Re: Xerophyllum tenax

Bear Grass (Xerophyllum tenax) is an erratic germinator.  In older
literature I recall reading that fire or smoke might be required for
germination, but I did manage to germinate some with a chilling period
only.  Luck? <grin> Scarifying the seed gently may help. It may take
several cycles of heat and cold to germinate completely, so it is best to
keep the pots for a couple of years.  

I did not watch mine carefully enough to be sure, but maybe this is a
two-stage germinator --?  Deno reported that X. t. seed rotted almost
immediately, so the safest bet is to sow in pots outdoors and cover seed
with fine grit only. Use an old window screen to cover pots if beating rain
is a problem.  This way the emerging radicle will be tougher from the start
and less likely to be damaged by rot.  Because Bear Grass is a mountain
meadow or forest-edge plant, it grows best in good strong light and good
drainage.  If light is good, it will bloom with as little as a half-day of
sun in the wild.  I have never yet flowered this plant in my garden.

For the curious I have a picture (taken in the Oregon High Cascades) at:

http://www.peak.org/~parsont/emerald/Pussypaws.htm

(scroll down the page a bit)

It may take as long as ten years to flower.  Gather only a very small
percentage of seed in the wild.  The offshoot that produces the beautiful
raceme of creamy stars dies after flowering. However new shoots will come
from the mature clump.  A bit of local ethnobotany:  This tough and sharp
yet very supple "grass" --which is actually a Liliaceae --was used
extensively by native peoples for basket-making and weaving.  Mats,
baskets, toys, and other hand made treasures last for generations and are
remarkably well-preserved in homes and museums.  

Worth the patience and the wait!  

Happy gardening,  Louise
co-listowner, Penstemon-L
Corvallis, Oregon US 
p*@peak.org

Siggie Wisdom: Old fashioned but enduring wisdom hand-lettered from
generations ago on the office wall of a friend: does anyone perchance know
the original source? Drop me (not the list, please!) a line if you do. 

A Gentleman is a man who is both clean inside and outside;
Who neither looks up to the rich nor down to the poor;
Who can lose without squealing and who can win without bragging;
Who is too generous to cheat and too brave to lie;
Who takes his share of the world and lets other people have theirs.


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