Spreading Love and Flowers
MAGNA's Pride Wildflower Packages
Last year, MAGNA started distributing a custom wildflower seed mix at Alberta Events. Were you one of the lucky ones to receive a packet? Here’s everything that you need to know about the seeds:
About the Wildflowers
As the packet reads, the blend contains “drought resilient wildflowers native to Alberta.” Each flower that was selected will contribute to the existing ecological environment while still looking beautiful. The seeds that we selected are included in the table below:
| Common Name | Botanical/Scientific Name | Ecological Benefits |
| Globe Gilia | Gilia capitata |
|
| Prairie Coneflower | Ratibida columaris |
|
| Blue Flax | Linum perenne |
|
| Plains Coreopsis | Coreopsis tinctoria |
|
| Blanketflower | Gaillardia aristata |
|
| Purple Coneflower | Echinacea purpurea |
|
| Black Eyed Susan | Rudbeckia hirta |
|
| Smooth Blue Aster | Symphyotrichum laeve |
|
| Yarrow | Achillea millefolium |
|
About the Selection Process
John Bailey, MEDes
Our MAGNA signature wildflower blend is a colour balanced mix that is good for local pollinators. The flowers will grow in varying heights between 12” – 36” .
Our Environmental Design Lead, John Bailey, selected the seeds himself to ensure that the plants would be successful here in Calgary.
John has over 12 years of experience in landscaping and environmental design, with three of those years with MAGNA. He is directly involved in every MAGNA Stormpark™, selecting plants that will create a vibrant and ecologically sound ecosystem.
When selecting our custom blend, he wanted to ensure that each selected plant was:
Either a perennial or a self-seeding annual
Regionally appropriate
Able to withstand Alberta drought conditions
Proven to grow well in the Calgary Region
Many of the plants that John selected carry historical significance to the region, being used as food, fibre, or medicine for hundreds of years.
While most of the selected seeds can survive and thrive outside of Alberta, MAGNA believes that we have a responsibility to ensure that any plantings to which we are a party are non-invasive. This is why we recommend that our seed packets are only planted in Alberta.
If you are outside of our region, please research if these plants are appropriate for your region before planting.
Blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata)
What are the Planting Instructions?
1. Plant the seeds in late spring or fall.
2. Choose well drained soil.
3. Rake the soil level.
4. Scatter seeds onto the soil.
5. Rake the seeds into the soil.
The Benefits of Wildflowers
Black Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Benefits to Society
Here at MAGNA, we recognize the importance nature has for society’s mental and physical well-being. It’s one of the reasons that we created the MAGNA Stormpark™. We recognize the importance of society and nature working together, and there are many documented benefits to going outside, including:
Increased connection to our community
Lowering stress levels
Improving working memory
Opportunities for discovery and play
Reducing depression and improving well-being
Exercise
Increasing kindness
We hope that our wildflowers will help each person create a beautiful outdoor space in which they can recharge.
Do you only have access to a small space? Small spaces are no obstacle in stewarding a piece of nature; even a patio or balcony can host potted plants and flowers.
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Benefits to the Environment
Biodiversity
Wildflowers are extremely important to increasing urban biodiversity. They provide food for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Smaller mammals and birds will then eat the insects. These smaller mammals and birds are in turn eaten by larger mammals. This food cycle allows for each species to thrive.
Flood & Erosion Control
Wildflowers typically have deep and complex root systems. These roots ensure that valuable soil and nutrients don’t wash away during heavy rainfalls, as well as helping to hold the rainwater stay where it needs to stay. They can often colonize soils and slopes that pose challenges for domesticated species.
Helps Fight Climate Change
Every wildflower we plant helps sequester carbon and reduces greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. While an individual planting may not make a major difference, it certainly helps.
Packaging
MAGNA is committed to creating sustainable solutions in infrastructure and that commitment highly impacted our choice of packaging for our wildflower seed blend. Each envelope is created from unbleached paper and is 100% recyclable after the seeds are planted. We wanted to ensure that the packaging leaves no lasting impact on the planet.