Propagation Protocol for Poison Oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum)

Abstract

Native plant propagators are often called upon to grow some unusual plants for unusual projects. This collection of 4 propagation protocols highlights irritating plants-irritating in what they can do to our skin and sometimes irritating in their difficulty to be propagated. However, these plants have important ecological niches and a couple of them have importance to the herbal market. Read on.. . you may find some aspect of these nasty plants that really intrigues you. I for one am interested in the purported hair-raising abilities of stinging nettle!-The (balding) Editor You're Growing that Nasty Plant?

You're Growing that Nasty Plant?

“…Cleaned seeds were stored dry in paper envelopes at 4 ˚C (40 ˚F) and 35% relative humidity. Because we collected so few seeds, we did not experiment with pre-germination treatments, but seeds may benefit from a scarification treatment, as is the case with poison oak (Evans 2001) and related Rhus spp. …”