2021 CULTURAL GUIDE rairie Moon Nursery provides P seed for hundreds of North American native plants for woodlands, wetlands, and prairies. Much of that seed comes from production fields just like this one. For some species, like the Cup Plant in the foreground, we harvest from diversified plantings that include many different species. Members of our Field Crew walk through the planting multiple times throughout a season, harvesting various species by hand whenever the seed is ripe for the picking. For other species, like the Meadow Blazing Star, Nodding Onion, and Anise Hyssop, shown blooming in the background, we create large plots of a single species. These plantings make quick work of harvest, although many species still must be harvested numerous times to help preserve the diversity of early and late blooming plants. By having both single species and multi- species plantings, our fields can be both efficiently harvested and help provide the ecosystem services of a restoration planting. EXPERTS IN NATIVE PLANTS | SINCE 1982 starting GERMINATION CODES using our cultural guide from seed & INSTRUCTIONS SOIL MOISTURE Approximate plant height COMMENTS The seeds of many native plants have NO PRE-TREATMENT NECESSARY SEEDS GERMINATE MOST WET Soggy or marshy most of the year. is given with standard Completes its life cycle during one foot (') and inch (") ANNUAL built-in dormancy mechanisms that pro- other than cold, dry storage (also called G SUCCESSFULLY IN COOL SOIL. Sow season. A seeds in late fall (after hard frost) or Excessively wet in winter, spring abbreviations. Height is for tect them from germinating before killing dry cold stratification). Seed should Grows vegetatively during the first germinate upon sowing in a warm location. early spring. WET-MESIC and after heavy rain but often dries mature full-grown plants BIENNIAL year, completes its life cycle during the frosts or in times of drought. In the wild, in summer. in flower. Actual height will second. seeds will lie dormant until the proper con- SEEDS NEED SCARIFICATION: HOT WATER TREATMENT: Bring water Medium. Water soaks in with no vary considerably due to ditions for growth occur. But in cultivation, To scarify, lightly rub between two MESIC to a boil, remove from heat, pour over H run-off. competition, sun exposure, CALCAREOUS Needs alkaline soil with a pH of 7 to 8. the successful gardener must become fa- B sheets of sandpaper before artificial soil conditions, and weather. miliar with several simple pre-sowing seed seeds, and soak at room temperature for stratification. Well drained. Water is removed In young native plantings 24 hours prior to planting. DRY-MESIC from soil readily but not rapidly. ACIDIC Needs acid soil with a pH of 4 to 6. treatment methods which will unlock (less than 10 years) plant the dormancy mechanism and stimulate PLEASE NOTE: You do not need to scarify if you are fall planting. heights may be greater than STRATIFICATION NEEDED: Seeds Over-wintering will scarify your seed naturally. DRY Excessively drained. Requires a host plant species. quicker, more consistent germination. germinate after a period of cold, moist in older plantings when HEMIPARASITIC See Germ Code K. C competition reduces height. stratification. Approximate number of LEGUME: We have developed the following seed days needed is indicated in the parentheses, Thrive particularily well in sandy or I Rhizobium inoculum may be added if SAND well-drained soils. germination codes to help you successful- next to germination code C (i.e. C (60) = 60 desired. Add to dampened seed and PART SHADE PART COLOR days of cold, moist conditions needed). mix thoroughly at the time of stratification FULL SUN FULL ly grow the native seed sold in our catalog. SHADE SOIL BLOOM (code C) or outdoor sowing. HT COMMENTS Actively grows during the spring and fall These seed treatment suggestions have PLEASE NOTE: You do not need to stratify if you are fall plant- COOL when soil temperatures are cool. W·WM·M·DM·D A·M·J·J·A·S·O been compiled from our own experience, ing. Over-wintering will stratify your seed naturally. available literature, and feedback from WARM Actively grows during the summer when INOCULUM FOR LEGUMES soil temperatures are warm. other growers and customers. These are only suggestions and not the definitive Choose from 19 different rhizobial inoculum May not be suited for small landscape AGGRESSIVE source of germination information. If your STRATIFICATION SAND strains. prairiemoon.com/inoculum SUN EXPOSURE BLOOM plantings. (free shipping) experience reveals successful methods We use fine sand as a medium to artificially TIME FULL Plants normally grow in full sun. Should do RHIZOMATOUS Fast-spreading root system. other than these, please let us know. stratify seed. We send one cup of sand Inoculates up to 1 lb of seed .................................. $6.00 SUN well with up to 20% shade. April A which can be used to stratify up to ½ oz of Until you are ready to plant or apply seed (slightly more or less depending on New species DEHULLED We remove the hulls from May M pre-sowing treatment, seed should be seed size). We like this sand because, unlike J these legume seeds. Partially shaded (20% to 70% shade). Sun reaches stored either in an open container, in a other seed starting media, the uniform color June ground level at woodland edges or through J Pollinator Favorites: cool, dry place or an airtight container un- PART bees, butterflies, birds. and fine texture allows you to see your seed. HEMIPARASITIC SPECIES that needs openings between trees. Prairie species will often July J der refrigeration (33–40°F). Avoid rapid or (free shipping) a host plant. Good hosts for many SHADE Deer Resistant: grow in larger openings, with shade-tolerant frequent temperature changes and pro- K parasitic species include low-growing species growing under trees. (attn: deer may browse on any plant Seed Stratification Sand .......................................... $10.00 August A if food is scarce.) tect against rodents. Sow seeds shallowly grasses and sedges. and keep seedlings carefully weeded. Pe- September S Highly recommended for home riodic watering is helpful to establish seed- PLANT FRESH SEED OR KEEP landscaping. MOIST. Refrigerate until planting or SHADE 70% to 100% shade. October O lings. If seed does not germinate the first SURFACE SOW: Seeds are very small or L need light to naturally break dormancy starting other treatment. Recommended for home landscaping, year, don’t give up; germination may occur D but potentially aggressive. Could the second year or even later. and germinate. WHERE DID PRICES GO? We are no longer including prices in our overwhelm small landscapes BEST PLANTED OUTDOORS annual cultural guide. For current seed pricing and availability: SEEDS NEED A WARM, MOIST PERIOD M IN THE FALL. prairiemoon.com/price-list FLORA OF THE CHICAGO REGION E FOLLOWED BY A COLD, MOIST PE- by Gerould Wilhelm & Laura Rericha RIOD. Mix seeds with sterile medium, IMPERMEABLE SEED COAT place mixture in a labeled, sealed plastic O Nick seed coat with a knife, soak in WE ARE A must-have for bag and store in warm (about 80°F) place water overnight. Plant. native range maps serious botanists. for 60–90 days. Then place in refrigerator Brimming with data, (33–38°F) for 60–90 days before sowing. Or, FERN SPORE SOWING: Sow fern at prairiemoon.com this encyclopedic sow outdoors and allow one full year for S spores on sterile peat under glass in book is packed germination. indirect light. Water with distilled water. Find a native range map for with impeccable Refer to other reference material on growing every species on our website. scholarship. Includes SEEDS NEED A COLD, MOIST PERIOD ferns. Another method is to direct sow spores information about F FOLLOWED BY A WARM, MOIST on soil surface. Look under the photo for the thousands of native PERIOD FOLLOWED BY A 2ND COLD, species in 977 genera. MOIST PERIOD. Or, sow outdoors and UNSURE: Your input would be of RANGE MAP tab. allow two years or longer to germinate. ? interest to us. Flora of the Chicago Region | $125.00 (free shipping) C2 Call 507-452-1362 Prairie Moon Nursery Cultural Guide C3 PART SHADE PART SHADE PART COLOR FULL SUN FULL SUN FULL FORBS (Wildflowers) AVAILABILITY (seasonal) GERM CODE SEEDS PER: FORBSFORBS (Wildflowers) SPECIES GERM SHADE SOILSHADE SOIL BLOOMBLOOM CODE COLOR HTHT COMMENTSCOMMENTS CULTUR AL - FORBS GUIDE (see pg.C3) GENUS species Common Name Roots 3-Packs Trays Seed oz. packet GENUS Speciesspecies Common Name (see p.C3) W · WM · M · DMW·WM·M·DM·D · D A·M·J·J·A·S·OA·M·J·J·A·S·O ACORUS americanus Sweet Flag C(60) 6,600 75 ACORUS americanus Sweet Flag M J J Green 2' Rhizomatous Difficult from Seed, White Fruit, ACTAEA pachypoda Doll’s Eyes F 5,200 50 ACTAEA pachypoda Doll’s Eyes M J White 2' Poison (Wildflowers) ACTAEA rubra Red Baneberry F ACTAEA rubra Red Baneberry A M White 2' Difficult from Seed, Red Fruit, Poison 4,450 40 AGALINIS aspera Rough False Foxglove C(60)? 100,000 700 AGALINIS aspera Rough False Foxglove A S Pink 2’ Annual AGALINIS auriculata Ear-leaf False Foxglove ? 129,000 100 AGALINIS auriculata Ear-leaf False Foxglove A S Purple 2’ Annual AGALINIS tenuifolia Slender False Foxglove C(60),D,K? 800,000 1,040 AGALINIS tenuifolia Slender False Foxglove A S O Purple 2' Annual AGASTACHE foeniculum Anise Hyssop C(30),D 90,000 1,000 AGASTACHE foeniculum Anise Hyssop J J A S Purple 3' Aromatic AGASTACHE nepetoides Yellow Giant Hyssop C(60),D 90,000 1,000 AGASTACHE nepetoides