Greasewood
Sarcobatus vermiculatus
- Native to:
- Canada, Mexico, United States
Matt Lavin (www.flickr.com) from Bozeman, Montana, USA
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Sarcobataceae
- Genus:
- Sarcobatus
- Species:
- Sarcobatus vermiculatus
- USDA Symbol:
- SAVE4
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub
- Height:
- 300 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★★☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Abagrotis discoidalis, Abagrotis placida, Eucosma ridingsana, Saturnia anona, Saturnia galbina, Scrobipalpa atriplicella, Syssphinx heiligbrodti, tricolor buckmoth (Hemileuca tricolor), California tortoiseshell (Nymphalis californica)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from root crown following fire; adapted to periodic burns in Great Basin shrubland ecosystems.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- saline, alkaline, well-drained sandy soil
- pH:
- 7.5 - 9.0 (alkaline to strongly alkaline)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- commonly found in arid desert regions
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate best in cool conditions; saline or alkaline soil tolerance aids establishment in native habitats.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Not given
Establishment: The provided protocol lacks specific information on propagation source, pre-treatment, establishment protocol, temperature, germination rate, and germination time range for Andromeda polifolia.
Source: npn.rngr.net