NRCS−Montana−Technical Note−Plant Materials−MT-98 1 

United States Department of Agriculture

NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE

Plant Materials Technical Note No. MT-98

August 2014

PLANT MATERIALS TECHNICAL NOTE

A Summary of the Results of the Mill Creek Woody Comparative Evaluation Planting

Joe LeFebvre, Project Leader,

Integration of Selected Native Plant Materials for Enhanced Restoration Activities in the UCFRB

Jim Jacobs, Plant Materials Specialist, USDA-NRCS, Bozeman, Montana

1999 2001

2007 2013

Introduction

This report summarizes the performance of seven woody species consisting of 19 different 

accessions planted in a study plot called the Mill Creek Woody Comparative Evaluation Planting 

(CEP). The Mill Creek area was severely impacted by past smelter emissions fallout containing 

heavy metal and sulfur compounds.

The Mill Creek Woody CEP was established to test the performance of local (indigenous) sources 

versus non-local sources of woody germplasm when grown in low pH and heavy metal 

contaminated soil. The results would be the basis for future plant selections, as well as determining

if off-site seed sources were appropriate for use on metal-affected sites in the Anaconda area. 
NRCS−Montana−Technical Note−Plant Materials−MT-98 2 

The local stock used in the study originated from seed collected at the Anaconda Smelter 

Superfund Site in Deer Lodge County, Montana. The non-local stock originated from seed 

collected in various counties in Montana, Colorado, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming, depending 

on species and nursery stock availability. Based on the concept that plants able to survive in acidic 

soil contaminated with heavy metals possess heritable genetic traits for tolerance to those 

conditions (Sainger et al., 2011), we believed the local stock would have better survival than nonlocal stock.

Materials and Methods

The CEP was established in the fall of 2000 at the Anaconda, Montana Superfund Site. The 0.4-

acre study site is located two miles southeast of the town of Anaconda, approximately 200 yards 

east of Mill Creek at an elevation of 5,140 feet. The 30-year average annual precipitation at the site 

is 13.9 inches and the average frost-free period is 90 to 105 days. The parent material is alluvium;

the soil is classified as Beaverell cobbly loam, 1 to 4 percent slopes, severely impacted. 

The test plot was prepared using a 6-foot wide chisel plow. Three perpendicular passes were 

made across the plot to a depth of 6 inches. After plowing, exposed rocks were handpicked and 

placed outside the test plot. Subsequently, the plot was tilled with a 5-foot wide tiller, packed, and 

harrowed. The test plot was not amended with lime or fertilizer. 

Laboratory analysis of four composite soil samples taken after tilling from 0 to 6 inches indicated 

an average pH of 4.53. Average heavy metal concentrations in the four soil samples were arsenic - 

423 ppm; cadmium - 6 ppm; copper - 510 ppm; lead - 233 ppm; and zinc - 308 ppm. Average 

arsenic and zinc concentrations exceeded EPA phytotoxicity standards (see Table 1). 

Table 1. Acid extractable heavy metal levels (EPA Method 3050) and pH of 0 to 6-inch composite samples. 

Sample pH 

S.U.

As 

ppm

Cd 

ppm

Cu 

ppm

Pb 

ppm

Zn 

ppm

A.T. 0-6” NE 4.00 610.0 7 620 320.0 370

A.T. 0-6” NW 4.90 360.0 5 340 120.0 222

A.T. 0-6” SE 4.60 530.0 5 340 150.0 200

A.T. 0-6” SW 4.60 190.0 7 740 340.0 440

Average 4.53 422.5 6 510 232.5 308

Phytotoxic Criteria† < 5.0 136-315 5.1-20 236-750 94-250 196-240

† EPA phytotoxicity standards (CDM Federal 1997)

Nineteen accessions of seven woody species, including common snowberry (Symphoricarpos 

albus); western snowberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis); silver buffaloberry (Shepherdia 

argentea); wax currant (Ribes cereum); lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta); ponderosa pine (Pinus 

ponderosa); and Woods’ rose (Rosa woodsii), were transplanted as seedlings that were grown in 

10-in3 Cone-tainersTM containing Sunshine Mix #1 growing (see Table 2). Vispore (3-ft x 3-ft) 

tree mats were installed the spring following planting on all entries to suppress weeds and retard 

soil moisture evaporation.
NRCS−Montana−Technical Note−Plant Materials−MT-98 3 

Materials and Methods (continued)

Table 2. Seed Origin and Elevation of Entries in the Woody Comparative Evaluation Planting. 

Family/Species Common Name Source I.D. Seed Origin Elevation

Pinaceae:

Pinus contorta (PICO) Dougl. ex Loud. Lodgepole pine 9078320 Deer Lodge Co., MT 6400 ft

P. contorta (PICO) Dougl. ex Loud. Lodgepole pine m039ID0002 Custer Co., ID 6300 ft

P. contorta (PICO) Dougl. ex Loud. Lodgepole pine m038WY0002 Albany Co., WY 9500 ft

P. ponderosa (PIPO) P. & C. Lawson Ponderosa pine 9081318 Deer Lodge Co., MT 5850 ft

P. ponderosa (PIPO) P. & C. Lawson Ponderosa pine m04CO0002 San Juan Co., CO 8000 ft

P. ponderosa (PIPO) P. & C. Lawson Ponderosa pine m020SD9903 Lawrence Co., SD 5500 ft

Grossulariaceae:

Ribes cereum (RICE) Dougl. Wax currant 9081329 Deer Lodge Co., MT 5700 ft

R. cereum (RICE) Dougl. Wax currant m024CO0003 Chaffee Co., CO 8000 ft

Rosaceae:

Rosa woodsii (ROWO) Woods’ rose 9081638 Deer Lodge Co., MT 5168 ft

R. woodsii (ROWO) Woods’ rose m076CO0003 Pueblo Co., CO 6000 ft

R. woodsii (ROWO) Woods’ rose m07MT0003 Ravalli Co., MT 3400 ft

Elaeagnaceae:

Shepherdia argentea (SHAR) (Pursh) Nutt. Silver buffaloberry 9081334 Deer Lodge Co., MT 6000 ft

S. argentea (SHAR) (Pursh) Nutt. Silver buffaloberry m022WY0005 Sweetwater Co., WY 6000 ft

S. argentea (SHAR) (Pursh) Nutt. Silver buffaloberry m015UT9901 UT Seed Source unknown

Caprifoliaceae:

Symphoricarpos albus (SYAL) (L.) Blake Common snowberry 9078388 Deer Lodge Co., MT 6000 ft

S. albus (SYAL) (L.) Blake Common snowberry m045MT003 Ravalli Co., MT 3500 ft

S. occidentalis (SYOC) Hook. Western snowberry 9081639 Deer Lodge Co., MT 5559 ft

S. occidentalis (SYOC) Hook Western snowberry m021WY0004 Weston Co., WY 5000 ft

S. occidentalis (SYOC) Hook Western snowberry m018CO09904 CO Seed Source unknown

The study was arranged in a randomized complete block design replicated 20 times (see Figure 

1). Plant entries were spaced 4.5 ft. apart within rows and 9 ft. apart between rows. Plant height

and vigor ratings were assessed each year from 2001 to 2010 and in 2013. Height was measured 

in centimeters to the top of live foliage. Vigor was rated on a scale of 1 to 9 (1 = best, 9 = nearly 

dead) based on a visual assessment of plant health and robustness. A plant was considered dead 

when the cambium tissue was no longer green and plant parts were brittle. Percentage survival 

was calculated by dividing the number of live replications by the total of 20 replications. To test if 

survival differed among species, and if survival differed among accessions within a species, 

multiple-sample survival tests and a Kaplan-Meier product limit estimate of the survival function 

was performed (Statistix 8, 2003, see Addendum 1 for details).
NRCS−Montana−Technical Note−Plant Materials−MT-98 4 

Figure 1. Layout of Woody Comparative Evaluation Planting Near Anaconda. 

