Blackbrush

Coleogyne ramosissima

Native to:
United States

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Rosaceae
Genus:
Coleogyne
Species:
Coleogyne ramosissima
USDA Symbol:
CORA

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Shrub
Height:
180 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
apr,may,jun
Bloom Colors:
yellow
Landscaping Shrub:
Yes

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
Caterpillars:
★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Dasyfidonia avuncularia, ⚠️Griffin's Sheep Moth (Hemileuca griffini), Spaelotis unicava

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
birds, small mammals, bees
Deer Resistant:
Yes
Fire Ecology:
Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
Fire Notes:
Resprouts from root crown after fire; dominant in fire-prone blackbrush communities.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
poor, sandy, well-drained soil
pH:
7.0 - 8.5 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
adapted to arid desert conditions

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 30–90 days
Germination Time:
14–60 days
Notes:
Germination can be erratic; cold stratification improves rates.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI

Pre-treatment: Seeds are imbibed with water overnight and stratified at 7 C (44.6 F) for 4 to 8 weeks or until the radicle emerges from the seed coat. Germinants are sown into flats or directly into containers.

Source: npn.rngr.net