White Locoweed
Oxytropis sericea
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
Matt Lavin (www.flickr.com) from Bozeman, Montana, USA
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Genus:
- Oxytropis
- Species:
- Oxytropis sericea
- USDA Symbol:
- OXSE
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 40 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul,aug
- Bloom Colors:
- white, cream, yellow
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Reported Fauna Sightings
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from deep taproot following fire. Common in fire-maintained grasslands and sagebrush steppe.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rocky, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- prefers open, sunny locations
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–90 days
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Scarification of hard seed coat improves germination. Cold stratification beneficial but not always required.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Hot water scarification for 5 to 10 seconds, followed by imbibing in cold water for 24 hours, then a 60 to 90 day cold, moist stratification at 1 to 3 C. Inoculation of imbibed seeds with Rhizobium is recommended.
Establishment: Seeds are hand collected in late August when the legumes dry and begin to dehisce. Seeds are black at maturity. Pods are collected in paper bags and are kept in a well ventilated drying shed prior to cleaning. O. sericea is a Rocky Mountain species that occurs from northern B.C. to central Idaho, western Montana south to Texas and New Mexico and northeastern Nevada; from prairies to subalpine meadows and ridges. It is also found from Alberta, Montana, and South Dakota to Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Utah; in rocky prairies, gravelly streambanks and open wooded hillsides.
Source: npn.rngr.net
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 20°C. Seed germinates within 3 months Requires scarification. Nick or rub between sheets of sandpaper. Requires soaking. Place in warm water until seeds swell, usually 24-48 hours. Discard water and any seeds that remain floating. * tiny seed should be scarified with sandpaper or try soaking in boiling water to penetrate seed coat