Results

Survival

The multiple-sample survival tests found species differed in survival over the 14 years of the study 

(p-values for Gehan-Wilcoxon, Logrank, and Peto-Wilcoxan tests < 0.0001). The survivorship of 

ponderosa pine was greater than lodgepole pine, Woods’ rose, silver buffaloberry, and common 

snowberry at each time interval and greater than wax currant over the first six years. Western 

snowberry had greater survivorship than lodgepole pine at each time interval, greater than Woods’ 

rose over the first 10 years, greater than silver buffaloberry over the first five years, and greater 

than common snowberry over the first three years. Wax currant had greater survivorship than 

lodgepole pine at each time interval, and greater than Woods’ rose over the first three years (see 

Figures 2 & 3 in Addendum 1). Lodgepole pine and Woods’ rose each had greater than 50% 

mortality during the first three years of the study, and silver buffaloberry had greater than 50% 

mortality after 4 years. The results support a recommendation of planting ponderosa pine, western 

snowberry, wax currant, and common snowberry on this site. Averaged over all accessions, their 

survivorship, after 14 years, was 49%, 37%, 48% and 52%, respectively. Averaged over all 

accessions the survivorships of silver buffaloberry, Woods’ rose, and lodgepole pine were 25%, 

18% and 1%, respectively, after 14 years.

With the exception of wax currant (p-values >0.1), survivorship differed among accessions within 

each species (p-values for Gehan-Wilcoxon, Logrank, and Peto-Wilcoxan tests < 0.04). Two 

accessions of wax currant were tested, the local accession and one from Colorado. Values for the 

survivorship function S (t) (see Figure 6 in Addendum 1) for the local accession ranged from 0.75 

after three years to 0.60 at year 14, and 0.70 to 0.35 for the Colorado accession. The confidence 

intervals overlap at each timing indicating no significant difference between the two accessions. At 

year 14, of the 20 seedlings planted for each accession, 13 of the local accession remained alive 

compared to 8 of the Colorado accession. The height growth rate (see Table 5) and vigor rating 

(see Table 6) of the local accession was greater than the Colorado accession. The survival results

support a recommendation of either accession for reclamation on this site, however the local 

accession’s growth rate suggests it may be better adapted to the edaphic conditions. 
NRCS−Montana−Technical Note−Plant Materials−MT-98 5 

The differences in survival among the three accessions of lodgepole pine (p-values <0.02, see 

Figure 4 in Addendum 1) were evident during the first four years of the study. Over that time, the 

local accession had fewer deaths (6 of 20 seedlings) than the accessions from Idaho and Wyoming 

(15 and 16 of 20 seedlings, respectively). Growth rates were low (see Table 5) and vigor ratings

(see Table 6) less than average for all accessions suggesting poor adaptation to the site. These 

results support not recommending using lodgepole pine for reclamation of this site.

Accessions of ponderosa pine differed in survivorship (P-values <0.0001, see Figure 5 in 

Addendum 1). Both the local accession and the accession from South Dakota had greater survival 

than the accession from Colorado after 14 years. The South Dakota accession also had greater 

survivorship than the Colorado accession at all time intervals after three years. Growth rates of the 

local and South Dakota accessions were greater than the Colorado accession (see Table 5), but 

after five years the vigor ratings of all three accessions were below average (see Table 6). These 

results support recommending ponderosa pine over lodgepole pine for reclamation of a conifer 

species on this site.

The survivorship of the local accession of Woods’ rose was greater than the accessions from 

Ravalli County Montana and from Colorado at each time interval (p-values <0.001, see Figure 7 in 

Addendum 1). By year three, 16 Colorado accession plants and 17 Ravalli accession plants had 

died whereas only 5 of the local accession were dead. By the 14th year, 10 local accession plants 

survived compared to one from Colorado and two from Ravalli. The height growth of the surviving 

local and Ravalli accessions were similar, but the growth rate of the Colorado accession was slow

(see Table 5). All three accessions had good vigor ratings during the first year, but the vigor of the 

Colorado accession deteriorated in year two, was below average for the Ravalli accession after 

three years, and below average for the local accession after year five (see Table 6). The survival 

analysis of the three accessions combined showed low survivorship. However, the analysis of the 

local accession combined with the height results support recommending it for reclamation of this 

site.

The survivorship of the local accession of silver buffaloberry was greater than the survivorship of 

the Utah accession at all time intervals, and was greater than the Wyoming accession at time 

intervals after year six (p-values <0.0003, see Figure 8 in Addendum 1). At year 14, 14 local 

accession plants remained alive compared to 2 each for the Utah and Wyoming accessions. In 

addition, the local accession grew taller than the other two (see Table 4) and generally had 

average or better vigor ratings compared to the below average rating of the Utah and Wyoming 

accessions (see Table 6). The survival analysis of the three accessions combined showed low 

survivorship. However, the analysis of the local accession combined with the height results support 

recommending it for reclamation of this site.

The local accession of common snowberry had greater survivorship than the accession from 

Ravalli Montana at each time interval (p-values <0.0003, see Figure 9 in Addendum 1). There were 

16 living local accession plants at year 14 compared to 5 plants of the Ravalli accession. The 

Ravalli accession had high mortality over the first three years. However, the growth rates of the 

surviving Ravalli plants were greater (see Table 5), and the vigor ratings generally better (see 

Table 6), than the local accession suggesting plants that survived were equally or better adapted to 

the edaphic conditions of the site than the local accession.

The Wyoming and Colorado accessions of western snowberry had greater survivorship than the 

local accession at time intervals after six years (p-values < 0.04, see Figure 10 in Addendum 1). 

Twelve plants of both the Wyoming and Colorado accessions were alive at year 14 compared to 

two of local source plants. Heights (see Table 4) and vigor ratings (see Table 6) were generally 

greater for the Wyoming and Colorado plants compared to the local plants. The results support 

recommending the Wyoming source for reclamation on this site. 
NRCS−Montana−Technical Note−Plant Materials−MT-98 6 

Table 3. Percentage Survival: DATR Woody Comparative Evaluation Planting, 2001 through 2013.

Percentage Survival %

Year of Recording 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2013

Accession

PICO 9078320 100 85 40 25 25 25 20 15 15 15 15

PICO m039ID0002 95 30 15 10 10 10 0 0 0 0 0

PICO m038WY0002 70 20 15 12 10 10 10 10 10 10 10

PIPO 9081318 100 100 100 95 95 95 80 80 75 73 70

PIPO m04CO0002 90 85 85 85 75 50 30 25 20 20 10

PIPO m020SD9903 100 100 100 95 95 95 90 75 70 70 70

RICE 9081329 80 75 65 63 60 60 60 60 60 60 60

RICE m024CO0003 65 65 50 50 40 40 40 40 40 35 35

ROWO 9081638 80 75 65 65 55 50 50 50 50 50 45

ROWO m076CO0003 30 15 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

ROWO m07MT0003 20 20 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10

SHAR 9081334 95 80 80 80 75 75 70 65 63 60 60

SHAR m022WY0005 95 60 35 35 35 20 15 15 10 8 5

SHAR m015UT9901 95 25 20 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10

SYAL 9078388 95 95 95 95 90 90 90 90 85 83 80

SYAL m045MT003 95 30 30 30 30 30 25 25 25 25 25

SYOC 9081639 90 85 80 65 30 20 20 20 20 20 15

SYOC m021WY0004 100 90 75 70 65 55 55 55 55 55 55

SYOC m018CO9904 95 90 85 75 70 65 65 55 50 46 40

Composite Average 

of all Accessions 84 64 55 51 46 43 39 37 35 34 32

The bolded accessions are the local accessions.

Table 4. Average Height: DATR Woody Comparative Evaluation Planting, 2001 through 2013. 

Average Height, inches

Year of Recording 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2013

Accession

PICO 9078320 3.6 4.0 4.0 4.7 5.5 6.9 8.3 9.9 10.4 14.8 14.2

PICO m039ID0002 5.4 5.1 6.4 6.3 6.5 6.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

PICO m038WY0002 5.4 5.7 6.2 7.1 8.1 7.9 7.5 8.5 9.1 9.7 9.1

PIPO 9081318 8.4 9.7 10.8 10.2 12.3 12.7 12.1 12.5 13.6 18.8 21.3

PIPO m04CO0002 4.9 5.6 5.8 5.4 5.6 4.7 6.7 5.4 4.3 6.9 4.7

PIPO m020SD9903 9.1 10.6 12.7 12.4 15.1 16.4 18.5 24.0 26.0 31.6 38.6

RICE 9081329 8.3 10.1 18.6 20.5 31.0 37.0 35.2 45.0 43.9 46.4 50.7

RICE m024CO0003 5.5 4.9 9.5 10.1 18.5 22.4 22.5 30.8 28.2 32.1 39.3

ROWO 9081638 8.9 10.3 14.1 15.5 22.6 22.7 23.1 25.6 25.5 27.6 25.1

ROWO m076CO0003 5.2 3.6 2.0 1.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

ROWO m07MT0003 5.3 4.7 11.2 8.5 19.9 18.1 21.0 19.9 19.3 24.8 27.0

SHAR 9081334 9.9 11.8 14.9 16.4 29.1 31.5 33.2 38.7 33.6 41.5 37.8

SHAR m022WY0005 5.3 2.2 3.1 5.0 7.9 13.1 17.3 18.1 15.8 21.3 25.2

SHAR m015UT9901 5.9 3.6 5.2 5.9 12.4 9.5 15.0 22.7 26.4 38.8 31.1

SYAL 9078388 6.1 7.4 9.9 11.2 12.0 11.4 10.7 12.0 11.3 12.0 11.2

SYAL m045MT003 4.5 7.2 12.0 13.3 16.0 18.0 19.6 21.5 22.5 24.8 21.3

SYOC 9081639 7.6 7.1 6.3 7.3 10.4 10.7 11.8 12.5 11.0 15.6 10.8

SYOC m021WY0004 5.0 9.8 16.0 14.8 21.9 23.5 23.5 26.8 30.2 29.1 23.9

SYOC m018CO9904 4.9 6.5 9.0 9.3 14.2 14.3 16.3 15.6 17.6 19.9 16.6

The bolded accessions are the local accessions.
NRCS−Montana−Technical Note−Plant Materials−MT-98 7 

Table 5. Average Annual Height Growth, DATR Woody Comparative Evaluation Planting, 2001 

through 2013. 

Average Annual Height Growth

inches

13-Year 

Average 

Growth, 

inches Year of Recording 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2013

Accession

PICO 9078320 0.3 0.4 -0.3 0.7 0.9 1.3 1.4 1.6 0.5 6.7 -0.7 1.0

PICO m039ID0002 0.2 0.0 0.1 -0.1 0.2 -0.2 dead dead dead dead dead dead

PICO m038WY0002 0.2 0.4 0.4 0.9 1.0 -0.2 -0.4 1.0 0.6 0.6 -0.6 0.3

PIPO 9081318 1.9 1.2 1.1 -0.6 2.2 0.4 -0.7 0.4 1.1 5.2 2.5 1.2

PIPO m04CO0002 1.2 0.4 0.8 -0.4 0.2 -0.9 2.0 -1.3 -1.0 2.7 -2.3 0.1

PIPO m020SD9903 1.0 1.6 2.5 -0.3 2.7 1.3 2.1 5.5 1.6 5.9 7.0 2.4

RICE 9081329 -0.4 1.6 6.6 1.9 10.5 6.0 -1.8 9.8 -1.1 2.5 4.3 3.1

RICE m024CO0003 -0.2 -0.4 4.3 0.6 8.4 3.9 0.1 8.3 -2.6 3.8 7.2 2.6

ROWO 9081638 0.7 2.4 4.9 1.4 7.0 0.1 0.5 2.5 -0.2 2.1 -2.5 1.5

ROWO m076CO0003 0.0 -0.8 0.0 -0.4 -1.6 dead dead dead dead dead dead dead

ROWO m07MT0003 0.2 0.1 4.9 -2.7 11.4 -1.8 2.9 -1.1 -0.6 5.5 2.2 1.7

SHAR 9081334 0.6 2.4 5.2 1.5 12.7 2.4 1.7 5.6 -5.1 7.8 -3.6 2.4

SHAR m022WY0005 -0.3 -2.0 1.0 1.9 2.9 5.2 4.2 0.8 -2.4 5.5 3.9 1.6

SHAR m015UT9901 -0.1 -1.2 3.7 0.7 6.5 -3.0 5.6 7.6 3.7 12.4 -7.7 2.2

SYAL 9078388 -0.25 1.6 2.5 1.4 0.8 -0.6 -0.8 -0.7 -0.7 0.6 -0.8 0.2

SYAL m045MT003 -0.30 3.9 5.9 1.3 2.7 2.0 1.6 1.0 1.0 2.3 -3.6 1.4

SYOC 9081639 0.2 0.4 0.4 1.0 3.1 0.3 1.0 0.7 -1.5 3.4 -4.9 0.3

SYOC m021WY0004 1.0 3.9 6.3 -1.2 7.2 1.5 0.1 3.2 3.5 -1.1 -5.2 1.5

SYOC m018CO9904 0.4 3.9 3.7 0.4 4.8 0.2 2.0 -0.7 2.0 2.3 -3.3 1.2

The bolded accessions are the local accessions.

Table 6. Average Vigor Rating: DATR Woody Comparative Evaluation Planting, 2001 through 2013.

Average Vigor Rating (1-9)*

Year of Recording 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2013

Accession

PICO 9078320 3.0 5.8 5.1 6.5 7.6 7.4 7.3 5.5 5.7 5.3 8.6

PICO m039ID0002 3.5 5.0 5.0 7.0 8.0 8.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0

PICO m038WY0002 3.6 4.0 4.5 5.5 6.0 6.5 7.5 7.0 7.0 6.0 8.7

PIPO 9081318 2.5 2.1 3.4 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.9 5.6 5.5 5.7 6.7

PIPO m04CO0002 3.1 4.2 4.8 7.3 8.0 7.9 8.7 7.4 7.0 7.8 8.9

PIPO m020SD9903 2.6 3.2 2.7 4.8 5.3 5.4 4.7 4.5 4.1 4.7 6.0

RICE 9081329 2.5 4.8 2.8 3.9 3.3 3.4 3.6 3.3 4.1 3.8 4.8

RICE m024CO0003 3.5 5.4 5.0 5.9 5.4 5.1 5.8 4.5 5.0 4.7 7.2

ROWO 9081638 2.3 4.2 4.5 4.5 4.4 5.0 5.0 5.1 5.0 5.1 7.6

ROWO m076CO0003 3.0 7.0 7.0 8.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0

ROWO m07MT0003 3.3 5.0 4.0 6.0 4.0 7.0 7.0 5.5 6.5 4.7 8.5

SHAR 9081334 2.0 2.5 2.5 3.9 4.0 3.7 3.6 4.4 4.9 4.3 5.8

SHAR m022WY0005 3.1 6.6 5.2 6.7 7.3 6.3 6.3 5.3 6.5 7.0 8.8

SHAR m015UT9901 3.2 5.8 5.0 5.5 6.0 5.5 5.0 4.5 4.0 4.5 8.6

SYAL 9078388 2.0 3.6 4.0 4.5 5.7 6.2 6.3 6.3 7.1 5.8 6.8

SYAL m045MT003 2.9 3.6 3.0 4.2 4.8 4.8 3.6 3.8 4.8 4.3 8.3

SYOC 9081639 2.1 4.6 5.2 6.9 6.5 6.0 4.8 5.0 6.2 5.0 8.8

SYOC m021WY0004 2.3 3.8 2.8 4.6 4.4 4.1 4.0 4.2 3.9 4.0 6.9

SYOC m018CO9904 2.7 4.0 4.5 4.8 5.4 5.4 4.9 5.4 5.6 5.3 7.6

The bolded accessions are the local accessions.

*Vigor rating: 1 = best vigor: 4 = average vigor; 9 = dead
NRCS−Montana−Technical Note−Plant Materials−MT-98 8 

Discussion and Conclusions

Stand establishment in the acid/heavy metal soil conditions at the Anaconda site was the 

characteristic of greatest value when evaluating the study. Therefore the survival statistic is of 

great interest when recommending a particular accession for critical area restoration.

The severe edaphic conditions of the test site have taken their toll over time, as survival has 

decreased each subsequent year after planting. Several dead test plants were removed and it was 

observed that their roots had not grown outside of the container media and into the adjacent soil. It 

seems probable that plants with roots able to tolerate and grow in the low pH and metalliferous 

surroundings beyond their plug area flourished, while those with roots sensitive to the soil 

contaminants declined.

The 30-year average annual precipitation at Anaconda, MT, is 13.9 inches (see Table 7). The site 

was abnormally dry the year of establishment (2000 - 9.6 inches), but subsequent years were near 

or above normal, as reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

climatological station in Anaconda. Precipitation at the site of the CEP, therefore, was not 

considered a major limiting factor in plant survival as all the species tested are adapted to this 

precipitation pattern. 

Table 7. Annual Precipitation in Anaconda, Montana.

Year Inches of 

Precipitation

30-year avg. 13.9

2000 9.6

2001 14.0

2002 16.2

2003 15.4

2004 13.4

2005 15.8

2006 19.0

2007 16.5

2008 16.9

2009 18.8

2010 18.7

2011 17.6

2012 10.2

2013 18.5

A Kaplan-Meier product limit estimate of the survival success between accessions in each species

(see Addendum 1) showed a significant difference between the best performing accession and the 

other accessions of the species. Data collected in the 2013 field evaluation shows accessions

originating from seed collected at the Anaconda Smelter Superfund Site had superior survival 

compared to accessions from other sites in five of the seven species tested. Symphoricarpos 

occidentalis (WY - m021WY0004 - 55%) originating in Weston County, Wyoming, outperformed

stock originating from the Anaconda Smelter Superfund Site (S. occidentalis - MT - 9081639 - 

15%), and Pinus ponderosa (SD - m020SD9903 - 70%) originating in South Dakota had the same

overall survival as the local ponderosa pine (MT - 9081318 - 70%). The superior accessions for 

survival included Symphoricarpos albus (Deer Lodge, MT - 9078388 - 80%), followed by Pinus 

ponderosa (MT - 9081318 - 70%) and Pinus ponderosa (SD - m020SD9903 - 70%), and Ribes 

cereum (9081329 - 60%) and Shepherdia argentea (9081334 - 60%), both from Deer Lodge Co., 

MT. For each of these four species the local accession was the best survivor.

The highest-ranked accession for survival in 2013 was, Symphoricarpos albus (Deer Lodge Co.,

MT - 9078388 - 80%). This accession, released in 2002 as Prospectors Germplasm common 

snowberry, is an erect, densely branched, deciduous shrub found at various elevations and 

climatic zones in open or wooded sites. Prospectors is considered important browse for many 
NRCS−Montana−Technical Note−Plant Materials−MT-98 9 

types of wildlife such as bighorn sheep, moose, and grizzly bears as well as domestic sheep and 

cattle. It is used in the rehabilitation of disturbed sites due to its large ecological amplitude and 

densely branched, colony-forming root system. 

Of the nineteen accessions tested, two of the three Pinus ponderosa accessions (MT - 9081318 

and SD - m020SD9903) had the second highest percentage survival (70%) in 2013. Pinus 

ponderosa is a long-lived evergreen, coniferous tree, growing at elevations between 4,000 to 8,000 

feet. It provides roosting, nesting, and foraging habitat for a variety of song birds, wild turkeys, and 

cavity nesting birds such as owls. It also provides good habitat for small mammals, deer, and elk. 

Compared to other montane conifers, it has the best tolerances to dry, nutrient-poor sites and is 

widely planted on erodible and other disturbed sites including burns. It is known to be relatively 

slow growing and upon maturity produces a deep, extensive root system. 

Ribes cereum (MT - 9081329) and Shepherdia argentea (MT - 9081334) had the third best 

percentage survival (60%) in 2013. Ribes cereum is a native, deciduous, non-rhizomatous shrub 

growing from 1.5 to 5 feet tall. It occurs in open, coniferous forests, at forest edges, and in 

mountain shrub communities. Ribes cereum provides food and cover for many species of wildlife. 

Shepherdia argentea is a native, deciduous, thicket forming, small tree or large shrub with 

spreading ascending thorny branches. The roots are shallow, much branched, often sprouting, and 

are able to fix a moderate amount of nitrogen. It is a valuable forage species for mule deer, 

pronghorn, and grizzly bear. Sharp-tailed grouse, cedar waxwings, other passerine species, and 

small mammals eat the fruit. 

As discussed earlier a statistical analysis of the data for height growth and vigor does not show a 

difference between plots planted with seedlings of local origin and plots planted with seedlings

from sources obtained outside of Deer Lodge County. Generally, as the years of the study passed, 

the overall vigor of the plants in the CEP went down. In all species, except the Symphoricarpos 

occidentalis (WY - m021WY0004), the accession that originated from seed of local origin had the 

highest vigor rating. Although the survival statistic is the most valuable characteristic to consider 

when choosing a species for a critical area planting, the height and vigor data will be valuable to 

help decide which accession to use when two accessions have similar survival ratings.

The releases from the Bridger Plant Materials center that were tested at the Mill Creek Woody CEP 

are listed in the table below. Each of these releases performed well in the acid/heavy metal 

contaminated soils at the site of the Mill Creek Woody CEP.

Table 8. Woody CEP Releases from Bridger Plant Materials Center. 

Scientific Name Common Name Variety / Accession

Year of 

Release

Shrubs

Shepherdia argentea silver buffaloberry Mill Creek / 9081334 2010

Symphoricarpos albus common snowberry Prospectors / 9078388 2002

Symphoricarpos occidentalis western snowberry Trapper / 9081639 2004

The DATR Project has established seed increase fields of all plant species tested at the Mill Creek 

Woody CEP showing superior establishment and performance on the Anaconda Smelter 

Superfund Site in Deer Lodge County, Montana. The USDA-NRCS Plant Materials Center, in 

cooperation with the Deer Lodge Valley Conservation District, plans to continue to release superior 

plant materials exhibiting tolerance of acid/heavy metal-contaminated sites.
NRCS−Montana−Technical Note−Plant Materials−MT-98 10

Literature Cited

Cornish, J. 2007. Final Report – Acid/Heavy Metal Tolerant Plants, Mine Waste Technology 

Program Mine Waste Technology Program Activity III, Project 30. MWTP-291, MSE Technology 

Applications, Inc., Butte, Montana. Available at: The characteristics of acid/heavy metal tolerant 

plants in the Anaconda Superfund area.

Marty, L. J. 2000. Development of Acid/Heavy Metal-Tolerant Cultivars (DATC) Project: Final 

Report for July 1998 to July 2000. Prepared for the Deer Lodge Valley Conservation District, in 

cooperation with the USDA-NRCS/Bridger Plant Materials Center.

