Propagation of 14 native prairie forbs by sexual and asexual methods

Abstract

Canadian prairies are home to a diverse range of native flowering plants and grasses that support a wide variety of birds, insects, soil microbes, and other wildlife. Although most prairie plants propagate easily from seeds, challenges such as low seed production and complex seed dormancy mechanisms could result in poor seed germination and plant establishment in the field. These issues could be overcome by propagating plants by asexual methods. The present study compares the sexual and asexual methods of propagation of prairie native plant species. Fourteen native plant species commonly found in southwestern Manitoba, Canada—curlycup gumweed, western pearly everlasting, yarrow, white sagebrush, Maximilian sunflower, Missouri goldenrod, bluebell bellflower, wild cucumber, white prairie clover, Canadian milkvetch, blue giant hyssop, wild bergamot, blue vervain, and northern bedstraw—were propagated from seeds, stem cuttings, and root suckers. Although all methods lead to the successful propagation of tested native plant species, multiplication with stem cuttings had clear advantages over the other 2 propagation methods. Propagation with stem cuttings was effective, faster, less time consuming, and led to uniform and early flowering plants in the field while also overcoming issues of low seed availability, dormancy, and seasonality associated with seed propagation of prairie native plant species. Root suckers also rooted well in the greenhouse, but rooting took a significantly longer time than did stem cuttings. Additionally, the root suckers were available for collection only in a short time frame during early spring in Manitoba.