Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Montiaceae

Genus:

Cistanthe

Species:

Cistanthe maritima

USDA Symbol:

CIMA4

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Annual

Growth Habit:

Forb/herb

Height:

30 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

High

Bloom Months:

feb,mar,apr,may,jun

Bloom Colors:

magenta, pink, red

Garden & Ecology Notes

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Fire Ecology:

Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire

Fire Notes:

As a coastal bluff annual, it colonizes disturbed and post-fire sites readily from seed bank.

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:

native to coastal regions with sandy soils

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

None required

Germination Time:

7–21 days

Notes:

Seeds germinate readily with moisture; cool temperatures preferred. Annual life cycle with quick germination.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI