Aspen Daisy is a perennial wildflower native to much of the western United States. They are very similar in appearance to aster wildflowers and rarely get over two feet tall. It produces white, daisy-like flowers which bloom from June to September. Aspen Daisy thrives in full sun, but can also handle partial shade with well-drained soil. It is a good, drought tolerant wildflower that makes a great addition to mixes and provides a stunning view when planted in mass.

Scientific Name: Erigeron speciosus

Each wildflower seed packet contains approximately 100 seeds.

Spiked Gayfeather is a native perennial that grows in vertical clusters of purple, white, and red flowers. It blooms from July to September in low-lying moist areas along prairies, meadows, or open fields. Spiked Gayfeather is known for its pest, deer, and disease resistance. It thrives in full sun and is tolerant to heat, drought, and cold.

Scientific Name: Liatris spicata

Each wildflower seed packet contains approximately 100 seeds.

Sweet William is an introduced perennial that often acts as an annual. Native to southern Europe, it grows in dense clusters of beautiful and colorful blooms on stiff, extended stems. It thrives in full sun and is an excellent plant for flower beds, gardens, and fields. Sweet William is loved for its sweet fragrance and its ability to attract pollinators.

Scientific Name: Dianthus barbatus

Each wildflower seed packet contains approximately 100 seeds.

Scientific Name: Muhlenbergia rigens

Muhlenbergia rigens, commonly known as deergrass, is a species of perennial bunchgrass native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Deergrass is well-adapted to arid and semi-arid regions and is commonly found in a variety of habitats, including grasslands, chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and desert scrub. It prefers well-drained soils and is often seen on slopes or hillsides. Deergrass forms dense, clumping tufts with slender, arching, and graceful foliage. The leaves are narrow, linear, and can reach lengths of up to 2 feet (60 cm) or more. They are typically bluish-green or grayish-green in color.

Deergrass is an ecologically important plant in its native range. It provides food and habitat for various wildlife species, including deer, birds, and insects. Additionally, its dense clumps help stabilize soil and prevent erosion in areas prone to disturbance. Historically, indigenous communities in the southwestern United States utilized deergrass for various purposes, such as weaving baskets and mats.

Host plant: white-lined sphinx and green cutworm moth

Produced by S&S Seeds

A coarse perennial with large yellow composite flowers and rough, paired, oval to lance-shaped leaves. The stems are erect, occasionally branched, and nearly glabrous or velvety to rough. The leaves are evenly distributed along stems and variable, mostly opposite but sometimes alternate or in whorls of 3. They are 3 to 6 inches long, 1 to 2.5 inches wide, rough above, and rough to velvety or nearly smooth below. The flowers are yellow ray florets 1 to 2 inches long.

FRUITS: Achenes, rounded, flattened, about 1/2 inch long, winged, tipped with 2 sharp teeth, enclosing small seed.

CULTIVATION: Flowering Period: July, August, September. Silphium species resemble sunflowers but differ in that their ray flowers produce seeds, while in sunflowers it is the disk flowers that produce the seeds.

RANGE & HABITAT: Open disturbed places and roadsides, most abundant in moist, rocky soils. Eastern 2/5 of Kansas.

USES: Native Americans used the root of Whole-leaf Rosinweed as an analgesic. The plant contains a sticky resin, which gives it the name “rosinweed”.

Vigna unguiculata, commonly known as cowpeas, are esteemed as a summer annual legume, offering valuable high-protein summer hay or pasture. Resilient and adaptable, they resemble soybeans but exhibit superior tolerance to heat and drought, featuring softer stems and robust regrowth post-grazing. Renowned for their exceptional nitrogen-fixing capabilities, cowpeas surpass soybeans in this regard. Ideally sown in spring when soil temperatures exceed 60 degrees Fahrenheit, they require a seeding rate of 30-60 pounds per acre when planted as a monoculture, at a depth of one inch. Inoculating seeds ensures optimal results. Cowpeas find versatile applications in forage, including pasture, silage, and hay, making them a favored summer option for deer and other wildlife. Moreover, they excel in erosion control and weed suppression, further enhancing their value in agricultural and ecological contexts.

Kummerowia striata, commonly known as common lespedeza, is an introduced annual plant that thrives across the southern and eastern regions of the United States. This versatile plant is a favorite among grazers like cattle and other herbivores, making it a valuable addition to pastures and mixed grasslands. Blooming from August to September, common lespedeza produces subtle purple flowers that may easily go unnoticed. It flourishes in full sun and exhibits adaptability to various soil types. While it can become weedy if left unchecked, effective control measures such as chemical and mechanical treatments are available to manage its spread and maintain ecological balance.

Lathyrus sativus, commonly known as chickling vetch, emerges as a versatile and valuable cool-season annual legume, prized for its dual benefits as a nitrogen source and forage crop. Whether planted in early spring or late summer, it serves as a reliable option for enhancing soil fertility and providing nutritious forage for livestock. With its high palatability, chickling vetch is suitable for both pasture and hay production, offering flexibility in agricultural management. It can be harvested for hay or grazed approximately 60 days after planting, allowing for rapid utilization and maximum yield potential. In addition to its role as a forage crop, chickling vetch exhibits impressive nitrogen-fixing capabilities, enriching the soil and supporting subsequent crops in rotation. Chickling vetch is often included in mixed plantings with oats, peas, radishes, and other cool-season annual forages, enhancing diversity and productivity in cropping systems.

Astragalus canadensis, commonly known as Canada milkvetch, stands as a robust and smooth-stemmed plant, celebrated for its ornamental value and ecological significance. Inhabiting a diverse range of habitats, Canada milkvetch can be found in dry prairies, moist shores, riverbanks, marshy grounds, and open or partly shaded areas. It thrives in well-drained soils under sunny conditions, showcasing its adaptability to various environments. However, it exhibits low tolerance to root disturbance and cannot withstand extremely cold weather conditions. While germination may be slow, typically occurring within four to nine weeks for fresh seeds, patience is rewarded with the emergence of vigorous seedlings. Astragalus canadensis remains valued for its ecological role and aesthetic qualities, contributing to the biodiversity and visual allure of natural landscapes.