2009 Wildflower Seeds Native Grasses & Garden Flowers RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • GOLF COURSES • ROADSIDE VEGETATION • EROSION CONTROL Featured Species Dwarf Sulphur Cosmos is featured on the front cover, and it grows to a height of just 0-30 inches. This mixture of yellow, gold and orange flowers is great for beds and borders wherever bright, sunny colors are desired, and it makes a delightful addition to seed mixtures. Applewood has several new garden flower varieties this year. Two new annual sunflower varieties are ‘Lemon Queen’ and ‘Velvet Queen’. Both varieties are branching Sunflower 'Velvet Queen' and produce an abundance of 4-6 inch Marigold 'Petite Mix' flowers. Sunflowers make excellent cut flowers, and goldfinches love to feast on the seeds in late summer and fall Also new is Marigold ‘Petite Mix’, which is a dwarf, crested variety consisting of orange, yellow, gold and bicolored flowers. Petite Mix is perfect for planting in masses, border edging, and container gardening. See pages 6-10 for complete descriptions of our new wildflowers and garden flowers. Our featured species include Oriental Oriental Columbine Columbine (Aquilegia oxysepala), a lovely Pansy 'Swiss Giants' perennial that is native to Asia. It has deep plum and cream colored flowers, an unusual color among columbines. Supplies are excellent this year for Pansy ‘Swiss Giants’, Sunflower ‘Autumn Beauty’, Cornflower Tall Mix, Chinese Pinks, and Zinnia ‘Lilliput Mix’. Swiss Giants have large, showy flowers and come in shades of blue, red, yellow, white, orange, burgundy, cream, violet and pink Sunflower ‘Autumn Beauty’ is a taller, Sunflower 'Autumn Beauty' branching variety with flowers in autumn Cornflower, Tall Mix colors such as yellow, gold, rust, brown, orange and deep red. Chinese Pinks are 1-16 inches tall and have mostly double flowers which are scented like carnations. Flowers occur as solid shades of pink, white, and red, or they are bicolored. Zinnia ‘Lilliput Mix’ is a dainty, small flowered variety that grows 18-4 inches tall. The mix includes red, orange, yellow, violet, white, and pink. Chinese Pinks Zinnia 'Lilliput Mix' R 5380 Vivian St., Arvada, CO 80002 • USA • (303) 431-7333 • FAX (303) 467-7886 • email: [email protected] Front Cover: Dwarf Sulphur Cosmos Mix (see pg. 7); the seed is cornflower A Standard of Quality Research maintenance. Results of our research can be found in our Planting and Since its founding in 1965, Cultural Information on pages 4-5. Applewood Seed Company has been committed to a high standard All new species and mixtures are of quality for its products. A tested thoroughly in our trial gardens comprehensive research program before inclusion in our catalog. was developed to explore all aspects In addition, grow-out trials are of growing wildflowers including performed on existing seed lots adaptability, planting rates, site to insure that seed is true to type preparation, weed control, and or species. Seed Laboratory germination testing and seedling Applewood’s in-house laboratory, evaluation. Any seed not meeting our supervised by our Registered Seed high standards is not accepted. Technologist, Mary Loring, ensures that In addition, all seed in inventory is our high seed standards are met. re-germinated on a regular basis Mary provides quality assurance testing to insure that it still meets industry through seed identification, purity standards. A report of analysis is analysis, noxious weed examination, available on any seed lot in stock. A Standard of Excellence Seed Availability Free Consultation Warranty Our production fields in a number of Applewood’s professional staff of Applewood Seed Company, Inc. regions ensure a continual supply of trained horticulturists is available warrants that seed sold is of high quality seed to meet your needs on to help you with free telephone consul- high quality, that seeds are as a year-round basis. This production tation on seed selection, planting times, described on the container within is supervised by seed professionals that soil preparation and seeding techniques. recognized tolerances in the trade, maintain proper production and that seeds have been described as If you have special questions about post-harvest cleaning techniques. required under State and Federal Seed any aspects of planting wildflowers, Some species that are difficult to Laws, and that seeds have been please call us. produce are obtained from experienced tested by a Registered Seed and knowledgeable collectors. We’re here to help you succeed. Technologist. This is the sole warranty; (303) 431-7333. we make none other, express or Fast, Reliable Service Jim Walther implied. We cannot guarantee Landscape Horticulturist establishment of plants due to various We maintain a large inventory which factors over which we have no control. Justin Dilges enables us to fill your orders promptly No liability hereunder shall be asserted Landscape Horticulturist any time of the year. Most orders can unless the buyer or user reports to be filled within 1 day of receipt of order. Todd Land Applewood Seed