Marty, L. J. 2003. Development of Acid/Heavy Metal-Tolerant Cultivars Project Bi-Annual Report: 

April 1, 2003 to September 30, 2003. Prepared for the U.S. EPA/Mine Waste Technology Program 

and State of Montana/ Natural Resource Damage Program. 

Sainger, P.S., R. Dhankhar, M. Sainger, A. Kaushik, and R.P. Sing. 2011. Assessment of heavy 

metal tolerance in native plant species from soils contaminated with electroplating effluent. 

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. 74: 2284-2291.

Statistix 8, 2003. User’s Manual. Analytical Software. Tallahassee, FL. P 360-364.
NRCS−Montana−Technical Note−Plant Materials−MT-98 11

Addendum 1 Survival Statistical Analysis

The Survival Statistical Analysis used Multi-Sample Survival Tests to compare survival distributions 

among species and accessions within a species and a Kaplan-Meier product limit estimate of the 

survival success between accessions in each species (Statistix8, 2003). The Multi-Survival Tests 

were the Gehan-Wilcoxon test, Logrank test, and the Peto-Wilcoxon test. Each test calculates pvalues that when less than 0.05 show significant differences among the species or accessions 

tested. The Kaplan-Meier survival function estimation is a descriptive method for estimating the 

distribution of survival times from a sample. It is a non-parametric method used to estimate the 

probability of survival past given time points (i.e., it calculates a survival distribution). It calculates 

the survivorship function [S(t)] and 95% confidence intervals at each time interval for each species 

or accession. It also calculates a hazard function [H(t)] at each time interval. Differences among 

S(t) of species or accessions can be determined by comparing the confidence intervals around 

each S(t) at each time interval. Species or accessions differ in S(t) if the confidence intervals do not 

overlap.

SURVIVAL ANALYSIS BY SPECIES

Multi-Sample Survival Tests by Species

Time Variable: Time

Event Variable: Death

Gehan-Wilcoxon Test Logrank Test Peto-Wilcoxon Test

Species 

# Species Name N Sum Mean Sum Mean Sum Mean

1 lodgepole pine 60 -7637.0 -127.28 25.567 0.4261 18.731 0.3122

2 ponderosa pine 59 8358.0 141.66 -22.705 -0.3848 -21.485 -0.3642

3 wax currant 40 2300.0 57.50 -9.2404 -0.2310 -5.6069 -0.1402

4 Woods’ rose 60 -6721.0 -112.02 17.693 0.2949 18.641 0.3107

5 silver buffaloberry 60 -2816.0 -46.933 8.4176 0.1403 4.7256 0.0788

6 common snowberry 40 1956.0 48.900 -10.870 -0.2718 -4.2032 -0.1051

7 western snowberry 60 4560.0 76.000 -8.8624 -0.1477 -10.802 -0.1800

Chi-Square 81.66 62.08 71.22

DF 6 6 6

P 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000

Kaplan-Meier Product-Limit Survival Distribution by Species

Time Variable: Time

Event Variable: Death

Group Variable: Species

SPECIES 1 - LODGEPOLE PINE

Time Died Censored At

Risk

Lower 95%

C.I. S(t) Upper 95%C.I. SE S(t) H(t)

3 33 0 60 0.3681 0.4500 0.5347 0.0642 0.7985

4 4 0 27 0.2786 0.3833 0.5001 0.0628 0.9589

5 13 0 23 0.1137 0.1667 0.2377 0.0481 1.7918

6 1 0 10 0.0836 0.1500 0.2546 0.0461 1.8971

8 3 0 9 0.0535 0.1000 0.1792 0.0387 2.3026

10 1 0 6 0.0388 0.0833 0.1701 0.0357 2.4849

14 0 5 5
NRCS−Montana−Technical Note−Plant Materials−MT-98 12

SPECIES 2 - PONDEROSA PINE

Time Died Censored At

Risk

Lower

95% C.I. S(t) Upper95% C.I. SE S(t) H(t)

3 3 0 59 0.8639 0.9492 0.9821 0.0286 0.0522

5 2 0 56 0.8187 0.9153 0.9627 0.0363 0.0886

6 2 0 54 0.7772 0.8814 0.9406 0.0421 0.1263

7 5 0 52 0.6838 0.7966 0.8764 0.0524 0.2274

8 8 0 47 0.5453 0.6610 0.7603 0.0616 0.4140

10 5 0 39 0.4576 0.5763 0.6868 0.0643 0.5512

14 5 29 34 0.3773 0.4915 0.6066 0.0651 0.7102

SPECIES 3 - WAX CURRANT

Time Died Censored At

Risk

Lower

95% C.I. S(t) Upper95% C.I. SE S(t) H(t)

3 11 0 40 0.5955 0.7250 0.8252 0.0706 0.3216

5 4 0 29 0.4812 0.6250 0.7496 0.0765 0.4700

6 3 0 25 0.4072 0.5500 0.6850 0.0787 0.5978

10 1 0 22 0.3782 0.5250 0.6676 0.0790 0.6444

14 2 19 21 0.3358 0.4750 0.6182 0.0790 0.7444

SPECIES 4 - WOODS’ ROSE

Time Died Censored At

Risk

Lower

95% C.I. S(t) Upper95% C.I. SE S(t) H(t)

3 38 0 60 0.2967 0.3667 0.4428 0.0622 1.0033

4 2 0 22 0.2316 0.3333 0.4534 0.0609 1.0986

5 3 0 20 0.1915 0.2833 0.3975 0.0582 1.2611

6 4 0 17 0.1399 0.2167 0.3199 0.0532 1.5294

7 1 0 13 0.1208 0.2000 0.3127 0.0516 1.6094

14 1 11 12 0.1081 0.1833 0.2937 0.0500 1.6964

SPECIES 5 - SILVER BUFFALOBERRY

Time Died Censored At

Risk

Lower

95% C.I. S(t) Upper95% C.I. SE S(t) H(t)

3 27 0 60 0.4565 0.5500 0.6401 0.0642 0.5978

4 5 0 33 0.3551 0.4667 0.5816 0.0644 0.7621

5 3 0 28 0.3064 0.4167 0.5359 0.0636 1.8755

6 1 0 25 0.2878 0.4000 0.5238 0.0632 0.9163

7 3 0 24 0.2478 0.3500 0.4681 0.0616 1.0498

8 2 0 21 0.2174 0.3167 0.4360 0.0601 1.1499

10 3 0 19 0.1779 0.2667 0.3793 0.0571 1.3218

14 1 15 16 0.1601 0.3167 0.3682 0.0559 1.3863

SPECIES 6 - COMMON SNOWBERRY

Time Died Censored At

Risk

Lower

95% C.I. S(t) Upper95% C.I. SE S(t) H(t)

3 15 0 40 0.5025 0.6250 0.7333 0.0765 0.4700

6 1 0 25 0.4490 0.6000 0.7341 0.0775 0.5108

8 1 0 24 0.4250 0.5750 0.7123 0.0782 0.5534

10 2 0 23 0.3812 0.5250 0.6648 0.0790 0.6444

14 0 21 21
NRCS−Montana−Technical Note−Plant Materials−MT-98 13

SPECIES 7 - WESTERN SNOWBERRY

Time Died Censored At

Risk

Lower

95% C.I. S(t) Upper95% C.I. SE S(t) H(t)

3 6 0 60 0.8049 0.9000 0.9515 0.0387 0.1054

4 2 0 54 0.7606 0.8667 0.9300 0.0439 0.1431

5 9 0 52 0.6041 0.7167 0.8074 0.0582 0.3331

6 8 0 43 0.4694 0.5833 0.6890 0.0636 0.5390

7 5 0 35 0.3860 0.5000 0.6140 0.0645 0.6931

8 1 0 30 0.3637 0.4833 0.6050 0.0645 0.7270

10 1 0 29 0.3482 0.4667 0.5890 0.0644 0.7621

14 6 22 28 0.2674 0.3667 0.4787 0.0622 1.0033

Kaplan-Meier Survivorship Percentiles by Species

Time Variable: Time

Event Variable: Death

Kaplan-Meier Survivorship Percentiles for lodgepole pine

Percentile Lower 

95% C.I. Time Upper 95% C.I.

