Butterfly, Bee, and Other Pollinator Attractor Collection

Description

Many communities are working hard to help bring back the Honey Bee and the Monarch and other Butterflies, these are some of the best varieties of plants that there are to do that very trick. The Asclepias (especially the Silky Formula) will be covered with the Monarchs and they will lay their eggs on the leave, where they will hatch and the pupa will start feeding on the leaves. After that they form into caterpillars who will also eat the leaves (but no real damage because there are lots of them). And then they will start forming the chrysalis, and you and your children will be able to observe this whole process as well This collection will bring you so very much fun.

The collection includes the following seeds.

1… Asclepias tuberosa (Pleurisy Root) – The root was very popular as a medicinal herb and used for the treatment of a range of lung diseases – thus the name Pleurisy Root. The Natchez people of the United States used the boiled root to treat pneumonia.

2… Asclepias curassavica – Silky Formula Mix – Contains the Deep Red, Gold and Scarlet forms. This Butterfly Weed is stunning and blooms continuously. A must for all gardens, because of the huge quantities of butterflies that it actually attracts, but also that it is beautiful and showy. Because there is a toxicity (human only) to this particular plant you should not use it as a medicine.

3… Echinacea – Purpurea – The easiest Echinacea to grow. Vigorous plants with large, purple-petaled flowers. Fibrous roots are easy to harvest (other species have taproots). Excellent pollenator attractor and bloom for a long period of time during the summer months.

4… Verbascum nigrum – Dark Mullein – ‘Album’ – ‘White’ – Very striking almost continuously blooms, re-seeder, for continuous beauty. It has also been called the candlewick plant, because the long fuzzy leaves were (and can be) cut into long strips, then dried to be used as the wicks for homemade candles.

5… Sage – Meadow Clary – Salvia pratensis – Permaculturally, they are thought to repel the cabbage flies, carrot fly, black flea beetle, cabbage looper, cabbage maggot, repels many bean parasites, so is of great permacultural benefit to your beds as an insecticidal plant. Planting plants such as salvia amongst or near your veggie gardens has great benefits. The best part of this plant is that it does not stop blooming even if you forget to deadhead and the color is fantastic.

6. Rudbeckia hirta – Cherry Brandy – Flowers are 3-4” across, strikingly colored, and produce all summer, even in poor soils. The petals are a shade from zingy cherryred to deep maroon at the base. They withstand all kinds of unkind growing conditions, and still reward you like a forgiving puppy with their bright smiling face. They also attract butterflies and bees.