Resources for LLCT’s Spring Plant Kits
Stay tuned for more resources here!
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*Note: Orders for the Spring and Summer Plant Kits are now closed. Thank you to all who ordered..together we will be planting the way for functional biodiversity throughout Lincoln!
The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust, as a benefit to its members, is providing the opportunity to purchase Plant Kits of highly curated, native plants at wholesale prices this spring and summer. Not a member? Join today! These kits not only source hard to find native plants, including shrubs, grasses, and perennials, they also contain a mix to ensure plants that bloom from spring through the fall.
Before you start planting, there are some steps to take now to make sure your property will be an ideal habitat:
- Stop all pesticide use
- Reduce your mowing frequency and dedicate less area to lawn
- Dedicate less area to lawn and more to native flowering plants
- Allow lawn “weeds” like dandelion to grow – they are an important food source for bumblebees. Lawn alternatives like native ground covers are a great choice!
- Avoid cultivars! Many produce beautiful flowers but poor quality pollen or nectar
- Continue to manage and remove invasive species
- If you had a landscape company managing your property, discuss your objectives with them to make sure they will not apply anything without your knowledge and consent.
Guide to Creating a Pollinator Friendly Space (PDF)
Spring and Summer Plant Kits
Here’s what’s in the kits! Contents of Plant Kits with Descriptions of Each Plant (PDF)
Want to order a kit online? Use our Online Shop
Want to order a kit offline? Use a Paper Order Form
Due to plant availability, we are offering two kits. The Spring kit will be picked up on May 2nd, and the summer kit is available on July 11th. Both pick up days are from 9-12 at the PFP Meadow. Combined, these kits offer a great start to an amazing pollinator space. If you don’t have space for a whole kit, all plants can be ordered “a la carte” so you can also pick and choose what to get. Plants in the kit do not need to be planted in the same area, although it is best to plant shrubs and perennials of the same species in proximity to each other to facilitate pollination.
Orders are open through March 6th. Shop online, or return a paper order form. Please note that we have added a $5 delivery fee onto the order process to help defray the costs of plant delivery. There’s still a lot of great savings to be had! Additionally, although you will need to fill out a billing address when ordering online, you will not be asked to provide a credit card. You will receive a confirmation email with your order and we will follow up with reminders before pick up.
Below are descriptions and contents of the planting kits (also available in the Plant Kit PDF above)
SPRING PLANTING KIT
Pick up on Saturday, May 2 between 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM at the People for Pollinators meadow. Park in the lot of the Smith Building at the Lincoln Public Schools, Ballfield Road, Lincoln, MA.
All the plants in each kit – spring and summer — are also available “a la carte.”
Pussy Willow* (Salix discolor): 2 plants, 1-gal container. This pollinator powerhouse prefers sun to part shade and average to wet conditions. The male plants produce the soft, fuzzy catkins most are familiar with, and provide both nectar and pollen (females only provide nectar). These shrubs can grow 5-15 ft and spread 4-8 ft and they support a wide variety of native insects.
Virginia Rose (Rosa virginiana): 2 plants, 1-gal container. Drought tolerant, disease-resistant species. Grows to a height of 2-4 ft and spreads 3-6 ft. Can grow in sun to part shade and average to dry soil. Blooms and produces pollen and fruit in summer and has beautiful fall foliage. Supports a wide variety of pollinators including butterflies and bumblebees.
Lowbush Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium): 2 plants, 1-gal container. White blooms in spring provide nectar in May and June, edible berries, and fall foliage. Can grow in sun to part shade and average to dry soil. Host plant for the Brown Elfin butterfly. Grows 1-2 ft and spread is 1-3 ft.
Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon): 1 plant, 1-gal container. Need wet soil and sunny conditions and can grow to a height of 1-3 ft and spread 1.5-2 ft. These bloom and produce fruit in summer and have fall foliage.
Dwarf Bush Honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera): 1 plant, 1-gal container. These long blooming bushes are rugged and their nectar (June-August) attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. They also provide fall foliage. They require sun to part shade, and average to dry soil. They grow to a height of 2-4 ft and spread 2-5 ft.
