CULTURAL GUIDE
ACHILLEA FILIPENDULINA, GOLD YARROW
Synonyms: Fernleaf Yarrow
Description: perennial, 36-60 inches tall; leaves doubly pinnatifid, like fern leaves,
woolly hairy; flowersdull yellow, in dense, flat-topped clusters up to 5
in. across; plants very aromatic. Blooms in zone 5 from mid-June through
August.
Range/habitat: Asia Minor, Caucasus (Russia). Naturalized throughout the United States.
Culture/uses: prefers sunny locations and dry soil; tolerant tocombination of heat &
humidity, drought tolerant; can be very aggressive. Flowers are good for cutting
and drying. Zones 3-10.
Germination information: State standard=50, best temp.=65-75 F,7-14 days
Seeds/lb.=2,790,000
Planting Rate: 1 oz./3000 sq. ft., 1 lb./acre (60)
ACHILLEA LANULOSA, WESTERN YARROW
Synonyms: Achillea millefolium var. occidentalis, A. millefolium var. lanulosa
Description: perennial, 12-36 inches tall; leaves finely divided with gray woolly hairs;
flowers are white, in dense, flat-topped cluster; plants are aromatic. Quite
drought tolerant. Can be distinguished from A. millefolium by having 5-6
white ray flowers surrounding 25-30 disk flowers, foliage usually with a
wooly pubescence. Blooms in zone 5 from June through July.
Range/habitat: native from Quebec to Yukon, south to OK, CA and Mexico. Dry, open
rocky places.
Culture/uses: prefers sunny locations, well-draining soils. Very drought tolerant; will
be aggressive in moister soils, spreads by rhizomes. Zones 4-9.
Germination information: state standard=50, best temp.=65-75, 10-15 days
Seeds/lb. = 3,240,000
Planting Rate: 1 oz./3000 sq. ft., 1 lb./acre (60)
ACHILLEA MILLEFOLIUM, WHITE YARROW
Synonyms: Milfoil, Sanguinary, Thousand-seal, Nose-bleed
Description: perennial, 12-36 inches tall; leaves finely divided and not noticeably hairy,
flowers are white, indense, flat-topped clusters;plants very aromatic. Quite
droughttolerant. Bloomsin zone 5 from mid-June through August.
Subspecies: A. millefolium rubra, Red Yarrow, 12-30 inches tall, red flowers
Range/habitat: Europe and W. Asia, naturalized throughout theU.S., usually in fields and
roadsides.
Culture/uses: prefers sunny locations, dry to moist soils; veryaggressive with spreading
rhizomes, difficult toeradicate. Can be mowed to form a groundcover, good
for soil erosion, withstands combination of heat and humidity. Flowers can be
used for cutting and drying. Zones 3-10.
Germination information: State standard=50, best temp.=65-75 F,10-15 days
Seeds/lb.=2,790,000
Planting rate: l oz./3,000 sq. ft., l lb./acre (60)
AGASTACHEFOENICULUM, LAVENDER HYSSOP
Synonyms: Anise Hyssop, Fragrant Giant Hyssop
Description: perennial, 12-36 inches tall; has numerous purple spikeswhen in bloom,
entire plant very fragrant, a mixture of mint and licorice. Honeybees like this
plant. Blooms from Julyto September.
Range/habitat: north central North America; dry to moderately moist soils,open
upland woodlands, dry prairies.
Culture/uses: prefers full sun to light shade, moderate soils best. Agood bee plant for
honey; also used for teas and cooking. Zones 3-9.
Germination information: state standard=50, best temp. =
Seeds/lb. = 1,538,000
Planting rate: 1 oz./1200 sq. ft., 1 lb./acre (35)
ALLIUM CERNUUM, NODDING PINK ONION
Synonyms: Wild Onion, Lady’s Leek
Description: perennial, 12-18 inches tall; leaves numerous and linear; umbels many
flowered, nodding, pink to white. Blooms July-August.
Range/habitat: native from NY to SC, west to B.C. and CA. Rocky slopes, dry meadows,
hillsides and woodlands.
Culture/uses: prefers full sun to light shade, well-draining soils; great for the garden
or naturalized in a meadow. Very drought tolerant once established. Used
by Indians as a medicinal plant. Zones 4-10.
Germination information: state standard=50, moist chill to break dormancy
Seeds/lb. = 138,000
Planting rate: 1 oz/150 sq. ft., 19 lb./acre (60)
ALYSSUM SAXATILE, BASKET-OF-GOLD
Synonyms: Goldentuft, Madwort, Gold-dust, Aurinia saxatilis
Description: mat-forming perennial with woody roots; 8-12 inchestall; bright yellow
flowers in clusters; blooms inzone 5 from mid-April to early June.
Range/habitat: Albania, Bulgaria, Crete, Greece, Italy, Russia,Turkey, and Yugoslavia;
rocky, stony slopes, ledges,and cliffs, usually on limestone.
Culture/uses: Performs best in lean, very well-drained soil, fullsun. Plants form large,
spreading mounds, excellentfor the front of borders and rock gardens. Shear
lightly right after bloom. Zones 4 to 10.
Germination information: State standard=60, best temp.=
Seeds/lb.=567,000
Planting rate: l lb./9,500 sq. ft., 4.6 lbs/acre (60)
AMMIMAJUS, BISHOP'S FLOWER
Synonyms: Bishop's Weed, White Dill
Description: upright annual, 18-30 inches tall, flowers are in flatumbels, white,
resembling Queen Anne's Lace.
Range/habitat: Northeast Africa and Eurasia, naturalized in theUnited States.
Culture/Uses: prefers sunny to lightly shaded locations, dry to mesic soils. Thrives best
in Mediterranean-like climates. Makesa great cutflower.
Germination information: State standard=50
Seeds/lb.=867,000
Planting rate: l lb./14,450 sq. ft., 3 lbs./acre (60)
AMORPHACANESCENS, LEADPLANT
Synonyms: Prairie Shoestrings, Bastard Indigo
Description:a shrub-like perennial, 2-3 feet tall, compound leaves with a silvery pubescence, purple flower occur in tight spikes at the ends of the branches in late June-Julyin zone 5. Attracts butterflies.
Range/habitat: Manitoba, south to LA and NM. Prairies, open woods, roadsides.
Culture/Uses: prefers full sun, mesic to dry soils, adapted to sandy or gravelly soil,
can thrive in poor soil and is very drought tolerant, deeply tap-rooted. A nitrogen fixer. Attracts the Dogface Sulfur and GrayHairstreak butterflies. Deer, rabbits, and livestockare quite fond of dining on the foliage. Zones 3-9.
Germination information: State standard=50, scarification of seed may aid in
germination, high % of hard seed is quite common.
Seeds/lb. = 277,000
Planting rate: 1 lb./9000 sq. ft., 5 lb./acre (30)
ANDROPOGONGERARDII, BIG BLUESTEM
Description: perennial warm season grass from 4-7 feet tall,glaucous, clumping, has
purplish racemes; the seedheads appear in August and resemble turkey feet.
Known as the monarch of the prairie grasses, it isthe most widespread of the
prairie grasses. The greenleaves and stems change to an attractive purplish red
in fall and provide winter color. Blooms Aug.-Nov.
Range/habitat: Quebec to Sask., south to FL, AZ, Mexico (centraland eastern U.S. Wet
to mesic prairies, full sun tolight shade.
Culture/uses: tolerates a wide range of soils (wet clay to sandy),full sun to light shade,
plant in prairie meadows oruse as a specimen plant.
Germination information: standard: 60+D
Seeds/lb.= 165,000
Planting rate: 4 lbs./acre with wildflowers, 20 lbs./acre alone
ANTHEMISNOBILIS, ROMAN CHAMOMILE
Synonyms: Russian Chamomile, Garden Chamomile, Chamaemelumnobile
Description: creeping perennial, 6-12 inches tall; foliage isfinely divided and very
aromatic; flowers daisy-like,white with yellow center. Blooms in zone 5 from
Junethrough August.
Range/habitat: Belgium, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal,Spain; intro. into Italy,
Bulgaria, Russia; in cornfields, grassy and waste places.
Culture/uses: full or partial sun, dry soil; makes a lawn substitute if mowed or sheared
occasionally.
Germination information: State standard=50, best temp=
Seeds/lb.=2,837,000
Planting rate: l oz./3,000 sq. ft., l lb./acre (60)
AQUILEGIA CAERULEA, COLUMBINE (GIANT OR BLUE)
Description: perennial, 24-36 inches tall; all leaves basal;bell-shaped flowers are up to 3
inches wide, with longspurs, in blue, white, yellow, lavender or red (single
or bi-colored types). Blooms in zone 5 from May tomid-June. Zones 3-10.
Giant Varieties: McKana Giants or similar mixes
Range/habitat: Rocky Mtns.; sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, mountainbrush, aspen, Douglas
fir-White fir, aspen-forb,spruce-fir and alpine communities at 5,000-ll,000 feet
elevation.
Culture/uses: full sun to shady conditions, moist soils; providefiltered shade in sunny,
hot climates; best pH is 6-8, provide ample organic matter; attracts hummingbirds.
Germination information: State standard=50, best temp.=60-70 F,25-35 days,
germination is enhanced by moist chillingat 38 degrees for 2 months. A quick
alternative tomoist chilling is to place seed in paper towel, moistentowel and
then place in freezer for a day or two.
Seeds/lb.=43l,000
Planting rate: l lb./7,200 sq. ft., 6 lbs./acre (60)
AQUILEGIA CANADENSIS, EASTERN COLUMBINE
Synonyms: Wild Columbine, Meeting-Houses, Honeysuckle
Description: perennial, 18-24 inches tall; all leaves basal;drooping red and yellow
flowers are 1-2 inches wideand have straight spurs; blooms in mid-spring to
early summer
Range/habitat: Native from Nova Scotia and FL, west to MN and TN;frequently found in
limestone-rich soils in woodlandareas; the only eastern spp. of Columbine
Culture/uses: Ideal for rock gardens, rocky slopes, prairiegardens; can tolerate a pH of 5
to 8, grow in full sunto full shade situations. Very adaptable. Attracts
hummingbirds.Zones 3-9.
Germination information: State standard=50; best temp.=70-80degrees F, 3-4 weeks,
may benefit from moist chilling3-4 weeks.
Seeds/lb.=329,000
Planting rate: 1 lb./5500 sq. ft., 8 lb./acre (60)
AQUILEGIA VULGARIS, DWARF COLUMBINE
Synonyms: European Crowfoot, Granny's Bonnet
Description: perennial, 10-18 inches; all leaves basal; droopingbell-shaped flowers with
strongly hooked spurs, inwhite, red, violet or blue. Blooms in zone 5 from May
to mid-June.
Range/habitat: All Europe except Albania, Bulgaria and Turkey.Found in mountain
pastures, rocky places, shady slopesand woods.
Culture/uses: full sun to shady conditions, prefers sandy,well-drained soils, moderate
water; attractshummingbirds.
Germination information: State standard=50, best temp.=60-70 F,25-35 days, soak seed
in water 12-24 hrs. beforesowing, do not cover seed.
Seeds/lb.=3l5,000
Planting rate: l lb./5,200 sq. ft., 8 lbs./acre (60)
ARABISALPINA, ARABISCAUCASICA, ROCKCRESS
Synonyms: Mountain Rockcress
Description: mat-forming perennial, 4-10 inches tall; flowers with4 petals, white; blooms
in zone 5 from April tomid-May. Foliage stays attractive year-round.
Range/habitat: Most of Europe except Portugal, Ireland, Belgium,Holland, Denmark,
and Turkey; arctic and alpine areas,screes, rocky areas, wet meadowsin
mountains.
Culture/uses: Full to partial sun, dry soils. Thrives in poorsoils, excellent for edgings,
ground covers or rockgardens. Not tolerant to combination of heat and
humidity. Zones 4-10.
Germination information: State standard=60, best temp.=60-70 F,14-21 days
Seeds./lb. =1,5l2,000
Planting Rate: l lb./25,200 sq. ft., l.7 lbs./acre (60)
ARTEMISIA FRIGIDA, FRINGED SAGE
Synonyms: Fringed Sagewort, Pasture Sage
Description: low, spreading half-shrub, 8-16 inches tall; silvery-grey, finely divided, hairy leaves have distinct sage aroma; deep and extensive root system; numerous, small yellow flowers.
Range/habitat: Siberia and AK to AZ and TX, naturalized east to Quebec and New England; high open plains, prairies, foothills and roadsides; most abundant on dry sites
Culture/uses: full sun, dry soils, drought tolerant; increases under heavy grazing and is an indicator of overgrazing; one of the least desirable of the Artemisia spp. for wildlife feed
Germination information:
Seeds/lb. = 3,600,000
Planting rate: 1 oz./3750 sq. ft., 0.75 lb./acre (60)
ASCLEPIAS CURASSAVICA, BLOODFLOWER
Synonyms: Scarlet Milkweed, Silkweed, Indian Root, Tropical Milkweed
Description: An annual or tender perennial3-4 feet tall, has milky sap, hairless
stems and foliage,leaves are opposite,flowers are crimson and orange, in clusters 2-4 inches across. Blooms spring to fall. Toxic to livestock.
Range/habitat: West Indies and South American; naturalized throughout the tropics.
Culture/uses: Full to partial sun, dry to moist soils, easy to grow but may become weedy; Attracts bees, hummingbirds and is a host plant for monarch and queen butterflies; deer resistant. Zones 9-12 (grown as an annual elsewhere)
Germination information: State standard=60, best temp=65-70 F
Seeds/lb.=186,000
Planting Rate: 1 oz./200 sq. ft., 14 lb./acre (60)
ASCLEPIASINCARNATA, SWAMP MILKWEED
Synonym: Marsh Milkweed, RoseMilkweed, Silkweed
Description: Erect, clump-forming perennial 3-5 feet tall with milky sap, stems are branching, opposite leaves bend upward on either side of the prominent midrib, flowers are small, fragrant, pink to mauve, and in tight clusters at the stem ends, blooming July to September; plants have deep taproots
Range/habitat: Nova Scotia to Florida, west to Utah; swamps, wet meadows and prairies, poorly drained sites
Culture/uses: full sun, moderate to wet soils, attractive to butterflies, may become weedy
Germination information: state standard=
Seeds per lb. = 102,000
Planting rate: 1 oz./200 sq. ft., 13 lbs./acre (30)
ASCLEPIASSPECIOSA, SHOWY MILKWEED
Synonyms: Asclepias giffordii
Description: perennial, 24-40 inches tall, coarser than A. tuberosa, plants densely white
tomentose, large pink clusters offlowers appearing from June to Aug.; leaves
opposite,to 8 in. long; 3.5-4.5 inch long pods covered with whitehairs.
Rhizomatous, may be aggressive.
Range/habitat: Manitoba to MN, TX, west to B.C. and CA. Common alongroadsides,
fields, streamsides and other moist sites.To 7,600 ft. elev.
Culture/uses: full sun, moderate to moist sites, considered a wetlandspecies; excellent for
butterflies, can be aggressive.
Germination information: state standard=50
Seeds per lb. = 87,000
Planting rate: 1 lb./5,000 sq. ft. (20), 10 lbs./acre
ASCLEPIASTUBEROSA, BUTTERFLY MILKWEED
Synonyms: Butterflyweed, Pleurisy Root, Tuberroot
Description: perennial, 24-36 inches tall; has deep, tuberousroots; lacks milky juice;dried roots have been usedfor medicinal purposes. Flowers are in large
clusters, orange to reddish; Blooms in zone 5 frommid-June to mid-July.
Flowers produce large quantitiesof nectar which attracts butterflies. May be
POISONOUSto livestock.
Range/habitat: S. Ontario; New England to N. Dakota, s. to Florida,Arizona and n.
Mexico; usually in dry open soils ofprairies, roadsides and waste places, upland woods.
Culture/uses: full sun, well-drained sandy or gravelly soils; willendure drought well;
adaptable to soils of 4.5-6.5 pH;very dependable, long-lived perennial once
established. Tolerant to combination of heat and humidity. Zones 3-9.
Germination information: State standard=50
Seeds/lb.=87,000
Planting Rate: 1 lb./2,200 sq. ft., 20 lbs./acre (40)
ASTER AZUREUS, SKY BLUE ASTER
Description: erect, stiff perennial, 30-40 inches tall; leaves lance-shaped and rough to the touch; flowers are small, with blue to violet outer petals and a yellow center; blooms September to October
Range/habitat: southern Ontario, west to NY and MN, south to AL and TX; open woods, prairies, pastures, roadsides
Culture/uses: full to partial sun, dry to moist, well-drained soils; Zones 3-9.
Germination information: seed has dormancy
Seeds/lb. = 1,312,000
Planting rate: l oz/1,300 sq. ft., l lb./22,000 sq. ft., 2 lbs./acre (60)
ASTER LAEVIS, SMOOTH ASTER
Synonyms: Smooth Blue Aster
Description: perennial, 30-48 inches tall; has smooth, bluish-greenfoliage, leafy
branches; flowers are purple withyellow centers; blooms in zone 5 from mid-August toearly Oct.
