Heal the land at home with your purchase of Healing Garden Seeds!
Healing Garden Seeds are precious native seeds that help you grow a healthy garden and a climate-resilient yard. These seeds will grow into local wildflowers and grasses native to the Carolinian Zone that benefit wildlife, water, and ecosystems. What you plant matters. Let your Healing Garden create a healthy future and lasting legacy.
GROWN IN ONTARIO. These high-quality native seeds are ethically collected within southern Ontario.
All proceeds go toward the Indigenous Leadership Pillar’s Student Bursary.
Sowing Instructions
Every native plant is different with specific conditions and planting practices to produce best results.
For best results with fall sowing, plant seeds after the first frost at the earliest.
For best results with spring sowing, many species require a cold stratification period to germinate. Specific stratification information for each species and mix pack can be found below.
If you want to learn more about your seeds and the plants they become, look for resources online that focus on growing seeds and plants in Ontario.
Sunny Garden Spring Instructions
For best results with spring sowing, cold stratify these seeds indoors for 30 days.
Shade Garden Spring Instructions
For best results with spring sowing, cold stratify these seeds indoors for 60 days.
Moist Meadow Spring Instructions
For best results with spring sowing, cold stratify these seeds indoors for 120 days.
Species Information & Instructions
| Species | Conditions & Special Instructions | Photo |
| Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) | Light: Full sun to part shade Soil: sand to clay Moisture: dry to medium Height: 61 – 122 cm / 2 - 4 ft Spread: 46 – 61 cm / 1.5 - 2 ft Bloom time: July to September Attracts: birds, hummingbirds, butterflies, native bees, bumble bees Special instructions: no pre-treatment for seeds required |  Photo: Michelle Kanter |
| Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) | Light: Full sun Soil: sandy or clay Moisture: dry to moist Height: 2.4 m / 7.9 ft Bloom time: late August Attracts: variety of pollinators, some songbirds Special instructions: no pre-treatment of seeds required |  |
| Blue Flag Iris (Iris versicolor) | Light: Full sun to part shade Soil: loam Moisture: medium to wet Height: 90 cm / 3ft Spread: 60 cm / 2 ft Bloom time: May to August Attracts: pollinators Special instructions: stratification (120 days) |  Photo: Amy Hall |
Canada Wild Rye (Elymuys canadensis) | Light: Full sun Soil: sand, gravel, clay Moisture: dry to moist Height: 1 – 1.5 m / 3 – 5 ft Bloom time: August to September Attracts: butterflies, small birds Special instructions: no pre-treatment of seed required | |
Dense Blazing Star (Liatris spicata) | Light: Full sun to part shade Soil: sand loam, loam Moisture: moist Height: 60 – 150 cm / 2 – 5 ft Spread: 30 cm / 1 ft Bloom time: August Attracts: butterflies, hummingbirds, songbirds, insects, pollinators Special instructions: stratification (60 days), requires scarification, nick seed coat |  Photo: Jennifer Nantais |
Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis) | Light: Full to partial sun Soil: sand. loam, clay Moisture: medium Height: 90 – 15- cm / 3 – 5 ft Spread: 60 – 90 cm / 2 – 3 ft Bloom time: June to September Attracts: nocturnal pollinators Special instructions: needs light to germinate | |
Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) | Light: Full to partial sun Soil: sand, loam, clay Moisture: medium to dry Height: 90 – 120 cm / 3 – 4 ft Spread: 30 – 60 cm / 1 – 2 ft Bloom time: June to July Attracts: butterflies, other pollinators Special instructions: stratification (30 days), needs light to germinate | |
Giant Ironweed (Vernonia gigantea) | Light: Full sun to part shade Soil: loam, clay, average soil Moisture: Wet to moist Height: 1.5 - 2.4 m / 5 – 8 ft Bloom time: August to September Attracts: butterflies Special instructions: stratification (60 days) | |
Golden Alexander (Zizia aurea) | Light: Full sun to part shade Soil: sand to clay Moisture: medium to moist Height: 30 – 60 cm / 1 – 2 ft Bloom time: late spring Attracts: butterflies, songbirds Special instructions: stratification (30-60 days) | |
Great St Johns Wort (Hypericum ascyron) | Light: Full sun to part shade Soil: clay, loam, sand Moisture: moist Height: 60 – 150 cm / 2 – 5 ft Spread: 30 – 90 cm / 1 – 3 ft Bloom time: July to August Attracts: pollinators | |
Grey Headed Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) | Light: Full sun to part shade Soil: sand, loam, clay Moisture: medium Height: 90 – 180 cm / 3 – 5 ft Spread: 30 – 60 cm / 1 – 2 ft Bloom time: June to August Attracts: birds, butterflies, bees Special instructions: stratification (30 days), needs light for germination |  |
Hairy Beardtongue (Penstamon hirsutus) | Light: Full sun to part shade Soil: sand, loam Moisture: dry to medium Height: 30 – 60 cm / 1 – 2 ft Spread: 30 – 60 cm / 1 – 2 ft Bloom time: June to July Attracts: butterflies, pollinators Special instructions: stratification (60 days), needs light to germinate |  |
Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium maculatum) | Light: Full sun to part shade Soil: clay loam Moisture: medium to wet Height: 120 – 180 cm / 4 – 6 ft Spread: 60 – 120 cm / 2 – 4 ft Bloom time: July to September Attracts: pollinators |  Photo: Amy Hall |
