Beneficial Management Practices for Saskatchewan Species at Risk: Western Spiderwort Threatened

1. Beneficial Management Practices for Saskatchewan Species at Risk:Western SpiderwortThreatened

2. Plants 5-60 cm tall • Grass-like, alternate leaves 10-30 cm long • Clusters of up to 25 blue, rose or white flowers • 3 round petals • Perennial flowering late June to early July Sarah Vinge

3. Inhabits partially stabilized and active sand dunes • Prefers south and southwest facing slopes where snow is more abundant and sun exposure is greatest • Located in the Elbow Community Pasture and Douglas Provincial Park in the Elbow Sand Hills

4. Status: Threatened Decline due to habitat loss to cropland (historical), dune stabilization, exclusion by invasive alien species, ATV use on dunes, sand and gravel extraction, road/right-of-way maintenance, and high intensity grazing Most current SK estimate: ~48,700 plants

5. Beneficial Management Practices Grazing Graze moderately during late season Graze every year but graze heavily in some to help destabilize dunes and reduce woody and other competing vegetation Use methods that do not disturb native herbaceous ground cover when clearing brush to improve range or access

6. Invasive Alien Plant Species Avoid using herbicides in the vicinity of a Western Spiderwort population Biological control of leafy spurge using insects may benefit Western Spiderwort Seed non-invasive forages if seeding adjacent to Western Spiderwort site or consider using native forages

7. Roads Place any roads, trails and other developments away from known plants Avoid use of existing roads and trails adjacent to spiderwort sites during growing season Eradicate or control spread of invasive plant infestations along roads and trails adjacent to spiderwort sites