Ecosystem in a Box

We built this curated seed kit to provide native ecosystem services over multiple seasons to support pollinators and other beneficial insects and birds.
Seeds can be started at anytime, but need regular water to germinate and get established.  They will do best if planted from fall into spring when the ground is wet from rainfall.  Prime time to plant in the ground is after the 3rd rainfall of the fall season.
Each plant makes a contribution toward a balanced ecosystem by providing a nectar source and hosting butterfly and moth caterpillars (

• Narrowleaf Milkweed – Asclepias fascicularis – Host plant for Monarch butterfly caterpillars and 5 others, and late summer nectar source for many pollinators.
• Showy Milkweed – Asclepias speciosa – Host plant for Monarch butterfly caterpillars and 5 others, and late summer nectar source for many pollinators.
• California Poppy – Eschscholzia californica – Spring pollen source and host plant for up to 8 lepidoptera
• Yarrow – Achillea millefolium – nectar source for all pollinators summer through fall and host plant for up to 16 lepidoptera
• Miniature Lupine – Lupinus bicolor – early spring to summer nectar source especially loved by bumble bees and host for up to 65 lepidoptera
• Tidy Tips – Layia platyglossa – early spring to summer nectar source host to 2 lepidoptera
• Mexican Sunflower – Tithonia rotundifolia – (non-native) nectar source summer through fall especially beloved by Monarch butterflies but extremely popular with all pollinators
• Phacelia – Phacelia Californica – nectar source for all pollinators but especially attractive to hover flies who are especially good pollinators second only to bees and their larva are voracious aphid eaters
• Lacy Phacelia – Phacelia tanacetifolia – nectar source for all pollinators but especially attractive to hover flies who are especially good pollinators second only to bees and their larva are voracious aphid eaters – hosts 10 lepidoptera
• Common Wooly Sunflower – Eriophyllum lanatum – nectar source in the summer and into fall and host plant for 8 species
• Hooker’s Evening Primrose – Oenothera elata sp. hirutissima – nectar source afternoon and evening for moth species.  Host plant for 15 butterflies and moths.
• Western Goldenrod – Euthamia Occidentalis – Late season nectar for all pollinators – host plant for 2 species of butterflies and moths.