Lance-leafed Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata) | Light: Full sun Soil: sand, loam, clay Moisture: dry to medium Height: 30 – 60 cm / 1 – 2 ft Spread: 60 cm / 2 ft Bloom time: June to July Attracts: pollinators | |
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) | Light: Full to partial sun Soil: sand to clay Moisture: dry to medium Height: 60 – 100 cm / 2 – 3 ft Spread: 30 cm Bloom time: mid-summer Attracts: songbirds, larval host Special instructions: no pretreatment of seeds required | |
New England Aster (Aster novae-angliae) | Light: Full Sun Soil: sand, clay Moisture: Wet Height: 60 – 120 cm Spread: 60 – 90 cm / 2 – 3 ft Bloom time: mid – August to late October Attracts: songbirds, pollinators, butterflies Special instructions: stratification improves germination (30 days) |  |
New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) | Light: Full sun to part shade Soil: sand, loam, clay Moisture: Dry to medium Height: 60 – 90 cm / 2 – 3 ft Spread: 60 – 150 cm / 2 – 5 ft Bloom time: June to August Attracts: many types of native bees Special instructions: stratification (60 days), seed requires scarification | |
Nodding Wild Onion (Allium cernuum) | Light: Full sun to part shade Soil: sand. Loam, clay Moisture: dry to medium Height: 30 – 45 cm / 1 - 1.5 ft Bloom time: June to August Attracts: native sweat bees Special instructions: more robust in year two when planted from seed | |
Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida) | Light: Full to partial sun Soil: sand, loam, clay Moisture: dry to moist Height: 60 - 90 cm / 2- 3 ft Spread: 30 – 60 cm / 1 – 2 ft Bloom time: June to July Attracts: butterflies, hummingbirds Special instructions: stratification (60 days) |  |
Prairie Cinquefoil (Drymocallis arguta) | Light: Full sun Moisture: mesic to dry Height: 91 cm / 3 ft Bloom time: mid-summer Attracts: native bees, flies Special instructions: stratification (60 days) | |
Showy Tick Trefoil (Desmodium canadense) | Light: Full sun Soil: moist soils Moisture: dry, moist Height: 61 – 183 cm / 2 – 6 ft Bloom time: July to September Attracts: butterflies, Hummingbirds, Bumble Bees Special instructions: stratification (60 days) | |
Sideoats Grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) | Light: full sun to light shade Soil: sand to loam Moisture: dry Height: 61 – 91 cm / 2 – 3 ft Bloom time: June to September Attracts: songbirds and butterflies Special instructions: no pre-treatment of seeds required, extremely drought tolerant and needs good watering in first season planted | |
Sky Blue Aster (Aster oolentangiensis) | Light: Full sun Soil: sand, loam, clay Moisture: dry to medium Height: 60 – 90 cm / 2 – 3 ft Spread: 30 – 60 cm / 1 – 2 ft Bloom time: August to September Attracts: small bees, skippers, wasps, butterflies Special instructions: needs light for germination | |
Sweet Oxeye (Heliopsis helianthoides) | Light: Full sun to part shade Soil: loam, clay loam Moisture: dry to medium Height: 150 cm / 5 ft Spread: 60 cm / 2 ft Bloom time: July to September Attracts: bees, butterflies, flies, beetles Special instructions: stratification (30 – 60 days), 30 days to germinate |  |
Switch Grass (Panacum virgatum) | Light: Full sun Moisture: moist Height: 90 – 215 cm / 2.9 - 7 ft Bloom time: August to September Attracts: songbirds, gamebirds Special instructions: stratification (60 days) |  |
Virginia Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum) | Light: Full sun Moisture: dry Height: 50 – 90 cm / 1.6 - 3 ft Bloom time: July to September Attracts: beneficial insects Special instructions: needs light for germination | |
Virginia Wild Rye (Elymus virginicus) | Light: Full sun to partial shade Soil: loam Moisture: moist Height: 60 – 120 cm / 2 – 4 ft Spread: 30 – 60 cm / 1 – 2 ft Bloom time: June to October Attracts: butterflies, birds Special instructions: no pre-treatment of seeds required | |
White Turtlehead (Chelone glabra) | Light: Full sun to part shade Soil: sand, loam, clay Moisture: moist to wet Height: 30 – 60 cm / 1 – 2 ft Spread: 30 – 60 cm / 1 – 2 ft Bloom time: August - September Attracts: hummingbirds, butterflies Special instructions: requires stratification, needs light to germinate |  Photo: Amy Hall |
White Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) | Light: Full sun Soil: sand, loam, clay Moisture: dry to medium Height: 60 – 90 cm / 2 – 3 ft Spread: 60 – 90 cm / 2 – 3 ft Bloom time: June to September Attracts: native bees Special instructions: needs light for germination | |
Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) | Light: Full sun to part shade Soil: loam Moisture: dry to medium Height: 30 – 90 cm / 1 – 3 ft Spread: 30 cm / 1 ft Bloom time: May to June Attracts: butterflies, hummingbirds Special instructions: stratification (60 days), needs light to germinate |  |
Wild Senna (Senna hebecarpa) | Light: Full sun to part shade Soil: sand, loam, clay Moisture: medium to wet Height: 90 – 150 cm / 3 – 5 ft Spread: 30 – 90 cm / 1 – 3 ft Bloom time: July to August Attracts: bumble bees Special instructions: stratification (30 days), needs light to germinate | |
Yellow Savanna Grass (Sorghastrum nutans) | Light: Full sun Soil: clay, sand, gravel Moisture: average Height: 2 m / 7 ft Spread: 1 m / 4 ft Bloom time: September Attracts: songbirds, grassland birds, butterflies, grasshoppers, insects Special instructions: no pre-treatment of seeds required |  |