Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Thymelaeaceae

Genus:

Dirca

Species:

Dirca occidentalis

USDA Symbol:

DIOC3

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Shrub

Height:

400 cm

Light Requirements:

Part Shade,Shade

Drought Tolerance:

Low

Bloom Months:

jan,feb,mar

Bloom Colors:

yellow, cream

Landscaping Shrub:

Yes

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

birds, bees

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fragrant:

Yes

Fall Color:

yellow

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rich, well-drained loamy soil

pH:

5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

prefers shaded areas in riparian zones

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Warm then cold/moist stratification (double dormancy) — 150–240 days

Germination Time:

30–365 days

Notes:

Double dormancy with warm period followed by cold stratification. Germination can be erratic and may take over a year.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI