Planting Instructions for Seeds
Native Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
Annual. Will reseed. Blooms late summer. Provides food to many unique native bees, as well as monarchs. Sow seeds in fall or early spring. Cover lightly with soil. Sunflowers also provide food for birds through the winter months.
Goldenrod (Solidago spp.)
Perennial. Blooms in the fall, providing important nectar to fuel monarch migration. Sow seeds in fall as they require cold, moist stratification. Press seeds into lightly turned soil. Spreads by rhizomes and may be aggressive in small gardens. Very beneficial plant for native bees and monarchs. Seed also provides food for birds through the winter.
Rocky Mountain Bee Plant (Cleome serrulata)
Annual. It will reseed but is easily managed. Provides nectar and pollen to many native bees and butterflies. Lightly cover with soil as seeds need light to germinate. Does well in dry conditions. Can become quite tall with abundant water.Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa)
Perennial. Host plant for monarch caterpillars. Sow seeds approximately ¼ inch deep in fall as seeds require cold, moist stratification. Expect slow first year growth. Plants spread by rhizomes. Can spread and may seem aggressive in small gardens, but worth the benefit to monarch populations. Also provides food for many other specialist insects such as cobalt milkweed beetles and red-femured milkweed beetles (Tetraopes spp.). This plant is meant to be eaten and will survive defoliation.
