Liatris Spicata Floristsan White (White Blazingstar)
from $6.99
This is an exceptional variety that will provide contrast and brightness to your garden or prairie. Blazing Star or Liatris Spicata will bloom all summer, provide food for butterflies, perform great in dry conditions, and naturalize well in sunny to partial sunny areas. The blooms are great in arrangements and the plant is ignored by rodents, rabbits, and deer.
This plant will work hard for you without having to work hard for it. A must have in every garden. Blazing star is native to a large area of the U.S prairies and grasslands. The species 'Spicata' is a great nectar and pollen source.
USDA Zones 2-9
Mid-Summer flowering
Bloom Duration: All Summer
Cold Hardy
Full Sun (some partial sun is ok)
Bloom Color: White
Additional Information
Great for Naturalizing, Mass Planting, Borders, or Cut Gardens
29-36” tall
Ships early April
Key Planting Tips
Plant in full sun to partial shade, 2-3" inches deep with the roots pointing down (sometimes you have to look carefully to find them). Space each bulb 12" apart and plant in the drier parts of your garden.
Double Snowdrop - Galanthus Nivalis 'Flore Pleno' 1874 Heirloom Bulbs
from $19.99
Snowdrops help herald the return of Spring. They are very persistent and even a late snowfall will not that stop them. Often paired with crocuses. They have a slight fragrance so plant them by your walkways. They also can be used for arrangements. After a long winter, it is nice to pick a bouquet from your own backyard.
'Flore Pleno' is a double snowdrop and was introduced around 1874 and are practically deer and rodent proof. Plant them around crocuses, tulips or other bulbs and flowers that the deer, rabbits, chipmunks and other critters like to munch on.
Just like crocuses, they don’t even need a flowerbed as they will be long gone when it is time to mow your lawn. A natural technique is to take a few bulbs and just toss them in front of you – then plant where they land!
USDA Zones 3 – 8
Late Winter to Early Spring
Bloom Duration: 2 weeks
Cold Hardy
Prefers Partial Shade
Bloom Color: White
Additional Information
Great for Naturalizing, Borders, Mass Plantings, and Rock Gardens
5” tall
Key Planting Tips
Simply plant 3” deep. You can plant tulips or daffodils under crocuses for a layering effect. Unlike other bulbs that can wait a little to be planted, plant Snowdrops right away once you get them.
Eastern Red Columbine, Native Flower
from $3.00
Firefly Farm & Mercantile - Eastern Red Columbine is native to the central and eastern Untied States. It is a late spring to early summer flowering perennial. Bees and other polliantors rely on these woodland species for valuable nectar and pollen. This is very abundant at Firefly Farm & Mercantile. You would see this along our Wild Flower Trail in mid May to mid June typically.
They are 10-18” tall and will casually reseed to keep an abundance of blooms going for years to come. The flowers face downwards and have longer spurs that form the classic combine curl.
The self-sowing variety prefers even moisture and grows best in full sun to partial shade, ideally with afternoon shade in hot climates. Perennial.
Botanical name: Aquilegia canadensis
Perennial
Full sun to partial shade is optimal
Instructions:
Sow seeds outdoors after the last frost. Columbine prefers well-drained average soil. Water regularly, keeping leaves dry. Remove spent blossoms frequently to prolong blooming.
Start Indoors: 6-8 weeks before the last frost
Germination: 3-4 weeks
Plant Outdoors: 8-10” Apart
Light: Full Sun
Imperial Fritillaria 'Lutea' 1587 Heirloom Bulbs
from $11.00
Fritillaria’s are amazing plants. The Rubra variety or 'Fritillaria Imperialis Rubra.' was first available in 1587. It is not often you can enjoy a plant that has been available for more than 400 years. Each variety Is unique in shape and color. The blooms will get lots of attention especially when planted in multiples! Simply plant in the full sun and enjoy the stunning blooms for weeks.
