Native seeds from FLOW

These perennial plants are native to Ohio and will benefit native bees and butterflies by either providing nectar or a place to lay eggs, or both. Many of these seeds were collected by FLOW volunteers from their own gardens or from FLOW’s many pollinator gardens.

The variety of species FLOW offers for giveaway will vary – if you receive seeds for a plant not listed here, an excellent source of info on germination and care of many native plants can be found at www.prairiemoon.com.

Many native seeds need stratification to germinate – a period of cold moist conditions, that simulates spending winter outside. You can plant your seeds outside once the weather gets cold, but many gardeners prefer to provide a more controlled situation where they don’t have to worry about their seeds washing away or being eaten by wildlife. You can read more about stratification here.

Wildflower mix – this is a quick growing mix of annuals and perennials

Chamaecrista fasciculata – Partridge Pea – annual – flower & seedling images

Coreopsis lanceolata – Lanceleaf Coreopsis – perennial – flower & seedling images

Coreopsis tinctoria – Plains Coreopsis – annual – flower & seedling images

Echinacea purpurea – Purple Coneflower – perennial – flower & seedling images

Gailliardia aristata – Blanket Flower – perennial – flower & seedling images

Gaillardia pulchella – Indian Blanket – annual – flower & seedling images

Rudbeckia hirta – Black-eyed Susan – perennial – flower & seedling images

Eden Brothers Burst of Blooms: This non-GMO outdoor mix is a mix of annual and perennial varieties and suitable for all USDA hardiness zones, 3-10. These animal resistant, low-maintenance varieties prefer full sun and will produce mixed color blooms all summer through fall. They can be planted in the spring or fall. Remove any existing vegetation, loosen the soil, and lightly compress the seeds into the soil. Water as needed.

NOTE: Not all of these species are native to Ohio, but all will provide nectar for bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Annuals will bloom this year; perennials will need a year of growth before blooming.

Included: Lance Leaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata), Wild Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus), Blanket Flower (Gaillardia aristata), Black Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), Wild Lupine (Lupinus perennis), Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Plains Coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria), Siberian Wallflower (Cheiranthus allionii), Blue Flax Perennial (Linum usitatissimum), Scarlet Flax (Linum grandiflorum), Phlox (Phlox drummondii), Cosmos Bright Lights (Cosmos sulphureus), Cornflower Dw Mix (Centaurea cyanus), and more!

Native plant seeds from FLOW

FLOW has been giving away these 4 native plant seeds for a few years. They were chosen because they can be planted in the spring when the ground warms up and do not need any special cold moist dormancy period that many native plants require. 

Bee Balm (Wild Bergamot)
Monarda fistulosa
Full or part sun

Can be planted in spring, on bare soil, and will germinate without stratification. Spotted Bee Balm (Monarda punctata) is more tolerant of drought.

Oxeye (false or early) Sunflower
Heliopsis helianthoides
Full or part sun
Blooms June-Sept., Height 5 ft., Med. wet to med. dry soil.
Some sources say it needs 30 day stratification.

Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Full or part sun

Medium wet-medium dry soil. Blooms July-Sept. Drought tolerant, somewhat deer-resistant.
Can be planted directly in the spring without stratification.

Smooth blue aster
Symphyotrichum laeve
Full to partial sun

Medium-wet to medium-dry soil. Height 4 ft. Blue flowers from Aug-Oct. Smooth Blue Aster is a host plant for Silvery Checkerspot and Pearl Crescent butterflies.

Stratification not needed.