I'm new to gardening and have bought several flower and herb seeds to fill some gaps in my garden bed. However, I found out that about half of them aren't suitable for the garden, like lemon balm. I don't want to waste more money on seeds that might not work, so I'm looking for suggestions on what to plant that will attract bees and butterflies while also being good for the soil. I live in northwestern Missouri and want to ensure my garden is beneficial but not overcrowded!
1 Answer
You should definitely consider planting native flowers. They're great for local wildlife and won't take over your garden as much as some non-natives might. I love goldenrods and blazing stars for butterflies, and milkweed is essential for them. There’s a fantastic resource called the Xerces Society that has tons of information on beneficial plants. I also recommend adding anise hyssop and bee balm! While I mix in some cosmos and pansies, I'm focusing on adding more native perennials each year to make my garden a better habitat.
I thought milkweed was a no-go for garden beds, too! I learned my lesson the hard way with planting stuff that ended up being invasive like various mints. Thanks for the suggestions!