Bluejoint
Calamagrostis canadensis
- Native to:
- Canada, Greenland, Labrador, Prince Edward I., United States
Robert H. Mohlenbrock @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA SCS. 1989. Midwest wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide to plant species. Midwest National Technical Center, Lincoln, NE.
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Genus:
- Calamagrostis
- Species:
- Calamagrostis canadensis
- USDA Symbol:
- CACA4
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 150 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade,Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Chortodes defecta, false wainscot (Leucania pseudargyria), Faronta albilinea, Faronta diffusa, Virginia Ctenucha (Ctenucha virginica)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, waterfowl, small mammals
- Fall Color:
- tan, golden
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Vigorously resprouts from rhizomes after fire. Common in fire-maintained wetland meadows and sedge meadows. Fire removes thatch and stimulates new growth.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, moisture-retentive organic soil
- pH:
- 5.0 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Common in wetlands and marshy areas
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Light enhances germination. Seeds germinate best at cool temperatures 15-20°C. Variable germination rates common in wild collections.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: None required
Establishment: Germination rates and times varied across protocols. Seeds germinated readily in both warm and cool environments. The plant prefers moist environments and is found to grow in most of the United States and northern countries around the world.
Source: npn.rngr.net