USDA Zones 3-8
Cold Hardy
Full Sun
Height 36" to 40"
Bloom Color: Yellow
Additional Information
Deer, Rabbit, & Rodent Resistant
Great for Naturalizing or Mass Planting
Plant 8" Deep
Key Planting Tips
Plant in full sun, 8” inches deep with the tip pointing up. Space each bulb 6”-10” apart.
Bulbs have everything they need to get started, but you can place a teaspoon of bone meal in the soil before planting and use a low nitrogen fertilizer when the first leaves appear in Spring.
Ships mid September to mid October.
Crackerjack Mix African Marigold Heirloom
from $2.00
$3.25
We offer marigolds in several ways.
Firefly Farm & Mercantile - We offer these in mutlipe sizes but are grown naturally, from our own farm. We recognize many need or like to have the organic certified assurity and offer that as well from our friends at Southern Exposure.
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange - Crackerjack Mix African Marigolds are classics that take 82 days to bloom in shades of yellow, gold, and orange. (Tagetes erecta)
Certified Organic
Heirloom
3-4 ft. plants
Instructions - Annual. Germination: 70°F, 4-8 days. Full sun. Direct sow or transplant after last frost. Space 8-16” apart.
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of the availability
Tetra Mix Snapdragon
$3.75
$3.95
The Seed Savers Exchange - Robust, scented flowers in an abundance of colors hearken back to old-fashioned annual cutting gardens. The undeniable vintage charm of this semi-dwarf snapdragon, which grows from 18-24" high, enlivens garden beds and borders, as well as bouquets. Annual.
Characteristics:
Annual
Fragrant and colorful
Grows 18-24" tall
250 Seeds
Instructions - Sow seeds indoors on the surface of the soil. Plant outdoors after the danger of frost has passed in late spring. Prefers average soil. Remove spent blossoms regularly to prolong blooming.
Sow 8-10 Weeks before the last frost
Plant 7-10" Apart
Germination 7-10 days
Full Sun to Partial Sun
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of availability
Nerine Bowdenii Lily, Naked Lady Lily, Pink Ladies, Surprise Lily (Southern USA)
from $4.50
Nerines have several names. Nerine Bowdenii goes by Guernsey Lilies, Jersey Lilies or Cape Flowers and because of their habit of the leaves coming separately from the blossoms, they get referred to as Naked Ladies. We receive these in the spring while other colors we receive in the fall.
The leaves pop up, the leaves die and sometime later, lilies start popping up and you have blooms before you know it.
They bloom in late summer and the pink color is a wonderful addition to the garden.
Characteristics
18" - 28" tall
USDA Zones 7-10 (Hardy in these zones, some folks have success all the way to Zones 5 for Lycoris so give those a try if you live in a colder climate)
Bloom Duration: 2 weeks
Full Sun or Partial Shade
Additional Information
Deer, Rodent, Rabbit and Squirrel Resistant
Great for Specimen, Mass Plantings, Borders, and Cutting Gardens.
Great for butterflies and other pollinators
Key Planting Tips
Plant in full sun with 2” deep with the pointed end up. Space 2" apart for densely packed displays.
We have these arrive in fall and will start shipping in September.
Jalapeno (Traveler Strain) Pepper (Hot)
$3.75
$3.95
Seed Exchange - From SSE member Larry Pierce of Cabool, Missouri. Named Traveler because Larry carried this seed with him when he moved to Oklahoma, Wyoming, and then Missouri. Sturdy plants covered in cylindrical fruits that average 3" long. Fruits ripen from green to bright red. 70-90 days from transplant. Hot.
Characteristics:
Best-selling hot pepper
Cylindrical fruits grow to 3 inches
Peppers ripen from green to bright red
Hot pepper
70-90 days from transplant
25 Seeds
Instructions - Sow seeds indoors ¼” deep. Peppers germinate best in warm soil, so gentle bottom heat may be helpful until seedlings emerge. Wait to transplant outdoors until soil is warm.
Sow indoors 8 weeks before the last frost
Plant 1/4" deep
Germinates in 14 days
Plant Rows 12-24" apart
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute based on supplier availability
Broad Windsor Fava Bean, 1863 Heirloom, Both Organic & Conventional Available
from $3.25
$4.00
Broad Windsor Fava Beans - A cool season favorite! Fava beans are used all over the world and are incredibly versatile. They are a favorite for us as it is great to start sowing as soon as the ground unfreezes. Typically the soil is 40 degrees for the best time to sow. The plants can withstand freezing temps but to help germinate it is ok to cover to trap some additional heat.
Yes, Grilled Fava Beans are a thing! This heirloom fava bean is a favorite and has stood the test of time. each pod contains 6-8 beans on average. Beans can be prepared in so many ways - fresh beans are often grilled (my personal favorite), steamed or sauted, while dried beans are your in soups, dips, and roasted
Organic or Conventional Available
Bush type Bean (2-4' tall plants so some trellising can be helpful
85 day
Instructions - Fruits must set before temps reach 70 degrees. This variety is often planted whent he ground is workable. It does not need much protection, but any protection will help it grow and set pods faster. In mild climates, plant in the fall or in cold climates, plant whent he soil is workable.
Direct Seed 4-6" apart
Planting Depth 1"
Thin 6" apart
This an easy seed to save too!
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability
Summer Pinwheels Zinnia
$3.25
$3.39
Renee's Garden - Showy zinnias whose double blossoms have cherry-pink centers and creamy-white tipped petals. Flowers bloom heavily to dance nonstop all season long atop strongly branching, long-stemmed, 3–3 1/2 foot plants. Butterflies of all kinds and many other pollinators flock to them for their plentiful nectar and pollen. You can count on a constant supply of bright and beautiful flowers for big, long-lasting bouquets from these peak-performing plants all season long.
Characteristics:
Heirloom
Butterfly & Hummingbird favorites
Pollinators & Beneficials
Annual
Summer/fall bloom
Frost tender
Instructions - To start in the garden, sow seeds in well-worked soil in full sun when the danger of frost is past and the weather is warm and above 50°F (10°C) both day and night. Space seeds 2 to 3 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart, cover about 1/2 inch deep, and gently firm the soil. Keep soil evenly moist while awaiting germination.
To start early indoors, four weeks before the last frost date, sow seeds 1/2 inch deep and 3 inches apart in a container of seed starting mix. Keep warm and moist and provide a strong light source until seedlings are ready to plant outside only when temperatures rise above 50°F (10°C) both day and night.
Space seedlings 8-12 inches apart when large enough to handle to give plants room to mature and provide good air circulation. Zinnias grow readily in ordinary garden soil in full sun. For large and abundant flowers, thin before seedlings get crowded; adequate spacing and regular, even watering help keep zinnias productive and discourage mildew. Pick just as blossoms begin opening and petals are tight. Cut long stems well back into the plant to keep plants branching low and producing the best blooms for summer-long bouquets.
Plant in May-June for cold winters; April-June for mild winters
Full sun
Space seeds 2-3" apart
Plant 1/2" deep
Days to germinate: 7-10 days
Mature Height: 3-3.5 feet
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers due to availability.
Golden Midget Watermelon
$3.45
$3.95
The Seed Savers Exchange - An outstanding little watermelon, with golden-yellow rind and salmon-pink flesh. Pleasantly sweet, about 3 pounds in weight. Bred by Elwyn Meader and Albert Yaeger at UNH in 1959; a cross between New Hampshire Midget and Pumpkin Rind. Has a built-in ripeness indicator: fruits turn yellow when ready. Very early variety, ripening in just 70 days.
Characteristics:
Fruits grow to 3 pounds
Salmon-pink flesh, golden yellow rind
Fruits turn yellow when ready to harvest
Good for short seasons
Ripens in 70 days
25 seeds
This variety will grow well in most regions of the United States.
Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors in 12" diameter hills after danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed. Space hills 8' apart in all directions. Seeds will germinate in 4-10 days. Can also be started indoors 4 weeks before transplanting out. Watermelons love heat and prefer sandy or light-textured soils.
