Milkweed, Narrow Leaf Aesclepias Fasicularis   A perennial herb native to the Western United States, Narrow Leaf Milkweed is a favorite among Monarch butterflies.  Grows to 3 foot with long, narrow leaves and produces approximately 5-inch white or rose-white flower clusters.  Flowers give way to seed pods which split and reveal seeds and silk when mature.  This milkweed has a broad tolerance for garden conditions, but also manages to survive heavy clay, salty, dry soils, and seasonal flooding.  A great choice for butterfly and pollinator gardens.  Likes sun and readily reseeds. Packet: (.4g~35 seeds) * Growing Tip: Being an undomesticated plant, milkweed benefits from a period of cold stratification to help the seeds "wake up".  To do this, one method is to plant in the fall, as wold happen in nature. Or...you can place the seeds on a moist paper towel and put them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for about 30 days. Check it periodically to see if mold is forming, in which case change the paper towel. This will greatly improve germination....

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Milkweed, Showy Asclepias speciosa   This is the most common milkweed in western Oregon and the best choice for folks in the Pacific Northwest or similar climates with dry summers to attract and support Monarch butterflies. Tropical, non-native species of milkweeds may not die back as well in the winter as our native species. Theoretically, with non-native milkweed, monarchs could hang around and potentially breed at the wrong time for our climate.  Plant is a drought hardy perennial with fuzzy gray-green leaves and pale pink white flowers that come on in mid summer.  To grow our native showy milkweed from seed, you need patience. It takes about three years from seed to really get going in my experience. Seeds should be planted in the fall, in a pot or flat outdoors, as they need cold and wet to germinate. The first spring after sprouting, native showy milkweed plants are tiny and often die back over the summer. If you want to coax seeds to grow in the summer, put them in a damp paper towel and refrigerate for a couple weeks before planting them. Adult monarchs use many species of flowers for nectar besides milkweed. Goldenrod, aster, coneflower, black-eyed Susans and other open flowers make good nectar plants.  Packet (0.4g~35 seeds) * Growing Tip: Being an undomesticated plant, milkweed benefits from a period of cold stratification to help the seeds "wake up".  To do this, one method is to plant in the fall, as wold happen in nature. Or...you can place the seeds on a moist paper towel and put them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for about 30 days.  Check it periodically to see if mold is forming, in which case change the paper towel.  This will greatly improve germination.  ...

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Milkweed, Swamp  Asclepias incarnata This is a perennial that is native to most of the continental US and parts of Canada.  It is an excellent food source for not only Monarch catapillars, but other butterflies such as Swallowtails. Easy to start from seed, it grows to about 4' tall and spreads to 2-3' wide.  This is a wonderful nectar source for all manner of pollinators late in the season, especially after many other wildflowers have faded.  You will be dazzled with the visitors that you get with these growing in your garden! Packet: (0.5g~95 seeds)  Bulk: 2.5 g. * Growing Tip: Being an undomesticated plant, milkweed benefits from a period of cold stratification to help the seeds "wake up".  To do this, one method is to plant in the fall, as would happen in nature. Or...you can place the seeds on a moist paper towel and put them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for about 30 days.  Check it periodically to see if mold is forming, in which case change the paper towel.  This will greatly improve germination.  ...

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Phacelia, Bee's Friend  Phacelia tanacetifolia (80 days)  Wonderful annual cover crop that can be grown anytime from March through November at most latitudes.  Bee's Friend attracts bumblebees in droves with their beautiful lavender purple fiddlehead plumes festooned with blooms.  Succulent growth can reach 4’ tall, so it works well as a cover crop that can be incorporated into the soil to add organic matter.  Attracts beneficial insects. In our pollinator trials performed in conjunction with the BeeGirl non-profit in Ashland, Oregon, Phacelia was the first to bloom and most favored flower for bumblebees and native sweat Bees.  WGS.  PH1: Packet ~0.4g (~80 seeds) ...

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Sunflower, Maximilian Helianthus maximiliana   Blooming 2-3" flowers atop strong, multiple branches reaching up to 10 feet in height, Maximilian Sunflower is a must-have for the permaculture garden. This flower blooms from late summer into fall and creates edible seeds that are under consideration for perennial oil production.  Like Jerusalem artichoke, Maximilian sunflower makes edible tubers, and will also reproduce vegetatively from these rhizomes in addition to seed. Flowers can be cut and used for fresh flower arrangements. The flower display is spectacular-- as other plants begin to fade, Maximilian comes on strong! Packet: (0.2g ~20 seeds)...

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