Good Bug Blend Wildflower Mix

Nature & Nurture Seeds

Miscellanea bonae insectae

$5.99

3.7 mL (covers 100sq ft)
VALUE SIZE: 18 mL (covers 500 sq ft)

Beneficial insects are vital to pest control in organic gardens! Bugs like praying mantis, lacewings, and ladybugs patrol the garden eating and destroying vegetable pests. This packet of Michigan native, perennial, wildflowers contains plants that attract and provide food and habitat for beneficial insects. In addition these plants will attract and feed pollinators and butterflies as well. Native plants provide needed biodiversity that is so often lacking in many landscapes. In collaboration with Greg Vaclavek of the Native Plant Nursery, we have selected plants that will provide a display of bloom progressing through the growing season. Plants range in height from 3-5 feet tall and require a full sun location. Once established they are relatively low maintenance. Although they may re-seed, in our experience, none of these plants will become excessively “weedy.” Since perennial plants can take a few years to get established, we recommend sowing annual/biennial plants with the native plant seed such as Blanket Flower, Hopi Red Dye Amaranth, Dyer’s Coreopsis, Calendula, Cosmos or Evening Primrose. Seeds are Midwest genotype. Packet covers 100 sq ft. MWF

Mix includes: Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea),Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), Sand Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata), Stiff Goldenrod (Solidago rigida), Foxglove Beard-tongue (Penstemon digitalis), Beebalm (Monarda fistulosa), New-England Aster (Aster novae-angliae), Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum), Ironweed (Vernonia missurica).

For more information about ecological restoration see http://www.wildones.org/.

For more info about native plants and beneficial insects, see http://nativeplants.msu.edu/.

Photo credit: Greg Vaclavek

The Native Plant Nursery database provides an excellent resource for ethical seed collecting:  http://www.nativeplant.com/plants/search/input.

Seeds require a “cold stratification” or cold treatment before they will germinate. To start seeds inside, mix the seeds into ½ cup of moist sand (or paper towel) and place in a sealed plastic bag and place in the refrigerator for 6-8 weeks before planting May-July. Alternatively, sow seeds outside in late summer, fall or early spring (before March 1st) so they are naturally exposed to the cold. Plant in full sun location. Prepare area by removing weeds and loosen soil surface with a rake. Hand broadcast (sow) seeds evenly over area. Water seeds with a light sprinkle after sowing. From seed, these plants can take 1-3 years to become established and large enough to flower. We also recommend sowing annual plant seeds to fill in the area until the native plants get established. Try Blanket Flower, Hopi Red Dye Amaranth, Dyer’s Coreopsis, Calendula, or Cosmos. Seed packet covers 100 sq ft.