennial that occurs in dry areas of southern B.C. to central Oregon and east to Montana and the Great Plains.
Source: npn.rngr.net