The component seeds in our wildflower mixes are carefully selected using a number of criteria. We select for variety of colour, for length of bloom time, for uniform height, and overall performance. We also consider longevity a key selling point for our blends, so we combine long-lasting perennials and biennials with annuals that tend to self-sow and return for at least several years of colour.
Under the right conditions (exposure, moisture, daylight, soil, etc…) some self-sowing annuals and biennials can “naturalize.” When the conditions are ideal, these plants may perform as they do in their native environment and spread beyond the garden bed.
Plants that naturalize are not the same as invasive weeds or noxious weeds. These latter categories refer to specific species that are known to spread aggressively in certain regions. They cause infestations of agricultural land or cause other economic stresses on a region. Lists of particular noxious weeds are maintained by provincial and state authorities — what is invasive in Hawaii might not be invasive in Saskatchewan. And these lists are routinely revised — plants that were once listed may no longer be listed, and vice versa.
Wildflowers & Regionality
Our wildflower seed blends are sampled and screened by independent seed labs for purity. We maintain rigorous paperwork on every seed lot to show that they do not contain errant weed seeds. None of the blends we offer contains any prohibited or restricted seeds.
So Why Grow Wildflowers?
Biodiversity is a key element of pollinator conservation, and one of the founding principles of organic growing. Biodiversity, both above and beneath the soil, promotes healthier ecosystems. In these conditions, gardeners and growers can better exploit naturally occurring phenomena: predatory and beneficial insects, naturally fertile soil, improved pollination for better harvests, and resistance to disease and environmental pressures.
By promoting the growth of meadows, set-asides, wildflower rows, nectaries, and hedgerows, growers can actually improve the land on (and in) which they grow.
West Coast Seeds enjoys a geographically diverse customer base across North America. If you live in a sensitive bioregion, there may be campaigns at your local level, against the planting of certain seeds. Please consider such campaigns as you select the right wildflower blend for your garden, field, or farm.
Click here for the State and Province Noxious Weed Lists.