Range/habitat: Canada; Yukon to ne. Oregon and New Mexico, east toMaine and
Georgia; in open, dry to moist sites such as borders of woodlands, prairies.
Culture/uses: prefers full sun, dry to moist soils, drought tolerant; Zones 3-9
Germination information: State standard=40, seed may need to bemoist-chilled.
Seeds/lb.=l,0l4,000
Planting rate: l oz./1,000 sq. ft., l lb./17,000 sq. ft., 2.5 lbs./acre (60)
ASTER NOVAE-ANGLIAE, NEW ENGLAND ASTER
Description: perennial, 3-6 feet tall; has leafy stems, leaveshairy; a robust, autumn-
blooming aster with thickclusters of pink to dark purple flowers with yellow
centers; blooms in zone 5 from mid-August to mid-October.
Range/habitat: Canada; Vermont to Alabama, west to N. Dakota,Wyoming and New
Mexico, escaped from cultivationelswhere; found in moist to mesic sandy areas, moist meadows, streambanks, roadsides, open woods and fields.
Culture/uses: best in full sun, tolerates partial shade; moist tomesic soils, best pH=5.5-7,
sow l/4 inch deep; greatfor showy backgrounds in fall, prune back in late
spring for a bushier appearance. Zones 3-9.
Germination information: State standard=40, best temp.=65-70 F,10-15 days,
Seeds/lb.= l,305,000
Planting rate: l oz/1,300 sq. ft., l lb./22,000 sq. ft., 2 lbs./acre (60)
ASTER NOVI-BELGII, NEW YORK ASTER
Synonyms: Michaelmas Daisy
Description: perennial, to 45 inches, leafy stems, violet flowersare 1 inch across and
have a yellow center; plants arerhizomatous. Similar to New England Aster but
plantsare shorter. Blooms late July-Oct. in zone 5.
Range/habitat: Mostly on the coastal plain from Newfoundland to southern Quebec, south to Georgia.Damp thickets, meadows, shores, mostly within 100miles of the sea; salt marshes, sea cliffs and moist meadows.
Culture/uses: full sun to light shade, prefers moist soils; pruneback in late spring for
bushier appearance. Zones 4-8.
Germination information: State standard=40
Seeds/lb.= 1,106,000
Planting rate: 1 oz./1,100 sq. ft., 2 lbs./acre (60)
ASTER PTARMICOIDES, WHITE UPLAND ASTER
Synonyms: Stiff White Aster, Stiff Aster, Solidago ptarmicoides
Description: perennial, 18-24 inches tall, clump-forming; producesmasses of white
flowers; blooms in zone 5 from Augustto late Sept.
Range/habitat: W. Quebec and Vermont, south to Georgia, west toSask., South Dakota,
Colorado and Arkansas; found in open, drying prairies, limestone bluffs, sandy
sites,gravelly glacial hills and dunes.
Culture/uses: sunny locations, dry soils
Germination information: State standard=40, may benefit fromscarification or cold
stratification
Seeds/lb.= 926,000
Planting rate: l oz./960 sq. ft., l lb./15,400 sq ft., 4.7 lbs./acre (60)
AUBRIETADELTOIDEA, PURPLE ROCKCRESS
Synonyms: Aubretia deltoidea
Description: mat-forming perennial, 4-6 in. tall; flowers with 4petals, purple, has small,
gray-green leaves; bloomsin zone 5 from April to mid-May.
Range/habitat: Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Yugoslavia, AsiaMinor; intro. into
Spain, France, Great Britain andHolland. In rocky, mountain sites, often in
calcareoussoil.
Culture/uses: full or partial sun, best in well-drained, lightsoils; plant in light shade in
hot, sunny climates;does not tolerate combination of heat and humidity;
excellent for borders or rock gardens. Shear lightlyafter blooming. Zones 4-9.
Germination information: State standard=45
Seeds/lb.= l,080,000
Planting rate: l lb./18,000 sq. ft., 2.4 lbs./acre (60)
BAILEYAMULTIRADIATA, DESERT MARIGOLD
Synonyms: Wild Marigold
Description: annual or perennial, 16-24 in. tall; stems and leaves are woolly and grey-
green in color; daisy-like flowersare single and yellow, 1-2 inches across; blooms
formost of the season. POISONOUS to livestock (sheep, not cows).
Range/habitat: UT to southern CA, TX and northern Mexico. Foundin native low
deserts such as the eastern Mojave,sandy or rocky soils, plains and mesas.