90 3.000 3.000 3.000

75 3.000 3.000 3.000

50 3.000 3.000 5.000

25 5.000 5.000 8.000

10 5.000 8.000 M 

Kaplan-Meier Survivorship Percentiles for ponderosa pine.

Percentile Lower 

95% C.I. Time Upper 95% C.I.

90 3.000 5.900 7.000

75 7.000 8.000 10.000

50 10.000 14.000 M

25 M M M

10 M M M

Kaplan-Meier Survivorship Percentiles for wax currant.

Percentile Lower 

95% C.I. Time Upper 95% C.I.

90 3.000 3.000 3.000

75 3.000 3.000 M 

50 5.000 M M 

25 M M M 

10 M M M 
NRCS−Montana−Technical Note−Plant Materials−MT-98 14

Kaplan-Meier Survivorship Percentiles for Woods’ rose

Percentile Lower 

95% C.I. Time Upper 95% C.I.

90 3.000 3.000 3.000

75 3.000 3.000 3.000

50 3.000 3.000 3.000

25 4.000 6.000 M

10 M M M

Kaplan-Meier Survivorship Percentiles for silver buffaloberry

Percentile Lower 

95% C.I. Time Upper 95% C.I.

90 3.000 3.000 3.000

75 3.000 3.000 3.000

50 3.000 4.000 7.000

25 M M M 

10 M M M

Kaplan-Meier Survivorship Percentiles for common snowberry

Percentile Lower 

95% C.I. Time Upper 95% C.I.

90 3.000 3.000 3.000

75 3.000 3.000 3.000

50 3.000 4.000 7.000

25 M M M

10 M M M

Kaplan-Meier Survivorship Percentiles for western snowberry

Percentile Lower 

95% C.I. Time Upper 95% C.I.

90 3.000 3.000 5.000

75 5.000 5.000 6.000

50 6.000 7.000 14.000

25 M M M 

10 M M M 
NRCS−Montana−Technical Note−Plant Materials−MT-98 15

Figure 2. Kaplan-Meier PL Survivorship Function Graph for Species 1 and 2. 

Figure 3. Kaplan-Meier PL Survivorship Function Graph for Species 3 through 7.
NRCS−Montana−Technical Note−Plant Materials−MT-98 16

SURVIVAL ANALYSIS BY ACCESSION

SPECIES 1 - LODGEPOLE PINE

Multi-Sample Survival Tests for lodgepole pine.

Time Variable: Time 

Event Variable: Death

Gehan-Wilcoxon Test Logrank Test Peto-Wilcoxon Test

Accession N Sum Mean Sum Mean Sum Mean

1 20 465.00 23.250 -7.3682 -0.3682 -7.4333 -0.3717

2 20 -197.00 -9.850 4.4184 0.2209 0.5667 0.0283

3 20 -268.00 -13.400 2.9465 0.1473 6.8667 0.3433

Chi-Square 16.28 8.80 15.16

DF 2 2 2

P 0.0003 0.0123 0.0005

Kaplan-Meier Product-Limit Survival Distribution for lodgepole pine.

Time Variable: Time

Event Variable: Death

Group Variable: Accession

Accession 1 – PICO 9078320

Time Died Censored At

Risk

Lower 95%

C.I. S(t) Upper 95%C.I. SE S(t) H(t)

3 3 0 20 0.6584 0.8500 0.9434 0.0798 0.1625

4 3 0 17 0.5011 0.7000 0.8442 0.1025 0.3567

5 8 0 14 0.1879 0.3000 0.4425 0.1025 1.2040

6 1 0 6 0.1200 0.2500 0.4490 0.0968 1.3863

8 1 0 5 0.0886 0.2000 0.3913 0.0894 1.6094

10 1 0 4 0.0599 0.1500 0.3282 0.0798 1.8971

14 0 3 3

Accession 2 – PICO m039ID0002

Time Died Censored At

Risk

Lower 95%

C.I. S(t) Upper 95%C.I. SE S(t) H(t)

3 14 0 20 0.2034 0.3000 0.4184 0.1025 1.2040

4 1 0 6 0.1200 0.2500 0.4490 0.0968 1.3863

5 3 0 5 0.0435 0.1000 0.2136 0.0671 2.3026

8 2 0 2 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 M

Accession 3 – PICO m038WY0002

Time Died Censored At

Risk

Lower 95%

C.I. S(t) Upper 95%C.I. SE S(t) H(t)

3 16 0 20 0.1334 0.2000 0.2888 0.0894 1.6094

5 2 0 4 0.0396 0.1000 0.2305 0.0671 2.3026

14 0 2 2
NRCS−Montana−Technical Note−Plant Materials−MT-98 17

Kaplan-Meier Survivorship Percentiles for lodgepole pine

Time Variable: Time

Event Variable: Death

Accession Percentile Lower 

95% C.I. Time Upper 95% C.I.

1 

90 3.000 3.000 4.000

75 3.000 4.000 5.000

50 4.000 5.000 6.000

25 5.000 6.000 M

10 M M M

2 

90 3.000 3.000 3.000

75 3.000 3.000 3.000

50 3.000 3.000 4.000

25 3.000 4.000 8.000

10 5.000 5.000 M

3 

90 3.000 3.000 3.000

75 3.000 3.000 3.000

50 3.000 3.000 3.000

25 3.000 3.000 M

10 3.000 5.000 M

Figure 4. Kaplan-Meier PL Survivorship Function Graph for lodgepole pine. 
NRCS−Montana−Technical Note−Plant Materials−MT-98 18

SPECIES 2 - PONDEROSA PINE

Multi-Sample Survival Tests

Time Variable: Time

Event Variable: Death

Gehan-Wilcoxon Test Logrank Test Peto-Wilcoxon Test

Accession N Sum Mean Sum Mean Sum Mean

1 20 280.00 14.000 -5.9001 -0.2950 -4.8475 -0.2424

2 20 -546.00 -27.300 11.244 0.5622 9.3220 0.4661

3 19 266.00 14.000 -5.3442 -0.2813 -4.4746 -0.2355

Chi-Square 21.79 20.95 22.00

DF 2 2 2

P 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000

Kaplan-Meier Product-Limit Survival Distribution for ponderosa pine.

Time Variable: Time

Event Variable: Death

Group Variable: Accession

Accession 1 - PIPO 9081318

Time Died Censored At

Risk

Lower

95% C.I. S(t) Upper95% C.I. SE S(t) H(t)

5 1 0 20 0.7703 0.9500 0.9908 0.0487 0.0513

8 3 0 19 0.6032 0.8000 0.9132 0.0894 0.2231

14 2 14 16 0.4950 0.7000 0.8474 0.1025 0.3567

Accession 2 – PIPO m04CO0002

Time Died Censored At

Risk

Lower

95% C.I. S(t) Upper95% C.I. SE S(t) H(t)

3 3 0 20 0.6584 0.8500 0.9434 0.0798 0.1625

6 2 0 17 0.5450 0.7500 0.8825 0.0968 0.2877

7 5 0 15 0.3315 0.5000 0.6685 0.1118 0.6931

8 4 0 10 0.1719 0.3000 0.4694 0.1025 1.2040

10 2 0 6 0.0951 0.2000 0.3731 0.0894 1.6094

14 2 2 4 0.0396 0.1000 0.2305 0.0671 2.3026

Accession 3 – PIPO m020SD9903

Time Died Censored At

Risk

Lower

95% C.I. S(t) Upper95% C.I. SE S(t) H(t)

5 1 0 19 0.7606 0.9474 0.9903 0.0512 0.0541

8 1 0 18 0.6932 0.8947 0.9697 0.0704 0.1112

10 3 0 17 0.5333 0.7368 0.8728 0.1010 0.3054

14 1 13 14 0.4680 0.6842 0.8422 0.1066 0.3795
NRCS−Montana−Technical Note−Plant Materials−MT-98 19

Kaplan-Meier Survivorship Percentiles for ponderosa pine.

