Re: Native seeds

[Purplestitching]

Hi!

The best plants for tree pit plantings will be drought tolerant, not have deep roots, and not be too tall.  I don't think this is exhaustive, but I think it can get us started.

Here's my recommendations (pros in regular text, cons italicized):

Wild Strawberry (https://www.everwilde.com/store/Wild-Strawberry-Wildflower-Seeds.html)

• edible
• does not take up lead into the fruit at dangerous levels (https://ishs.org/ishs-article/348_55/)
• drought tolerant
• self-seeding annual if not harvested
• is susceptible to some diseases and pests (https://www.gardenia.net/plant/fragaria-vesca)
• sends out runners that might exceed tree pit borders

Pennsylvania Sedge (https://www.everwilde.com/store/Carex-pensylvanica-Seed.html) out of stock

• doesn't exceed 8" tall
• perennial
• fills in spaces and covers ground
• crowds out invasives
• prevents erosion
• beneficial for insects and birds as food/nest material source
• https://growitbuildit.com/pennsylvania-sedge-carex-pensylvanica/

Birds Foot Violet (https://www.everwilde.com/store/Viola-pedata-WildFlower-Seed.html) out of stock

• only 3-6" tall
• pretty blue/purple flowers
• self-seeding

American Wild Mint/Canada Mint (https://www.everwilde.com/store/Mentha-arvensis-WildFlower-Seed.html) < this is a related mint variety, not Mentha canadensis specifically

• grows to about 18" tall
• native to the region
• small pink flowers
• perennial
• spreads via rhizomes
• spreads aggressively, as any mint does, but I imagine the tree pit would contain the mint?
• edible, but unknown how much heavy metals make it into the leaves

Blue Wood Aster (Everwilde does not have seeds for this; I found this https://www.prairiemoon.com/symphyotrichum-cordifolium-heart-leaved-aster)

• rabbit and deer resistant
• attracts pollinators
• blooms for a long time
• perennial
• generally pest and disease resistant
• can get up to 5 ft tall

Bluestem Goldenrod (Everwilde also doesn't have this one, but I found it here https://www.prairiemoon.com/symphyotrichum-cordifolium-heart-leaved-aster)

• self-seeding annual
• drought tolerant, deer resistant
• attracts pollinators
• grows up to 3 ft tall

Bluets (Everwilde also doesn't have these, and many native seed sites listed them as out of stock. I found this site but it looks slightly sketchy to me https://seedorganica.com/products/bluets-seeds-houstonia)

• pretty white/blue flowers
• pest and disease resistant
• drought and salt tolerant
• perennial
• up to 6" tall
• shallow roots, spreads via rhizome

Eastern (Red) Columbine (https://www.everwilde.com/store/Aquilegia-canadensis-WildFlower-Seed.html)

• 2-3 ft tall
• deer and rabbit resistance
• red-orange flowers
• perennial
• only drought tolerant once established, requires regular watering to establish

Purple Coneflower (https://www.everwilde.com/store/Echinacea-purpurea-WildFlower-Seed.html)

• perennial
• food for pollinators and birds
• big purple flowers
• 3-5 ft tall
• only drought tolerant once established, requires regular watering to establish
• prefers full sun

Field Pussytoes (https://www.everwilde.com/store/Antennaria-neglecta-Wildflower-Seeds.html)

• ground cover, spreads by stolons
• up to 6" tall
• tolerant of poor soils and drought
• pest and disease free
• resembles a small dandelion, so people might mistake it for a weed

Foxglove Beardtongue (https://www.everwilde.com/store/Penstemon-digitalis-WildFlower-Seed.html)

• tubular white or pale pink flowers
• semi-evergreen perennial
• attractive to pollinators and birds (for seeds after blooming)
• grows to 3-5 ft tall
• while it generally has shallow roots, it can establish a taproot as it gets older
• only drought-tolerant after established

On Friday, April 17th, 2026 at 16:59, Alyssa W <sha...@gmail.com> wrote:

If anything in here would be suitable for tree pit gardening I'm thinking of doing some bulk orders next weekend - would love your input on the best seeds to buy!

https://www.everwilde.com/Popular-Native-Wildflower-Seeds.html

Best

Alyssa

[Alyssa W]

Amazing: love this! Thanks so much for the detailed write up!

I've ordered the ones that were in stock for everwilde, and I'm trying out the ones that were available at prarie moon as well. I'm also getting some empty seed packets like the ones the library uses for their seed library. The SPL seed library is focused on ample bloomers and edible plants (which is awesome and I love it) but less focused on natives, so this will hopefully provide some variety to what is freely available locally.

I was thinking of repurposing the empty cabinet* on the art section of the path (which is currently only home to some foam packing and a bunch of ants) as a seed library. It's kind of junky looking but I think it's salvageable. If anyone is artistically inclined I'd love help cleaning it up but worst case I can evict the ants, toss on some floral stickers and a sign, and put in the seeds when they arrive.

*https://photos.app.goo.gl/kFvGDp5oEKhe2Aig7

[Purplestitching]

I need to check, but I think I still have a decent selection of acrylic paints, and I'd be happy to try to jazz it up with some fresh paint once it's cleaned out. Also happy to help make seed packets once they arrive! 

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[Alyssa W]

Sounds great!

I evicted the ants yesterday and checked today and they're still gone.

I picked up a door organizer that's almost the perfect size for the box and fits sweet packets well, so I'll install that either Sunday or later this week.