Seeds - Native Flowers and Grasses

The Seed Savers Exchange - One of the tallest and most magnificent of the fall asters. Serves as an important late-season (after frost) nectar source for a variety of butterflies. Plants grow 3-6' tall and require fertile soil with adequate moisture. Perennial. Hardy to zone 4. Characteristics:  Perennial and hardy to zone 4 Plants grow to 3-6 feet tall Topped with pink-purple flowers Blooms late in the summer and early in the fall Serves as an important late-season (after frost) nectar source for a variety of butterflies 250 Seeds per packet  Instructions - Sow seeds indoors just beneath surface of soil in a flat. Enclose flat with plastic and refrigerate for 2 weeks. Remove plastic wrap and place in warm lighted area. May need staking in a garden border. Pinch back until late summer to prevent plant from falling over when heavily laden with blossoms. Start indoors 6 weeks before the last frost Germination 14-35 days Plant 24" apart Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of the availability

The Seed Savers Exchange -  From midsummer until early fall, beautiful bright-orange flowers cover butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa). This North American native attracts bees, hummingbirds, moths, and butterflies and is an essential host plant for Monarch butterflies. Blooms reliably from seed the first year, if sown early. Plants will reach 2-3' tall and grow well in dry, sandy soil and in well-drained loams. Perennial. Hardy to zone 4. Characteristics:  Perennial and hardy to zone 4 Plants grow to 2-3 feet Bright orange flowers in summer and fall Pollinator-friendly; extremely attractive to bees, hummingbirds, moths, and butterflies 50 Seeds per packet  Instructions - Sow seeds indoors just beneath the surface of the soil in pots. Germination will occur with no treatment but benefits from cold stratification. Place pots in plastic bags and refrigerate for three weeks. Remove plastic and provide light and 50-75°F thereafter. Do not overwater. Transplant outdoors when light frost is still possible. Start Indoors - 8-10 weeks before the last frost Sow 1/4" deep Germination 10-40 days Plant 12-24" apart Light: Partial Sun to Full Sun Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of availability

Seed Exchange - Masses of purple flower spikes sit atop lush deep-green foliage. Leaves emit a potent licorice scent when crushed and can be used as a flavoring for cooking and for tea. Makes an excellent cut flower. Plants grow 1-3' tall. Acts as a biennial and self-sows readily on open ground. Hardy to zone 4. Characteristics:  Self-seeding, biennial/perennial Hardy to zone 4 Plants grow to 1-3 feet Purple flowers and leaves that smell of licorice 250 Seeds per packet  Instructions - Sow seeds indoors just beneath surface of soil. Seeds can also be directly sown outdoors as soon as soil can be worked in spring. Does best in well-drained soil. Sow seed indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost Germination 30-90  days Plant 12" apart Full Sun to Partial Shade Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of the availability

The Seed Savers Exchange - One of the very best for attracting butterflies and birds, this showy and easy-to-grow plant adds a flashy touch to the late summer landscape. Blooms heavily from July through September. Will tolerate clay soils. Plants reach 3-4' tall. Perennial. Hardy to zone 4. Characteristics:  Perennial and hardy to zone 4 One of the very best for attracting butterflies and birds Plants grow to 3-4 feet tall Heavy yields of purple-magenta flowers from July through September Tolerates clay soils 250 Seeds per packet  Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors just before last frost. Can also be started indoors and set out as small plants. Seeds can be soaked in warm water for 24 hours before planting. Prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained rich soil. Purple Coneflower does not like to be transplanted as it develops a taproot that allows it to be very drought tolerant.    Start Indoors - 8-10 weeks before the last frost. Sow 1/2" deep Germination 10-20days Thin 18-24" apart Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of availability

The Seed Savers Exchange - A clump-forming shorter prairie grass that is good for erosion control. At one time grew in 45 states and was the most abundant grass in mid-America. Thick plants turn a striking orange-red in the fall and are topped by fluffy silvery-white seed heads. Provides cover and food for birds. Plants grow 2-3' tall in well-drained sand and loam. Perennial. Hardy to zone 3. Characteristics:  Perennial and hardy to zone 3 Plants grow to 2-3 foot tall clumps Slightly blue foliage turns copper-red in the fall Good for erosion control plantings 250 Seeds per packet  Instructions - Sow seeds indoors in warm soil. Plant out after all danger of frost has passed. Seeds can also be directly sown into a weed-free seedbed in May or June. Not recommended for clay soils. Alternatively Start Indoors late winter to early spring Sow 1/2" deep Germination 14-20 days Thin 24" apart Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of the availability

The Seed Savers Exchange - (Dalea purpurea) Bright purple blossoms mid-summer through fall. Stunning when planted with Butterflyweed, Black-Eyed Susan, and any of the shorter prairie grasses. An important prairie legume that fixes nitrogen in the soil. Grows 1-3' tall on most well-drained soils ranging from dry sand to clay. Perennial. Hardy to zone 4. Characteristics:  Perennial and hardy to zone 4 Plants grow to 1-3 feet tall Bright purple blossoms mid-summer through fall Grows well on most soils Fixes nitrogen in the soil for increased fertility 250 seeds per packet  Instructions - Sow seeds indoors just beneath the surface of the soil. Transplant outdoors no later than August 1 to ensure good root development. Also easy to grow when direct-seeded into a weed-free seedbed in mid-spring to early summer. Very drought tolerant once established. Start Indoors: In Early Spring Germination: 10-20 Days Plant Outdoors: 12” Apart Light: Full Sun Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of the availability

The Seed Savers Exchange - Best known of all the prairie flowers and the easiest to grow. A single plant can produce hundreds of blooms over the summer and into the fall. Excellent cut flower with 6-10 days of vase life. Plants grow 2-3'. Self-seeding biennial or hardy annual. Hardy to zone 3. Characteristics:  Self-seeding biennial or hardy annual Hardy to zone 3 Plants grow to 2-3 feet An excellent cut flower that lasts 6-10 days in a vase 250 Seeds Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors just before last frost. Can also be started indoors and set out as small plants.  Plant in poor soil as rich soil will weaken stems.   Alternatively Start Indoors - 8-10 weeks before the last frost.   Sow 1/2" deep Germination 10-20days Thin 18-24" apart Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of availability

The Seed Savers Exchange - (Liatris pycnostachya) One of the most spectacular and majestic of the prairie plants. Large spikes of tightly bunched magenta flowers bloom from the top to the bottom of the stalk. An excellent cut or dried flower. Grows 3-4' tall. Perennial. Hardy to zone 4.  Characteristics:  Perennial and hardy to zone 4 Plants grow to 3-4 feet tall Spikes of purple-magenta flowers Excellent for dried and cut flower arrangements 150 seeds per packet  Instructions - Germination is increased by a 30- day cold treatment in slightly damp paper towels in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. Seed can also be directly sown into a prepared seedbed in fall, or in early- to mid-spring. Requires a rich loam, clay, or slightly moist sandy soil.  Start Indoors: 6-8 weeks before planting out  Germination: 20-25 Days Plant Outdoors: 2-3' Apart Light: Full Sun Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of the availability

The Living Seed Company - Coreopsis is a tremendously resilient annual wildflower, native to the United States.  An abundance of blooms, also known as the Golden Wave. Can grow in moist climates and soil types.  Drought tolerant.  A staple in any meadow garden.  Easy to grow and often reseeds.  Attracts bees, butterflies and birds to your garden, while being deer resistant and having an extended bloom time! Aside from being beautiful, they are nectar rich and offer forage for many of our pollinator allies!  Characteristics:  Perennial and hardy to zone 4 Excellent for attracting butterflies and birds Plants grow to 2-3 feet tall Produces flowers from mid summer until frost. 100 Seeds per packet  Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors just before last frost. Can also be started indoors and set out as small plants.  Prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained rich soil.  Start Indoors - 8-10 weeks before the last frost. Sow 1/2" deep Germination 10-25 days Thin 18-24" apart Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of availability

The Living Seed Company - (Asclepias fascicularis) Narrowleaf Milkweed is a gorgeous California native flower that is the sole source of food for the Monarch butteries. The butterflies lay their eggs exclusively on Milkweed plants, creating an opportunity for us to plant Monarch habitat!  We do not ship outside of the West Coast as we want to make sure it’s distribution is for west coast gardens. We have a wide range of milkweeds to choose from. Grows as a shrub about 2' - 4' high with stunning fragrant flowers. These wildflowers are easy to grow and propagate through rhizomes. Known for their beautiful colors ranging in greenish white to deep purple, the Milkweed brings joy and life to every garden! Exuding a delicious vanilla scent, the milkweed also attracts other pollinators while bloom from June - August. Also known as Mexican Whorled milkweed, this milkweed grows well in dry climates and will blossom from June - September.   This beautiful low maintenance, drought tolerant wildflower may be slow to grow the first year, as it sets its taproot deep into the earth.  In following years, it will grow more vigorous. It is very important to plant locally native milkweed species.  Please learn which milkweeds are native to your region and consult this milkweed range maps from the Biota of North America Program’s (BONAP) North American Plant Atlas. Characteristics:  Perennial and hardy to zone 4 Plants grow to 3-5 feet tall Preferred food source of Monarch butterflies 30 Seeds per packet  Instructions - Sow seeds at a depth of 1/2" depth ans space seeds every 4-6", thin to 3-4'. Keep seeds evenly moist until they germinate.  Germination: 10-20 Days Plant Outdoors: 3-4' Apart Light: Full Sun Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of the availability

The Seed Savers Exchange - Also known as Swamp milkweed, this North American native bears bright pink-and-red, vanilla-scented flowers in June and July. Surprisingly adaptable, this 5-foot-tall perennial is the preferred forage source for the larvae of Monarch butterflies and can grow in wet to well-drained soil. Perennial. Hardy to zone 4. Characteristics:  Perennial and hardy to zone 4 Plants grow to 5 feet tall Bright pink and red, vanilla-scented flowers Blooms in June and July Preferred food source of Monarch caterpillars 50 Seeds per packet  Instructions - Sow seeds indoors in flats 1/4" deep, moisten the soil, cover with plastic, and refrigerate for 10 days. Thereafter, provide light and 50-75°F. This moist stratification is not absolutely necessary but will help to increase germination. Start Indoors - 8-10 weeks before the last frost Sow 1/4" deep Germination 10-15 days Plant 12-24" apart Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of the availability

The Seed Savers Exchange - The monarch of the prairie, largely responsible for the formation of the famous prairie sod. Once covered thousands of square miles of the tallgrass prairie from the Atlantic Ocean to the Rocky Mountains. Lush green 3-8' plants change color at first frost to an attractive reddish-copper that lasts well into the winter. Thrives in almost any soil. Perennial. Hardy to zone 3. Characteristics:  Perennial and hardy to zone 3 Green plants grow to 3-8 feet Changes color after frost to red-copper Thrives in almost any soil types and drought tolerant 250 Seeds per packet  Instructions - Sow seeds indoors in a warm area (70-85°F). Transplant outdoors after danger of frost has passed. Seeds can also be directly sown into a weed-free seedbed in late April-June. Tolerates most moisture levels and withstands drought. Alternatively Start Indoors - 8-10 weeks before the last frost.   Sow 1/2" deep Germination 14-20days Thin 24" apart Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of availability

The Seed Savers Exchange - Produces huge quantities of brilliant yellow-orange flowers from June to September. Very easy to grow. Seeds are great for the birds! Excellent cut flower lasting up to 10 days. Grows 2-5' tall. Self-sows; does not spread by rhizomes. Hardy to zone 4.  Characteristics:  Self-seeding and hardy to zone 4 Plants grow to 2-5 feet tall Long-lasting yellow-orange flowers Blooms from June through September 150 seeds per packet  Instructions - Sow seeds indoors just under the surface of the soil in late winter or early spring. Also germinates readily when sewn into a weed-free seedbed in fall, spring, or early summer. Prefers a moderately rich loam, clay, or slightly damp sandy soil. Will tolerate very light shade.   Start Indoors: 8-10 weeks before planting out Germination: 10-15 Days Plant Outdoors: 12-24” Apart Light: Full Sun Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of the availability

The Seed Savers Exchange - Native to the eastern half of the U.S. where it thrives in most any-well drained soil, this familiar milkweed species, also known as butterfly flower, produces clusters of stunning, sweetly scented, nectar-rich flowers in shades of pink on 3-4’ plants. Monarch butterflies depend on milkweed plants for forage and to lay their eggs, making this a natural choice for habitat gardens or any border where butterflies are enjoyed. Perennial. Hardy to zone 4.  Characteristics:  Perennial and hardy to zone 4 Plants grow to 3-4 feet tall Preferred food source of Monarch butterflies 50 Seeds per packet  Instructions - Sow seeds indoors in flats 1/4" deep, moisten the soil, cover with plastic, and refrigerate for 10 days. Thereafter, provide light and 50-75°F. This moist stratification is not absolutely necessary but will help to increase germination.  Start Indoors: 8-10 weeks before planting out Germination: 10-15 Days Plant Outdoors: 12-24” Apart Light: Full Sun Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of the availability