Description
The plight of the Monarch butterflies is caused by loss of habitat due to development and farming. By encouraging home owners and businesses to create stunning Monarch habitats, we are hoping to reverse the damage that has been done. Monarch Butterfly Wildflower Mix provides nectar for adult Monarch butterflies and food for their caterpillars. This beautiful mix is adapted to all regions of the continental United States and is a combination of native and garden flowers.
Consists of: Butterfly Milkweed, Candytuft, Cosmos, Gayfeather, Hoary Vervain, Indian Blanket, Marigold, Mexican Sunflower, Rocket Larkspur, Purple Coneflower, Siberian Wallflower, Smooth Aster, Sulphur Cosmos, Sweet Alyssum, Zinnia.
Planting rate = 12-24 lbs/acre,
8 oz./1,000 sq. ft.
About Pollinator Wildflower mixes
More than one third of the food we eat needs to be pollinated by bees. There are over 4,000 species of native bees in the United States. When planting a pollinator preserve try to avoid using herbicides and pesticides. Inter-planting native grasses with our pollinator mixes provides a more diverse habitat.
General Growing Information
When to Plant
The best time to plant in your area depends on the climate and rainfall patterns as well as the species you are planting. In cool climates, plant annuals, perennials or mixtures of annuals and perennials in spring, early summer or late fall. Fall plantings should be late enough so that seeds do not germinate until spring. Perennials can also be sown in early fall provided that there are at least 10-12 weeks of growing time before the plants go dormant for the winter. Late fall plantings are advantageous when supplemental irrigation cannot be provided and adequate rainfall is anticipated in the spring. In mild climates, plant during the cooler months of the year, fall through spring, for best results. Fall plantings done prior to periods of rainfall will insure an early display of flowers the following spring.
Site Preparation
Prepare soil like a vegetable garden. Remove vegetation or spray with an herbicide. Follow directions on label of herbicide if used. Loosen soil 2″ deep and rake smooth.
Sowing Seed
Broadcast seeds evenly by hand or with a grass seed spreader. Mixing seed with sand (use clean builders sand, not play sand) or vermiculite facilitates even distribution. Rake seeds lightly into soil, about 1/8″ deep.
Water and Fertilization
Keep consistently moist 4-6 weeks, then gradually reduce water to 1/2″ per week. Do not water fall plantings until spring. If soil is poor, apply a 5-10-5 fertilizer.
Maintenance
Pull weeds as soon as they can be identified. In late fall, cut plants to 5″ tall to assure continuing color. Consider overseeding every year for maximum bloom.
What to Expect
Wildflowers can provide an excellent, low cost landscaping alternative. However, during their initial establishment period, wildflowers require as much maintenance as traditional plantings. A wildflower planting requires the same weed control measures as traditional landscaping.
cbejtlich (verified owner) –
I bought a 5 lb bag of this seed with great hopes and quite frankly little expectations. I had just purchased the half acre house lot next door and decided to plant grass in the front and wildflowers in the middle. To my great pleasure we had an amazing field of wildflowers like I have never seen before. There were birds, bees and butterflies all summer and into the fall. The planting was easy and the results were incredible. So I am ordering another 5 lbs and plan to plant again this spring.