Plant 1/2" deep
Hill 6-8 seeds together
Thin to 3-4 plants
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability
Marketmore 76 Cucumber, Organic
$3.50
$3.55
Marketmore 76 remains the most widely-planted open-pollinated slicer in the US!
High Mowing Organic Seeds - Dark green fruits stay green and mild-tasting even under heat stress, while multiple disease resistances keep plants vigorous and highly productive across a long picking season. Showed good resistance to angular leaf spot and anthracnose in our trials.
Organic, non-GMO, and open-pollinated
8-9" Dark green skin with bright white flesh
Used for fresh eating
65 days
1/16 ounce (~25 Seeds)
Highly resistant to Cucumber Mosaic Virus, Scab, and Powdery Mildew
Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors in 12" diameter hills after the last frost when soil is warm. Space hills 6' apart in all directions. Can also be started indoors 2-4 weeks before the last frost for an earlier harvest. Cucumbers benefit from consistent moisture. Provide support for vines to save space.
Plant 6-8 Seeds on a Hill once the soil warms to 75 degrees
Plant 1" Deep
Thin to 3 or 4 plants
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers due to availability.
Roselily 'Nowa' (Double Oriental Lily)
from $6.99
$8.99
The Roselily Collection is recently introduced. Oriental Lilies are probably the most popular type of lily and the Roselily will keep them as heavy favorites. The fragrant blooms are favorite in summer. They are dependable bloomers year after year as long as you provide fertilizer or rich compost when you plant them, right after they bloom and early spring. The blooms are favorite in cut vases so make sure you plant some extras.
Our Roselily 'Now' Double Oriental Lily will make a great addition garden to you garden. Light Pink edges with dark pink freckled interior doubled blossoms will leave you with nothing but smiles all day long.
Our bulbs are 5” in circumference ( 16-18cm) which makes them some of the biggest available. We start shipping mid March as we receive our stock from our growers.
USDA Zones 4-9
Mid-Summer flowering
Pollen Free Blooms
Bloom Duration: 2 weeks
Cold Hardy to Zone 4 with protection
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Bloom Color: Light Pink edges with dark pink freckled interior
Starts shipping in mid March
Additional Information
Great for Naturalizing, Mass Planting, Borders, Hummingbirds & Cut Gardens.
36-38” tall
Key Planting Tips
Plant in full sun to partial shade, 6” inches deep with the tip pointing up. Space each bulb 4-6" apart. Well drained soil is essential. If not planting in early to mid spring, place them in your refrigerator until ready to plant.
Shipping Info
These will start shipping mid February as we bring a limited number in from the coolers then typcially bring the bulk of them in late March and the remaining in April. We typically like to ship out by the end of May. We like to ship based on your planting zones which is a few weeks after the ground has thawed and most nights are above 32 degrees. You can also make a note at checkout for when you’d like them.
Bearded Iris 'All Night Long', 2004 introduction
from $9.95
All Night Long’ Bearded Iris - 'All Night Long' can appear black and it can have a purple iridescent color as well. As it matures it takes different hues. This one deserves to be in every garden to share its brilliance and uniqueness.
Breeder info: Roger Duncan, 2004
Bearded Irises are wonderful. They are easy to grow and give you wonderful results. Bearded Irises are hardy from Zone 3 all the way to Zone 10. They do not need a chilling period so they can grow almost anywhere in the United States. It’s not uncommon to hear stories how immigrants would bring these flower with them from their home countries throughout Europe. If you walk through suburbs and cities, you will start to be able to see the diversity of these species.
USDA Zones 3 – 10
Flowers May to June depending on your zone
Bloom Duration: 3-4 weeks
Cold Hardy
Full Sun
Additional Information
Deer, Rabbit, & Rodent Resistant
Great for Naturalizing, Borders, Mass Plantings, and Rock Gardens
36” tall
Drought tolerant
Key Planting Tips
Plant in full sun with 1/3 of the rhizome exposed above the soil. We like to plant ours 18”-30” apart. They fill in pretty fast. Do NOT mulch over the rhizome as they like to remain dry and extra mulch increases chances of rot. We recommended cutting the flower once it blooms to put energy back into the rhizome and the new blooms that will happen later in the summer.
