The SWCD has a limited supply of native pollinator seed packets available for free!  This mix is a selection of 5 native species that have staggered bloom times throughout the growing season. This is important because pollinators need access to pollen and nectar from spring through fall.

All flowers in the packet grow to approximately 2-4 feet in height. These seeds prefer full to part sun and mostly dry soils. 
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Each packet covers up to 100 square feet (~10 feet by 10 feet). 

Our seed packets include:

• Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
  Blooms June-August
  Mature height: 2-5 feet
  
  
• Blue False Indigo (Baptisia australis)
  Blooms May-June
  Mature height: 3-4 feed
  
  
• Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis)
  Blooms April-June
  Mature height: 3-5
  
  
• Smooth Blue Aster (Symphyotrichum laeve)
  Blooms September-October
  Mature height: 2-4 feet
  
  
• Black Eyed-Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
  Blooms June-September
  ​Mature height 2-3 feet

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Planting instructions:

Preparation:
Prepare your seed bed by eliminating existing vegetation. This can be done via herbicide, sod cutter, repeated tillage, or smothering/solarization.

Best results achieved by sowing seed onto bare, loose soil and tamping in lightly. Do not plant seed more than ¼ inch deep or it will not germinate. Seed can be spread onto prepared soil April-June or mid-October through mid-winter in periods with no snow cover (just before a snowfall is a great option!). 

These species must be exposed to cold temperatures to break their dormancy and germinate so a late fall or winter planting is best.   It is possible to replicate stratification via exposing the seeds to cold and moist environments for a spring planting. Learn more about stratification options from Prairie Moon Nursery. 

Watering:
Spring planted gardens should be kept moist for 3-6 weeks after planting then occasionally or during dry spells.  After the first year watering should not be necessary except during drought periods. 

Maintenance:
A light layer of mulch can help suppress weeds. Until the planting is established hand weed the area to eliminate unwanted vegetation. Refer to the seedling photos to familiarize yourselves with what your new, desired seedlings look like.

As your plants mature and fill in you can prepare your garden for each new seasons growth by cutting down standing vegetation from the previous season in late winter before new growth begins (after.  Leaving your garden standing through winter provides valuable habitat for nesting insects and seeds for birds. Avoid spring garden prep until daytime temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees so those beneficial insects have time to emerge.

Avoid pesticides and insecticides!  You are planting a pollinator garden to provide habitat and food for our pollinators. If you see some insect damage-- that is a good thing!  Avoid chemicals in your pollinator garden.  Additionally, native plants do not require any fertilizer inputs. 

Patience:
Native seeds have dense root systems and take a couple growing seasons to germinate and mature. Have patience and allow two to three seasons to fully establish.

Native plants are beautiful and benefit our ecosystem but some people aren't as enthusiastic or haven't been informed of their benefits. Help us shift the perception of native landscape plants by keeping your native garden tidy and maintained. Learn more here.

Need more details?
See our Creating and Maintaining a Native Prairie Booklet

Good or Bad!?!!
It's often hard to tell the difference between native plant seedlings and weeds. Use the resources below to help guide you.

Common Weeds- White River Alliance

NRCS Seedling ID Guide