Carolina Rose (Rosa carolina): 1 plant, 1-gal container. These easy to grow roses stay low and are well suited for borders and naturalizing. They prefer sun to part shade and average to wet soil. They bloom and provide pollen in May to June. They grow to a height of 2-4 ft and spread 3-4 ft.
Total Plants: 9 Retail Cost: $160.50 Member Cost: $96.70 Total Savings: $63.80
Additional Spring Plants available a la carte only:
Meadow Willow* (Salix petiolaris): 2 cuttings, 10” each. Willows are low maintenance, hardy and love wet soil, making them excellent for erosion control in wet areas. Grow to a height of 5-10 ft and can spread 10-20 ft. Catkins are small and appear early in the spring, making them an important spring pollen source for native bumblebees.
Shining Willow* (Salix lucida): 2 cuttings, 10” each. Resilient plant that is hardy to the Arctic Circle! Can reach heights up to 20 ft, and form a large shrub or small tree. Spring blooming plant, average to wet soil and can tolerate sun to shade. Attracts butterflies, important source of pollen for native bumblebees, and host mourning cloak, acadian hairsteaks, and admiral caterpillars.
*Please note: Some of these plants (in particular the willows) have strong root systems and should not be planted over septic tanks! If you have any questions, please contact llct@lincolnconservation.org.
SUMMER PLANTING KIT
Pick up on Saturday, July 11 between 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM at the People for Pollinators meadow. Park in the lot of the Smith Building at the Lincoln Public Schools, Ballfield Road, Lincoln, MA.
Yellow Wild Indigo (Baptisia tinctoria): 3 plugs. Average to dry soil and sun to part shade. Height of 2-3 ft and spreads 2-3 ft. Blooms in late June-early July and hosts the wild indigo duskywing butterfly as well as many native bumblebee, fly and caterpillar species.
Spotted Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium maculatum): 3 plugs. Height of 3-7 ft, spread of 3-4 ft. Sun to part shade, average to wet soil. Attracts butterflies, bumblebees, and songbirds. Blooms in late summer (August-September).
St. John’s Wort (Hypericum ascyron): 3 plugs. Moist to wet soil, full sun to shade. Height of 2-6 ft, 2-in yellow flowers. Blooms June-August and attracts native bees.
Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis): 3 plugs. Sun to part shade, average to dry soil. Height of 1-3 ft, spread of 14-18 in. Attracts bumblebees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators/wildlife. Blooms May-July.
White Meadowsweet (Spiraea alba): 3 big plugs. All soil conditions, from wet to dry. Sun to part shade. Height of 2-5 ft, spread of 2-4 ft. Blooms from July-September. Attracts a range of pollinators including bumblebees and butterflies.
Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata): 3 plants, 1-gal container. Average to wet soil, sun to part shade. Height of 2-4 ft, spread of 1-2 ft. Pink to purple blooms from June-September. Attracts many pollinators, most famously a favorite of Monarch butterflies. Many other species are milkweed specialists as well.
Tall White Aster (Doellingeria umbellate): 3 plugs. Wet soil in sun. Height of 3-7 ft, spread of 3-4 ft. Late summer blooms that attract bumblebees, wasps, flies, butterflies, beetles, and other insects.
Total Plants: 21 Retail Cost: $96.00 Member Cost: $70.50 Total Savings: $25.50
Additional Grasses available a la carte only:
Tussock sedge (Carex stricta): 1-gal container. Moist to wet soil, sun. Height of 1-3 ft. Grass-like plant with clusters of brown seeds clinging high on stem. Provides nesting habitat for rails and snipes, is larval host to the Mulberry wing butterfly.
Big-Blue Stem (Andropogon gerarddii): Plug. Average to dry soil, in sun. Height of 2-5 ft, spread of 2-4 ft. Tall, hardy bunchgrass that yields silver seeds in late summer, and then golden fall foliage. Hosts at least eleven native butterflies and moths.
Switch Grass (Panicium virgatum): Plug. Dry to moist soil, sun to part shade. Height of 3-6 ft. Clump-forming grass with small reddish-purple seedheads produced from August-October. Fall color is pale yellow, and lasts throughout the winter. Provides cover and nesting material, seeds are eaten by song and game birds. Attracts birds and butterflies, and is larval host for the Delaware Skipper.