Ships mid September to mid October.
Photo Credit: Flickr Handle P C Chang
Bearded Iris 'Over Alaska' ,German Iris
from $9.95
‘Over Alaska’ Bearded Iris - Pre Order yours today!
Bearded Irises are wonderful. They are easy to grow and give you wonderful results. Bearded Irises are hardy from Zone 3 all the way to Zone 10. They do not need a chilling period so they can grow almost anywhere in the United States. It’s not uncommon to hear stories how immigrants would bring these flower with them from their home countries throughout Europe. If you walk through suburbs and cities, you will start to be able to see the diversity of these species.
USDA Zones 3 – 10
Flowers May to June depending on your zone
Bloom Duration: 3-4 weeks
Cold Hardy
Full Sun
Additional Information
Deer, Rabbit, & Rodent Resistant
Great for Naturalizing, Borders, Mass Plantings, and Rock Gardens
36” tall
Drought tolerant
Key Planting Tips
Plant in full sun with 1/3 of the rhizome exposed above the soil. We like to plant ours 18”-30” apart. They fill in pretty fast. Do NOT mulch over the rhizome as they like to remain dry and extra mulch increases chances of rot. We recommended cutting the flower once it blooms to put energy back into the rhizome and the new blooms that will happen later in the summer.
Ships mid September to mid October.
Photo Credit: Flickr Handle JeriSisco
Sweet Basil, Heirloom, Organic
$3.75
$4.00
The Living Seed Company - This aromatic and tender herb is one of the most common herbs worldwide. Commonly used in Asian and Italian cookery, sweet basil's fragrance is something you want in your garden. Grows great in containers and directly seeded. Enjoying full sun, this delicious annual is a prolific plant growing to 18" - 24". Be sure to enjoy its harvest before it begins to get cold, it is very sensitive to cold weather.
Best Seller
Organic
Annual plants
Plants will grow to 18-24 inches
Sweet, fragrant leaves
250 Seeds
Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors when soil is warm and temperature does not drop below 65°F. Can also be started indoors 4-6 weeks before planting out. Make successive sowings for continuous summer supplies. Pinch back flower stalks as they appear to keep plants from bolting. Prefers rich well-drained soil.
Sow 1/8" deep
Germination 5-30 days
Thin to 4-6" apart
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of availability
Canna Cannasol 'Happy Emily'
from $11.95
Canna 'Happy Emily'
The Cannasol family is made specifically for pots. They provide blooms until frost and grow only to 22" in height. They are care free and are not bothered by deer, rabbits or other rodents.
Cannas reward you with lush tropical foliage and standout blooms within a very short time period. Cannas are tropical bulbs and will need to be lifted in zones colder than Zone 7. They are easy to store and will bring your years of enjoyment. Cut the flowers for show stopping arrangements as this will help encourage blooms until frost. Canna bulbs are #1 size bulbs, some of the biggest on the market.
Characteristics
18" - 22" tall
USDA Zones 7-11 (Hardy in these zones, lift and store in winter in other zones)
Summer to Fall
Bloom Duration: Continuous Blooms through frost starting in mid to late summer
Full Sun (some partial shade is ok)
Additional Information
Deer, Rodent, Rabbit and Squirrel Resistant
Great for Specimen, Mass Plantings, Borders, and Cutting Gardens.
Great for butterflies and other pollinators
Ships starting late March (weather dependent)
Key Planting Tips
Plant in full sun with 6” deep. Space 2' apart. Plant when the soil is 60 degrees, well past any frost danger.
Tiny Shadow Lily, Lilium Asiatic (Asiatic Lily, Lily Div I)
from $8.99
Back for 2025! Asiatic Lilies are super easy to care for and are dependable bloomers year after year. Blooms are upright and look as if they are looking up towards the sun.
The Tiny Series provides countless blooms and are perfect containers. Our Tiny Shadow Asiatic Lily will provide an abundance of eye catching blooms.
