Guidelines for choosing a restoration plant palette and collecting native plant materials

Abstract

One of the first tasks in restoration planning is determining the appropriate native plant species and associated quantities. Species with the greatest prevalence at the restoration site, collectability, heat, sunlight and disturbance tolerance, germination and reproduction rate, large growth habit, soil retention qualities, nitrogen fixation, wildlife habitat value, and weed competitiveness were the main traits considered and desired. After this analysis is completed, a listing of on average twenty different species is generated, along with seeding or planting rates per acre for each species. Once this palette of species is developed, the locations from which the native plant material will be harvested and guidelines for those collections should be determined.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the chaparral restoration workshop, California

Citation

VinZant, Katie. 2019. Guidelines for choosing a restoration plant palette and collecting native plant materials. In: Narog, Marcia, tech. coord. Proceedings of the chaparral restoration workshop, California. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-265. Albany, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station: 85-91.