Antelope Bitterbrush

Purshia tridentata

Taxonomy

Division:: Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:: Rosaceae
Genus:: Purshia
Species:: Purshia tridentata

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:: Perennial
Growth Habit:: Shrub
Height:: 12-20 ft
Light Requirements:: Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:: High
Bloom Months:: apr, may, jun, jul
Bloom Colors:: White, Yellow
Evergreen Shrub:: Yes
Landscaping Shrub:: Yes

Native Range

United States: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, Canada: British Columbia

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Acerra normalis, Acronicta perdita, Andropolia diversilineata, Aseptis fumosa, Bruce's Swordgrass Moth (Xylena brucei), buck moth (Hemileuca sp.), Ceanothus Silkmoth (Hyalophora euryalus), Columbia silk moth (Hyalophora columbia), Darwin's emerald (Nemoria darwiniata), Egira curialis, Egira hiemalis, Elegant Sheep Moth (Hemileuca eglanterina), Filatima sperryi, impressed dagger moth (Acronicta impressa), Lacinipolia pensilis, Nuttall's buckmoth (Hemileuca nuttalli), Orgyia cana (Orgyia cana), Pseudoglaea olivata, short-lined angle (Anacamptodes clivinaria), sulphur moth (Hesperumia sulphuraria), Synaxis cervinaria, Tesagrotis corrodera, Tesagrotis piscipellis, three-lined leafroller (Pandemis limitata), walnut spanworm moth (Phigalia plumogeraria), Western tent caterpillar (Malacosoma californica), Behr's hairstreak (Satyrium behrii), California hairstreak (Satyrium californicum)

Reported Fauna Sightings

Bees: Central bumble bee (Bombus centralis), Central bumble bee (Bombus centralis), Fuzzy-horned bumble bee (Bombus mixtus), Fuzzy-horned bumble bee (Bombus mixtus), Hunt's bumble bee (Bombus huntii), Hunt's bumble bee (Bombus huntii), Morrison bumble bee (Bombus morrisoni), Morrison bumble bee (Bombus morrisoni), Nevada bumble bee (Bombus nevadensis), Nevada bumble bee (Bombus nevadensis), Red-belted bumble bee (Bombus rufocinctus), Red-belted bumble bee (Bombus rufocinctus), Two-form bumble bee (Bombus bifarius), Two-form bumble bee (Bombus bifarius), van Dyke bumble bee (Bombus vandykei), van Dyke bumble bee (Bombus vandykei), Yellow head bumble bee (Bombus flavifrons), Yellow head bumble bee (Bombus flavifrons) Butterflies:Arrowhead Blue (Glaucopsyche piasus), Arrowhead Blue (Glaucopsyche piasus), Behr's Hairstreak (Satyrium behrii), Behr's Hairstreak (Satyrium behrii), Boisduval's Blue (Icaricia icarioides), Boisduval's Blue (Icaricia icarioides), Brown Elfin (Callophrys augustinus), Brown Elfin (Callophrys augustinus), California Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis californica), California Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis californica), Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice), Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice), Common Ringlet (North America) (Coenonympha california), Common Ringlet (North America) (Coenonympha california), Common Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes vialis), Common Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes vialis), Common Wood-Nymph (Cercyonis pegala), Common Wood-Nymph (Cercyonis pegala), Dreamy Duskywing (Erynnis icelus), Dreamy Duskywing (Erynnis icelus), (Pieris napi), (Pieris napi), Juba Skipper (Hesperia juba), Juba Skipper (Hesperia juba), Julia Orangetip (Anthocharis julia), Julia Orangetip (Anthocharis julia), Lorquin's Admiral (Limenitis lorquini), Lorquin's Admiral (Limenitis lorquini), Lustrous Copper (Lycaena cupreus), Lustrous Copper (Lycaena cupreus), Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa), Pale Swallowtail (Pterourus eurymedon), Purplish Copper (Lycaena helloides), Purplish Copper (Lycaena helloides), Satyr Comma (Polygonia satyrus), Satyr Comma (Polygonia satyrus), Sheridan's Green Hairstreak (Callophrys sheridanii), Sheridan's Green Hairstreak (Callophrys sheridanii), Silvery Blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus), Silvery Blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus), Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon), Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon), Western Pine Elfin (Callophrys eryphon), Western Pine Elfin (Callophrys eryphon), Western Tailed-Blue (Cupido amyntula), Western Tailed-Blue (Cupido amyntula), Western Tiger Swallowtail (Pterourus rutulus)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:: sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
pH:: 6.0 - 8.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:: excellent drainage required
Moisture:: dry to moderate
Notes:: thrives in arid and semi-arid conditions

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: Seeds are placed in cold moist stratification for 80 to 90 days. Alternatively, seeds can be imbibed in water for 2 days and artificially stratified in a refrigerator for 30 days. Another method is to place the seed in mesh bags, soak in cold running water for 48 hours, then lay out on trays in cold stratification rooms for 30 to 45 days. Some seeds are treated with rootinghor.

Establishment: Seeds are collected during fall months and are kept separated according to site, elevation and source. Some seeds are treated with rootinghor. There are variations in pre-treatment and establishment protocols.

Source: npn.rngr.net