USDA Zones 3-9 (Zone 2, 3 you should mulch to help with winter lows)
Mid-Summer flowering
Bloom Duration: 2 weeks
Cold Hardy
Full Sun
Bloom Color: Orange and Dark Orange
Additional Information
Perfect for Containers! Does well in Naturalizing, Mass Planting, Borders, & Cut Gardens.
12-14” tall
Shipping: We start shipping in February and finish shipping in May or when we run out of our bulbs. This one seems to be arriving in the 2nd half of March.
Key Planting Tips
Plant in full sun to partial shade, 4-5” inches deep with the tip pointing up. Space each bulb 4-6" apart. Well drained soil is essential.
Lilies have everything they need to get started, but you can place a teaspoon of bone meal in the soil before planting and use a low nitrogen fertilizer when the first leaves appear in Spring.
Coral Sunset - Peony, 1965 introduction, Illinois, lactiflora
from $26.75
Coral Sunset Peony -Semi-double blossoms that change colors as they mature. The rich tones of pinks, oranges and yellows will have you think of sunsets on a tropical beach. They are very popular as cut flowers and have a wonderful fragrance to them.
Check out all of our peonies - Peonies (fireflyfarmandmercantile.com)
Semi-double Blossoms of pinks, oranges and yellows
24-36" tall
Blooms late spring to early summer
Peonies are safe from deer and rabbits.
USDA Zones 3-8
Moderate fragrance
Botanical Name: Paeonia lactiflora
Origin: Wissing, 1965
3-5 Eye Rootstock - We try to only provide the largest rootstock for peonies for stronger roots that lead to better blooms. 2-3 eye roostock is the most common size offered and occassionally it is what we have to use, but 3-5 eyes per root is our goal. Eyes are the buds of the leaves and stems that will grow this season for you.
Shipping - Ships first two weeks of May- All peonies are packed in spagnum moss or other media to ensure they make it to your garden in pristine condition. We do adjust for shipping charges as every year is slighly different in weights and sizes. We also ship the last 2 weeks of September as well.
Planting Care - Bare roots should be kept cool and in the dark until ready to plant. Peonies do not like to be planted deep and eyes should be kept no deeper than 1" below the soil surface. When possible, it is a great idea to mound your peonies above your existing garden grade to accommodate mulch. Plant no deeper than 1-2". The roots will quickly develop and anchor into the ground.
Full Sun or Partial Sun is best
Prefers loamy soil, can be planted in sandy or clay soils with compost amendments
Give them room to grow as they don't like to be moved once established
Some blooms may occur first year when planting in the spring, fall planted peonies will yield spring blooms most of the time
Roselily 'Ciara' (Double Oriental Lily, Lilium, Lily Div VII)
from $4.99
$6.99
Ciara Roselily - Ciara is one of the faster blooming rose lilies as she is a little short at 38". For those planning on weddings they are reliable to bloom in 95 days after planting. Typically they aer 95-115 days for bloom times.
The Roselily Collection is recently introduced. Oriental Lilies are probably the most popular type of lily and the Roselily will keep them as heavy favorites. The fragrant blooms are favorite in summer. They are dependable bloomers year after year as long as you provide fertilizer or rich compost when you plant them, right after they bloom and early spring. The blooms are favorite in cut vases so make sure you plant some extras.
Our bulbs are 15/17 for Ciara this year
USDA Zones 4-9
Mid-Summer flowering
Bloom Duration: 2 weeks
Cold Hardy to Zone 4 with protection
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Bloom Color: Pink and White
We start shipping in early April
Additional Information
Great for Mass Planting, Borders, Hummingbirds & Cut Gardens.
36-38” tall
Key Planting Tips
Plant in full sun to partial shade, 6” inches deep with the tip pointing up. Space each bulb 4-6" apart. Well drained soil is essential. If not planting in early to mid spring, place them in your refrigerator until ready to plant.
Shipping Info
These will start shipping mid April and we typically like to ship out by the end of May. We like to ship based on your planting zones which is a few weeks after the ground has thawed and most nights are above 32 degrees. You can also make a note at checkout for when you’d like them.