Accession Percentile Lower 

95% C.I. Time Upper 95% C.I.

1 

90 5.000 8.000 14.000

75 8.000 14.000 M

50 M M M

25 M M M

10 M M M

2 

90 3.000 3.000 6.000

75 3.000 6.000 7.000

50 7.000 7.000 10.000

25 8.000 10.000 M

10 10.000 14.000 M

3 

90 5.000 7.700 10.000

75 8.000 10.000 M

50 M M M

25 M M M

10 M M M

Figure 5. Kaplan-Meier PL Survivorship Function Graph for ponderosa pine.
NRCS−Montana−Technical Note−Plant Materials−MT-98 20

SPECIES 3 - WAX CURRANT

Multi-Sample Survival Tests

Time Variable: Time

Event Variable: Death

Gehan-Wilcoxon Test Logrank Test Peto-Wilcoxon Test

Accession N Sum Mean Sum Mean Sum Mean

1 20 86.000 4.3000 -3.0780 -0.1539 -2.1000 -0.1050

2 20 -86.000 -4.3000 3.0780 0.1539 2.1000 0.1050

Chi-Square 1.55 2.20 1.45

DF 1 1 1

P 0.2127 0.1384 0.2293

Kaplan-Meier Product-Limit Survival Distribution for wax currant.

Time Variable: Time 

Event Variable: Death 

Group Variable: Accession

Accession 1 – RICE 9081329

Time Died Censored At

Risk

Lower

95% C.I. S(t) Upper95% C.I. SE S(t) H(t)

3 5 0 20 0.5617 0.7500 0.8754 0.0968 0.2877

5 1 0 15 0.4884 0.7000 0.8508 0.1025 0.3567

6 1 0 14 0.4403 0.6500 0.8142 0.1067 0.4308

14 1 12 13 0.3942 0.6000 0.7756 0.1095 0.5108

Accession 2 – RICE m024CO0003

Time Died Censored At

Risk

Lower

95% C.I. S(t) Upper95% C.I. SE S(t) H(t)

3 6 0 20 0.5168 0.7000 0.8358 0.1025 0.3567

5 3 0 14 0.3632 0.5500 0.7237 0.1112 0.5978

6 2 0 11 0.2733 0.4500 0.6403 0.1112 0.7985

10 1 0 9 0.2269 0.4000 0.6022 0.1095 0.9163

14 1 7 8 0.1894 0.3500 0.5538 0.1067 1.0498

Kaplan-Meier Survivorship Percentiles for wax currant.

Accession Percentile Lower 

95% C.I. Time Upper 95% C.I.

1 

90 3.000 3.000 3.000

75 3.000 3.000 M

50 M M M

25 M M M

10 M M M

2 

90 3.000 3.000 3.000

75 3.000 3.000 5.000

50 3.000 6.000 M

25 M M M

10 M M M
NRCS−Montana−Technical Note−Plant Materials−MT-98 21

Figure 6. Kaplan-Meier PL Survivorship Function Graph for wax currant.
NRCS−Montana−Technical Note−Plant Materials−MT-98 22

SPECIES 4 - WOODS’ ROSE

Multi-Sample Survival Tests

Time Variable: Time

Event Variable: Death

Gehan-Wilcoxon Test Logrank Test Peto-Wilcoxon Test

Accession N Sum Mean Sum Mean Sum Mean

1 20 509.00 25.450 -10.019 -0.5009 -8.6333 -0.4317

2 20 -263.00 -13.150 6.4344 0.3217 0.9667 0.0483

3 20 -246.00 -12.300 3.5842 0.1792 7.6667 0.3833

Chi-Square 21.54 19.66 19.93

DF 2 2 2

P 0.0000 0.0001 0.0000

Kaplan-Meier Product-Limit Survival Distribution

Time Variable: Time

Event Variable: Death

Group Variable: Accession

Accession 1 - ROWO 9081638

Time Died Censored At

Risk

Lower

95% C.I. S(t) Upper95% C.I. SE S(t) H(t)

3 5 0 20 0.5617 0.7500 0.8754 0.0968 0.2877

5 2 0 15 0.4471 0.6500 0.8100 0.1067 0.4308

6 2 0 13 0.3569 0.5500 0.7292 0.1112 0.5978

7 1 0 11 0.3072 0.5000 0.6928 0.1118 0.6931

14 1 9 10 0.2662 0.4500 0.6485 0.1112 0.7985

Accession 2 - ROWO m076CO0003

Time Died Censored At

Risk

Lower

95% C.I. S(t) Upper95% C.I. SE S(t) H(t)

3 16 0 20 0.1334 0.2000 0.2888 0.0894 1.6094

4 2 0 4 0.0396 0.1000 0.2305 0.0671 2.3026

5 1 0 2 0.0138 0.0500 0.1650 0.0487 2.9957

6 1 0 1 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 M

Accession 3 - ROWO m07MT0003

Time Died Censored At

Risk

Lower

95% C.I. S(t) Upper95% C.I. SE S(t) H(t)

3 17 0 20 0.0992 0.1500 0.2204 0.0798 1.8971

6 1 0 3 0.0346 0.1000 0.2562 0.0671 2.3026

14 0 2 2
NRCS−Montana−Technical Note−Plant Materials−MT-98 23

Kaplan-Meier Survivorship Percentiles for Woods’ rose

Accession Percentile Lower 

95% C.I. Time Upper 95% C.I.

1 

90 3.000 3.000 3.000

75 3.000 3.000 6.000

50 5.000 7.000 M

25 M M M

10 M M M

2 

90 3.000 3.000 3.000

75 3.000 3.000 3.000

50 3.000 3.000 3.000

25 3.000 3.000 5.000

10 3.000 4.000 M

3 

90 3.000 3.000 3.000

75 3.000 3.000 3.000

50 3.000 3.000 3.000

25 3.000 3.000 M

10 3.000 6.000 M

Figure 7. Kaplan-Meier PL Survivorship Function Graph for Woods’ rose.
NRCS−Montana−Technical Note−Plant Materials−MT-98 24

SPECIES 5 - SILVER BUFFALOBERRY

Multi-Sample Survival Tests

Time Variable: Time

Event Variable: Death

Gehan-Wilcoxon Test Logrank Test Peto-Wilcoxon Test

Accession N Sum Mean Sum Mean Sum Mean

1 20 489.000 24.450 -12.0430 -0.6021 -7.9000 -0.3950

2 20 -89.000 -4.450 5.0829 0.2541 1.1667 0.0583

3 20 -400.000 -20.000 6.9597 0.3480 6.7333 0.3367

Chi-Square 18.69 21.12 16.35

DF 2 2 2

P 0.0001 0.0000 0.0003

Kaplan-Meier Product-Limit Survival Distribution

Time Variable: Time

Event Variable: Death

Group Variable: Accession

Accession 1 - SHAR 9081334

Time Died Censored At

Risk

Lower

95% C.I. S(t) Upper95% C.I. SE S(t) H(t)

