Spelt
Triticum aestivum subsp. spelta
- Native to:
- Transcaucasus
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Genus:
- Triticum
- Species:
- Triticum aestivum subsp. spelta
- USDA Symbol:
- TRSP3
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 150 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★★★★☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Achatodes zeae, Agrotis orthogonia, Agrotis vancouverensis, Apamea finitima, Army cutworm (Euxoa auxiliaris), Armyworm moth (Pseudaletia unipuncta), Bertha armyworm (Mamestra configurata), Bronzed Cutworm (Nephelodes minians), clandestine dart (Spaelotis clandestina), Clemens' clepsis moth (Clepsis clemensiana), Common Pinkband (Ogdoconta cinereola), corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea), Cosmiotes illectella, Dargida procinctus, Deterred Dart (Euxoa detersa), dingy cutworm (Feltia jaculifera), Euxoa catenula, Euxoa niveilinea, Euxoa ochrogaster, Euxoa pallipennis, Euxoa quadridentata, Euxoa tristicula, Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), false wainscot (Leucania pseudargyria), Faronta albilinea, Faronta diffusa, glassy cutworm (Apamea devastator), Gothic dart (Feltia subgothica), Grammia blakei, Honeydew moth (Cryptoblabes gnidiella), lesser cornstalk borer (Elasmopalpus lignosellus), Mediterranean flour moth (Ephestia kuehniella), Protorthodes incincta, Rusty Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens), Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum), Smeared Dagger Moth (Acronicta oblinita), stalk borer moth (Papaipema nebris), underworld dart (Agrotis subterranea), Variegated cutworm (Peridroma saucia), Yellow-headed Cutworm (Apamea amputatrix), Yellow-striped armyworm (Spodoptera ornithogalli)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- fertile, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- good drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- thrives in temperate climates with adequate rainfall
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–14 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily at soil temperatures of 12-25°C. Vernalization may be required for some winter spelt varieties to induce flowering.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI