Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Melanthiaceae

Genus:

Veratrum

Species:

Veratrum californicum var. californicum

USDA Symbol:

VETE4

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Forb/herb

Height:

200 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

Low

Bloom Months:

jun,jul,aug

Bloom Colors:

white, green

Garden & Ecology Notes

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fall Color:

yellow

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rich, well-drained loamy soil

pH:

5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

tolerates poor drainage

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

prefers wet meadows and streambanks

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days

Germination Time:

30–180 days

Notes:

Germination can be slow and erratic; fresh seed germinates best. Cold stratification improves germination rates.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI