Sticky Polemonium
Polemonium viscosum
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Polemoniaceae
- Genus:
- Polemonium
- Species:
- Polemonium viscosum
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 1-2 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- apr, may, jun, jul, aug
- Bloom Colors:
- Blue
- Ground Cover:
- Yes
Native Range
United States: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, Canada: Alberta, British Columbia
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rocky, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to alpine and subalpine meadows
Germination Information
Pre-treatment: 5 month outdoor cold, moist stratification
Establishment: This species produces a long and extensive taproot shortly after germination. Collect mature capsules in late August when they begin to split and turn tan in color. Seeds are black at maturity. Seeds are collected in paper bags and kept in a well ventilated drying shed prior to cleaning. P. viscosum is an alpine species that occurs from southwest Alberta to northern New Mexico, the Wallowa mountains of northeast Oregon, Okanogan Co., Washington, and the mountains of central Nevada. It is also found from British Columbia south to Montana at high elevations.
Source: npn.rngr.net