Wildflowers — Bee Garden Blend

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Bees and flowering plants evolved together millions of years ago. We could not have one without the other. Although bees face many challenges in this age of global weather change; at West Coast Seeds we believe that the simple act of sowing the seeds of plants that bees and other pollinators love to forage on is a critically important step in helping to ensure they; the whole planet; and we have a future. The Bee Garden Blend wildflower seeds are specially blended by our Certified Bee Master for use in managed landscapes such as disused laneways; verges; or along the edges of cultivated areas in residential or agricultural properties.

Feed wild and domestic bees with the Bee Garden Blend of wildflower seeds. Honeybees have been in decline in recent years due to colony collapse disorder. Meanwhile, the habitat of wild bees like bumblebees, mason bees, and leaf cutter bees is dwindling. By planting these nectar rich wildflowers, we can provide forage for these overlooked insects. West Coast Seeds believes in the need for pollinator conservation, and we’ve chosen the species in this mix for their attractiveness to a wide range of bees.

Chinese Forget-Me-Not	Cynoglossum amabile
Siberian Wallflower	Cheiranthus allionii
California Poppy	Eschscholzia californica
Purple Coneflower	Echinacea purpurea
China Aster	Callistephus chinensis
Corn Poppy	Papaver rhoeas
Lance-Leaf Coreopsis	Coreopsis lanceolata
Blue Flax	Linum perenne
Baby Blue-Eyes	Nemophila menziesii
Globe Gilia	Gilia capitata
Indian Blanket	Gaillardia pulchella
Tidy Tips	Layia platyglossa
Plains Coreopsis	Coreopsis tinctoria
Sweet Alyssum	Lobularia maritima
Lavender Hyssop	Agastache foeniculum
Fleabane Daisy	Erigeron speciosus
New England Aster	Symphyotrichum novae-angleae
Bergamot	Monarda fistulosa

Quick Facts:

Blend of Perennials, annuals and biennials
Attracts bees
Suitable for containers
Sow in spring and fall
Full sun

Size: 5g (covers approx. 43 sq ft)

How To Grow: Unless otherwise stated, all the wildflower mixes will contain perennials, annuals, and biennials. Seeds must come into contact with the soil in order to germinate. Do not bury seeds more than 2-3 times their thickness. Continue reading below for some other tips on how to grow wildflowers from seed.

Difficulty
Easy

Season & Zone
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Zone: Zone 4.

Timing
Try to direct sow wildflower seeds during the period two weeks before, and eight weeks after, your last average frost date. Sowing when there is some risk of minor frost may improve germination. Wildflower seeds can also be sown in the autumn, but a certain percentage of seeds to may be lost to water, birds, and animals. To make the most of the annual species, direct sow in early spring.

Starting
Site Selection: If there are already no plants (including weeds) growing in the planting site, there may be a problem with the soil. Possible issues may be soil fertility, lack of drainage, or the need for soil amendments to improve texture. In such spots (eg, beneath a cedar tree), few plants will thrive, including wildflowers.

Site Preparation: Remove as much existing vegetation as possible through pulling or tilling under in order to minimize competition. Loosen the soil by scraping, raking, or tilling. Wildflower blends will not usually take if planted into existing lawn because the thatch prevents their contact with soil.

Seed Application: In small areas, seeds can be scattered by hand. In larger areas, you may want to employ a lawn spreader or some other mechanical means. We recommend adding 1-2 parts clean, dry sand to 1 part wildflower seeds which will help the seeds spread evenly. Do not use beach sand, as it usually contains salt. It may be wise to spread most of the seed, but to save some for filling in bald spots at a later date. Seeds must come into contact with the soil in order to germinate. Do not bury seeds more than 2-3 times their thickness.

Planting rates: Aim for a planting density of 70 seeds per square foot. 5g of seeds will cover 43ft². If seeding an area where site preparation and weeding are not possible, double this rate.

Growing
Keep the seeded area as evenly moist as possible to help the seeds germinate and the young seedlings become established. Weeds need to be kept under control. Once they are growing, most mixes will not require additional water except in long periods of hot, dry weather. All of our mixes should re-grow for several years, but will eventually benefit from re-seeding. In late summer, many of the components will produce seed heads that can be harvested and replanted the following spring.

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