Purple Threeawn
Aristida purpurea
- Native to:
- Canada, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Mexico, United States
User:Stan Shebs
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Genus:
- Aristida
- Species:
- Aristida purpurea
- USDA Symbol:
- ARPU9
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual | Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 60 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- aug,sep,oct
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from crown after fire. Common component of fire-maintained grasslands and increases in frequency after prescribed burns.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- dry, sandy, well-drained soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- thrives in arid and semi-arid regions
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 10–21 days
- Notes:
- Germinates readily without pretreatment. Best germination at warm temperatures around 20-25°C.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are directly sown into SC-10 Super Cells (3 per cell) in July containing a medium of 1.5 parts vermiculite, 1 part sterile sand, 1 part coarse turface, and 2 parts peat moss. Cells are watered thoroughly after sowing and are not allowed to dry out completely during germination.
Establishment: Seeds are hand collected from sites within the Park when fruits have fully matured. The plant is found throughout the western United States and east to Minnesota and south to Louisiana. It is also found in Virginia and West Virginia.
Source: npn.rngr.net