Company, Inc. within We have expedited shipping service for Landscape Horticulturist a reasonable period of time (not to any customers requiring their orders exceed 60 days of receipt of seed) Diane Wilson quickly. any conditions that might lead to a Ecologist complaint. Our liability is limited to the Norm Poppe purchase price of the seed only. General Manager 3 Planting and Cultural Information Likewise, our Low-Growing Mixture (less than Mixture Formulation 16 inches high) and Knee-Hi Mixture (less than Planting Rates 4 inches high), have been designed to meet the Applewood wildflower mixtures are formulated on demand from urban and suburban landscape Each wildflower mixture in this catalog has a rec- the basis of climatic conditions (rainfall, temperature architects and contractors for low-growing blends. ommended minimum and maximum planting rate. range, humidity) and elevation. Most species in our These mixtures have a “semi-wild” appearance The planting rates for some mixtures are adjusted mixtures adapt readily to different soil types provid- and can be used along roadsides, in parks, and in higher due to the presence of small-seeded, ed climate and elevation are suitable. Annuals have commercial and residential developments without non-aggressive species. In general however, the been included to establish cover quickly and to give looking weedy. Neither mixture will need mowing minimum planting rates are based on 60-70 seeds color the first year; some may produce new plants except once in the late fall, if desired. Both mixtures per square foot (4 to 1 pounds per acre), which the following year (the biennials may also reseed). are very versatile and contain species that will flour- is usually sufficient to establish a good stand of Perennial plants live for more than two years, and ish in either dry or moist situations. wildflowers on prepared soil when adequate weed most flower from the second year onward. control can be maintained. Maximum planting rates Applewood mixtures are blended to give the wid- are based on 10-140 seeds per square foot (8 to est possible range of colors and periods of bloom. 4 pounds per acre), and are recommended when Very few wildflowers bloom continually throughout Custom Mixtures adequate soil preparation and weed control are not the season; therefore, we have included spring-, possible, or when maximum color is required. Avoid summer-, and fall-blooming species in each mix- In certain cases, a custom blend will be most using more than the recommended rates since ture. Colors include blue, purple, red, white, yellow suitable for your project. We can blend a custom poor perennial establishment may result. and pink. Mix heights vary from 10 inches to 8 feet. mixture according to your specifications. Such See the chart beginning on page 6 for the height, mixtures may be based on color, height, climatic color and blooming period of each species. conditions, blooming times, or other consider- When to Plant In general, our mixtures are formulated to contain ations. Proportions of species are determined by seed size, aggressiveness and cost. The best approximately equal numbers of seeds of each The best time to plant in your area depends species. This varies somewhat because of costs, mixtures include both annuals and perennials and usually contain 10-0 species. Our qualified staff on the climate and rainfall patterns as well as the availability and/or climatic conditions. For example, species you are planting. In cool climates, plant in the Moist Mixture we have given less seed of will be glad to assist you in determining your needs. See pg. 30 for more details. annuals, perennials or mixtures of annuals and species that are particularly aggressive. We strive perennials in spring, early summer or late fall. Fall for a balance of the highest quality for each geo- plantings should be late enough so that seeds do graphic area. not germinate until spring. Perennials can also be Mixtures may vary occasionally from the indicat- Technical Advice sown in early fall provided that there are at least ed listing, based on availability of individual species. 10-1 weeks of growing time before the plants We encourage you to contact us with the specifi- go dormant for the winter. Late fall plantings are cations of your project; we will be glad to assist you advantageous when supplemental irrigation cannot Seed Quality in selecting the mixture best suited to your needs. be provided and adequate rainfall is anticipated in Our service includes free telephone consultation the spring. Most wildflower seeds and mixtures have a purity on planting times, soil preparation and seeding In mild climates, plant during the cooler months of 95-99% and total viable seed percentages of techniques. of the year, fall through spring, for best results. Fall between 70-95%. The total viable seed percent is If you wish to personally determine or confirm plantings done prior to periods of rainfall will insure the germination percent, plus the hard seed or dor- which species of wildflowers are found in your area, an early display of flowers the following spring.