3 4 0 20 0.6087 0.8000 0.9114 0.0894 0.2231

6 1 0 16 0.5385 0.7500 0.8852 0.0968 0.2877

8 1 0 15 0.4884 0.7000 0.8508 0.1025 0.3567

10 2 0 14 0.4011 0.6000 0.7706 0.1095 0.5108

14 0 12 12

Accession 2 - SHAR m022WY0005

Time Died Censored At

Risk

Lower

95% C.I. S(t) Upper95% C.I. SE S(t) H(t)

3 8 0 20 0.4318 0.6000 0.7475 0.1095 0.5108

4 3 0 12 0.2796 0.4500 0.6329 0.1112 0.7985

5 2 0 9 0.1964 0.3500 0.5426 0.1067 1.0498

7 3 0 7 0.1004 0.2000 0.3589 0.0894 1.6094

8 1 0 4 0.0599 0.1500 0.3282 0.0798 1.8971

10 1 0 3 0.0346 0.1000 0.2562 0.0671 2.3026

14 1 1 2 0.0138 0.0500 0.1650 0.0487 2.9957

Accession 3 - SHAR m015UT9901

Time Died Censored At

Risk

Lower

95% C.I. S(t) Upper95% C.I. SE S(t) H(t)

3 15 0 20 0.1681 0.2500 0.3548 0.0968 1.3863

4 2 0 5 0.0658 0.1500 0.3065 0.0798 1.8971

5 1 0 3 0.0346 0.1000 0.2562 0.0671 2.3026

14 0 2 2
NRCS−Montana−Technical Note−Plant Materials−MT-98 25

Kaplan-Meier Survivorship Percentiles for silver buffaloberry

Accession Percentile Lower 

95% C.I. Time Upper 95% C.I.

1 

90 3.000 3.000 6.000

75 3.000 6.000 M

50 M M M

25 M M M

10 M M M

2 

90 3.000 3.000 3.000

75 3.000 3.000 4.000

50 3.000 4.000 7.000

25 5.000 7.000 14.000

10 7.000 10.000 M

3 

90 3.000 3.000 3.000

75 3.000 3.000 3.000

50 3.000 3.000 3.000

25 3.000 3.000 M

10 4.000 5.000 M

Figure 8. Kaplan-Meier PL Survivorship Function Graph for silver buffaloberry.
NRCS−Montana−Technical Note−Plant Materials−MT-98 26

SPECIES 6 - COMMON SNOWBERRY

Multi-Sample Survival Tests

Time Variable:Time

Event Variable: Death

Gehan-Wilcoxon Test Logrank Test Peto-Wilcoxon Test

Accession N Sum Mean Sum Mean Sum Mean

1 20 262.00 13.100 -6.5752 -0.3288 -6.8000 -0.3400

2 20 -262.00 -13.100 6.5752 0.3288 6.8000 0.3400

Chi-Square 15.64 12.85 15.82

DF 1 1 1

P 0.0001 0.0003 0.0001

Kaplan-Meier Product-Limit Survival Distribution

Time Variable: Time

Event Variable: Death

Group Variable: Accession

Accession 1 - SYAL 9078388

Time Died Censored At

Risk

Lower

95% C.I. S(t) Upper95% C.I. SE S(t) H(t)

3 1 0 20 0.7703 0.9500 0.9908 0.0487 0.0513

6 1 0 19 0.7056 0.9000 0.9713 0.0671 0.1054

10 2 0 18 0.5974 0.8000 0.9151 0.0894 0.2231

14 0 16 16

Accession 2 – SYAL m045MT003

Time Died Censored At

Risk

Lower

95% C.I. S(t) Upper95% C.I. SE S(t) H(t)

3 14 0 20 0.2034 0.3000 0.4184 0.1025 1.2040

8 1 0 6 0.1200 0.2500 0.4490 0.0968 1.3863

14 0 5 5

Kaplan-Meier Survivorship Percentiles for common snowberry

Accession Percentile Lower 

95% C.I. Time Upper 95% C.I.

1 

90 3.000 6.000 M

75 M M M

50 M M M

25 M M M

10 M M M

2 

90 3.000 3.000 3.000

75 3.000 3.000 3.000

50 3.000 3.000 8.000

25 3.000 8.000 M

10 M M M
NRCS−Montana−Technical Note−Plant Materials−MT-98 27

Figure 9. Kaplan-Meier PL Survivorship Function Graph for common snowberry.
NRCS−Montana−Technical Note−Plant Materials−MT-98 28

SPECIES 7 - WESTERN SNOWBERRY

Multi-Sample Survival Tests

Time Variable: Time

Event Variable: Death

Gehan-Wilcoxon Test Logrank Test Peto-Wilcoxon Test

Accession N Sum Mean Sum Mean Sum Mean

1 20 -314.00 -15.700 7.0239 0.3512 5.2500 0.2625

2 20 214.00 10.700 -5.1712 -0.2586 -3.3833 -0.1692

3 20 100.00 5.000 -1.8527 -0.0926 -1.8667 -0.0933

Chi-Square 6.71 7.28 6.59

DF 2 2 2

P 0.0349 0.0262 0.0370

Kaplan-Meier Product-Limit Survival Distribution for western snowberry.

Time Variable: Time

Event Variable: Death

Group Variable: Accession

Accession 1 - SYOC 9081639

Time Died Censored At

Risk

Lower

95% C.I. S(t) Upper95% C.I. SE S(t) H(t)

3 3 0 20 0.6584 0.8500 0.9434 0.0798 0.1625

5 4 0 17 0.4590 0.6500 0.8026 0.1067 0.4308

6 7 0 13 0.1845 0.3000 0.4481 0.1025 1.2040

7 2 0 6 0.0951 0.2000 0.3731 0.0894 1.6094

14 1 3 4 0.0599 0.1500 0.3282 0.0798 1.8971

Accession 2 - SYOC m021WY0004

Time Died Censored At

Risk

Lower

95% C.I. S(t) Upper95% C.I. SE S(t) H(t)

3 1 0 20 0.7703 0.9500 0.9908 0.0487 0.0513

4 1 0 19 0.7056 0.9000 0.9713 0.0671 0.1054

5 3 0 18 0.5510 0.7500 0.8800 0.0968 0.2877

7 2 0 15 0.4471 0.6500 0.8100 0.1067 0.4308

8 1 0 13 0.3942 0.6000 0.7756 0.1095 0.5108

14 1 11 12 0.3499 0.5500 0.7352 0.1112 0.5978

Accession 3 - SYOC m018CO9904

Time Died Censored At

Risk

Lower

95% C.I. S(t) Upper95% C.I. SE S(t) H(t)

3 2 0 20 0.7117 0.9000 0.9704 0.0671 0.1054

4 1 0 18 0.6464 0.8500 0.9461 0.0798 0.1625

5 2 0 17 0.5450 0.7500 0.8825 0.0968 0.2877

6 1 0 15 0.4884 0.7000 0.8508 0.1025 0.3567

7 1 0 14 0.4403 0.6500 0.8142 0.1067 0.4308

10 1 0 13 0.3942 0.6000 0.7756 0.1095 0.5108

14 4 8 12 0.2459 0.4000 0.5768 0.1095 0.9163
NRCS−Montana−Technical Note−Plant Materials−MT-98 29

Kaplan-Meier Survivorship Percentiles for western snowberry

Accession Percentile Lower 

95% C.I. Time Upper 95% C.I.

1 

90 3.000 3.000 5.000

75 3.000 5.000 6.000

50 5.000 6.000 7.000

25 6.000 7.000 M

10 M M M

2 

90 3.000 4.000 5.000

75 4.000 5.000 14.000

50 M M M

25 M M M

10 M M M

3 

90 3.000 3.000 5.000

75 3.000 5.000 14.000

50 6.000 14.000 M

25 M M M

10 M M M

Figure 10. Kaplan-Meier PL Survivorship Function Graph for western snowberry.