Species that do not need stratification

Common evening primrose, Oenothera biennis	Canada wild rye, Elymus canadensis
Wild columbine, Aquilegia canadensis	Switchgrass, Panicum virgatum
Wild bergamot, Monarda fistulosa	Big bluestem, Andropogon gerardii
Wild basil, Clinopodium vulgare	Little bluestem, Schizachyrium scoparium
Prairie smoke, Geum triflorum	Savannah grass, Sorghastrum nutans

Species that do not need stratification but do need light to germinate

Sow these species on the surface of the soil and do not cover them with a layer of soil. The seeds need to be exposed to light in order to germinate.

Common yarrow, Achillea millefolium	Grey-stemmed goldenrod, Solidago nemoralis
Long-headed anemone, Anemone cylindrica	White panicled aster, Symphyotrichum lanceolatum
Tall thimbleweed, Anemone virginiana	Purple-stemmed aster, Symphyotrichum puniceum
Drooping woodland sedge, Carex arctata	Wild strawberry, Fragaria virginiana
Peck’s sedge, Carex peckii	Two-leaved mitrewort, Mitella diphylla
Fireweed, Chamaenerion angustifolium	Hairy beardtongue, Penstemon hirsutus

Reduced germination without stratification, need light to germinate

These species will have higher germination rates if you stratify them, but you will get some germination without it. Sow the seeds on the surface of the soil and do not cover them. The seeds need to be exposed to light in order to germinate.

Fox sedge, Carex vulpinoidea	Spotted Joe Pye weed, Eutrochium maculatum
Grass-leaved goldenrod, Euthamia graminifolia	Arrow leaved aster, Symphytrichum urophyllum
Blue-stemmed goldenrod, Solidago caesia	Lindley’s aster, Symphyotrichum ciliolatum
Zigzag goldenrod, Solidago flexicaulis	Flat-topped white aster, Doellingeria umbellata
Early goldenrod, Solidago juncea	Heart leaved aster, Symphyotrichum cordifolium
Rough stemmed goldenrod, Solidago rugosa	Calico aster, Symphyotrichum lateriflorum
Common boneset, Eupatorium perfoliatum	New England aster, Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta