Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Polemoniaceae

Genus:

Polemonium

Species:

Polemonium occidentale

USDA Symbol:

POOC2

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Forb/herb

Height:

100 cm

Light Requirements:

Part Shade

Drought Tolerance:

Low

Bloom Months:

jun,jul,aug

Bloom Colors:

blue, violet, white

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)

Butterflies & Moths:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:

★☆☆☆☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

bees, butterflies, hummingbirds

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

moist, rich, well-drained loamy soil

pH:

5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

tolerates poor drainage

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

Often found in wet meadows and along streams

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days

Germination Time:

14–42 days

Notes:

Seeds require light for germination; surface sow and do not cover deeply.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI