Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Orobanchaceae

Genus:

Pedicularis

Species:

Pedicularis rainierensis

USDA Symbol:

PERA6

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Parasite

Height:

41 cm

Light Requirements:

Part Shade

Drought Tolerance:

Low

Bloom Months:

jun, jul, aug

Bloom Colors:

yellow

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)

Butterflies & Moths:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Minimum Light:

Part Sun

Best Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Habitat:

Alpine, Meadow

Wildlife Value:

bees

Ecology:

Endemic to Mount Rainier and the surrounding Cascade Range in Washington, where it grows in moist subalpine and alpine meadows. As a hemiparasite, it attaches to the root systems of neighboring plants via haustoria to supplement water and nutrient uptake.

Soil Requirements

Soil:

loam — also tolerates rocky

pH:

acidic to neutral

Drainage:

moist

Moisture:

moist to wet

Notes:

Grows in moist to wet gravelly, sandy, or peaty soils, often fed by snowmelt or seepage over volcanic substrates.

Propagation & Germination

Notes:

Requires cold-moist stratification to break seed dormancy and depends on proximity to suitable host roots for successful long-term establishment.