Planting Native Prairie Flower Seeds

Last year I started my native prairie flower garden in my sunny front yard, with excellent drainage on a gravel ridge (read: dry). This year I am adding a few more species of drought tolerant, native prairie plants. My last attempt at seeding drought tolerant species was a flop.

This year I scaled back on the native prairie flower seeds I grew. I purchased seeds from a well-known local company which included Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans), white prairie clover (Dalea candida), many flowered aster/ heath aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides), wild hops (Humulus lupulus), and pasture sage (Artemsia frigida).

Planting Native Prairie Flowers

Germination rates varied for me this year. Only the Sorghastrum came up very well. All seeds were stratified as prescribed, starting in the second week in February and planting at the end of March. Was it my fault? Did I not aerate them enough? Leave them in too long or too short? Or are they just not so easy to please?

Of course, I was compelled to perform an experiment. The white prairie clover only required scarification (scarring the seed coat, such as with sandpaper). But I also decided to try stratifying some as well, after scarifying, thinking it couldn’t hurt, and maybe it would help germination. Boy, was I wrong. Almost none of the stratified seed came up. Enough of the scarified-only seed came up to fill my garden, but no extra.

Oh, Sorghastrum nutans! I read conflicting reports about this giant prairie grass. Some said it was so well behaved it would hardly spread at all. Others said it was so aggressive it would threaten to take over the whole planting area.  So, with a bit of trepidation and curiosity, we shall see what she thinks of her new home.

Overall, germination of my native prairie flower seeds was sketchy at best, with the exception of the native grass. I did get enough for my garden, but probably not many extra to add to the pasture. Better luck next time.