Sharing Our Thanks

May 2021

Planting Tips and Information

The seed mix you received from the Foundation includes five species of native wildflowers. These wildflowers are prairie plants and have been evolving and adapting to the Chicagoland area since the glaciers melted and the climate warmed, around 14,000-10,000 years ago. Tall grass prairies used to cover most of Illinois, but today less than one percent remain.

There are many reasons to use native plants in your garden. For example, native plants:

• Are well adapted to the local environment and therefore easy to care for.
• Tolerate harsh winters and hot, dry summers. Once established, they require little or no fertilizer or irrigation.
• Are resistant to many insect pests and diseases.
• Provide an important food source for pollinators such as bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
• Have deep roots that can absorb large amounts of water, helping to mitigate flooding and runoff during storms.
• Absorb and store more carbon than turf grass and many annuals, therefore removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

The five species in your seed mix are:

1. Lance-leaf Coreopsis – Coreopsis lanceolata – A tall plant, (about three feet high), that blooms in late spring and early summer, with bright yellow, daisy-like flowers.
2. Partridge Pea – Chamaecrista fasciculata – Smaller plant, also with yellow flowers, has blue-green leaves that retreat when touched. Also called the Sensitive Plant. It is a legume, part of the bean family, and has pretty, maroon seed pods in the fall, which is a great food for winter birds. Legumes fix soil nitrogen, enriching the soil and helping other plants grow.
3. Purple Coneflower – Echinacea purpurea – From the genus Echinacea, which is known for its medicinal qualities. Native Americans used the root to treat rattlesnake bites, bee stings, headaches, toothaches and sore throats. Many supplements and herbal teas containing Echinacea are available at the pharmacy or health food store today. The flowers are beautiful purple and bloom all summer and early fall on three- to four-foot stems.
4. Wild Bergamot – Monarda fistulosa – Also commonly called Bee Balm, it has a lovely lavender blossom and aromatic foliage that is reminiscent of Earl Gray tea.
5. Black-Eyed Susan – Rudbeckia hirta – Thrives almost anywhere. Bright yellow flowers bloom in June through October. These will grow to about two to three feet tall.

Plant seeds before mid-June or in October in an area that will receive full sun in the summer. They will look great in a naturalized area, such as along the edge of a garden or driveway. You need to be patient with seeds, as it will take a couple of years before they mature. Black-Eyed Susan and Coreopsis require a period of cold temperatures to germinate, so they will not begin growing until next year.

Before planting, remove any plants already growing in the area by pulling them up or killing them with an herbicide such as Roundup. Roundup kills every plant it touches, so follow the directions carefully. Once the weeds are gone or dead, loosen the soil with a rake, then scatter the seeds as evenly as possible. The mix will cover about 50-square feet, but a smaller area also will work. You will need to pull some of the plants that are too close together as they mature. Rake the soil gently again, so the seeds are in contact with the soil. They do not need to be buried, just be in good contact with the soil. You can then water the area whenever it becomes dry for the next month. Germination can take two to three weeks. Remember, some seeds will not germinate until next year.

The hardest part of growing native seeds is waiting. Most will not bloom until next year or the year after. Also, it is difficult to know if the seedlings are weeds or wildflowers. The natives will probably remain under six inches tall this year, so anything taller is likely a weed. You may want to cut or pull out any recognizable or tall weeds. Mow the area in late fall or early spring and you will be pleasantly surprised when you start to recognize your native’s leaves and flowers next year!

Again, thank you from the Foundation. Happy gardening!

Sources and Resources

• Chicago Botanical Gardens. Landscaping with Native Plants.
• Encyclopedia of Chicago. 2005. Ecosystem Evolution. Chicago Historical Society.
• Prairie Moon Nursery. Native Plants for Landscaping and Restoration.
• Prairie Wildflowers of Illinois.
• Robertson, Ken. The Tall Grass Prairie in Illinois: Formation of the Prairie. Illinois Natural History Survey.