Buckbean

Menyanthes trifoliata

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Menyanthaceae
Genus:
Menyanthes
Species:
Menyanthes trifoliata

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb
Height:
1-2 ft
Light Requirements:
Full Sun, Part Shade
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
apr, may, jun, jul, aug
Bloom Colors:
White

Native Range

United States: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming, Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Allen's Aphelia (Aphelia alleniana), Munroessa icciusalis, Nevada buckmoth (Hemileuca nevadensis-complex)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rich, organic, waterlogged soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
tolerates poor drainage
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
Commonly found in bogs and marshes

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: Seeds are cold stratified for an unspecified time period. They are overwintered in covered plastic containers filled with water, going through several freeze-thaw cycles until Spring.

Establishment: Seed is collected in early summer and stored in containers of water. It is important not to let the seed dry out. The plant is found in various environments including marshes, fens, bogs, and lakes.

Source: npn.rngr.net