Plectritis congesta, Sea Blush seed
Sea Blush is often found on grassy bluffs near the ocean. Its name is derived from the color of its blooms, which are a light pink color. This flower can also be found in moist meadows, on open rocky slopes and along the buttes and foothills throughout the Northwest. Sea Blush is a flower that is appealing to the eye but may not be to your sense of smell. It releases an unpleasant odor that is not consistent with its aesthetic appearance. In the Northwest, fall plant this flower for the best results.
Covers 1 or 5 square feet.
How to Use Your Cover Crop & Native Seed Packets
Each seed packet is measured to cover 25 sq ft or 100 sq ft, depending on the size you chose.
Sowing Instructions
-
When to sow: Fall is ideal in Portland. The soil is still warm for germination, and fall rains keep seedlings watered. Some seeds (like meadowfoam or clovers) can also be spring-sown.
How to sow:
- Rake the soil lightly to create good seed-to-soil contact.
- Scatter the contents of the packet evenly over the area (don’t worry about perfect spacing).
- Gently press or rake seeds in so they make contact with the soil. Do not bury deeply — most native and cover crop seeds need light to germinate.
- Water: Fall rains usually do the job, but water lightly if the weather turns dry.
What to Expect
-
Traditional Cover Crops (rye, peas, fava, daikon, crimson clover, buckwheat, mustard): Grow quickly, protect soil, and build fertility. In spring, chop them down or mow before they set seed. Some (like rye) can also be crimped into a mulch.
-
Living Mulches (red fescue, dwarf yarrow, creeping thyme, low clovers): These stay low and provide long-term weed suppression and ground cover. Shear lightly as needed, but they don’t require replanting every year.
-
Pollinator Wildflowers (Clarkia, poppy, gilia, flax, meadowfoam, coneflower, blanketflower): Not classic cover crops, but they add beauty and attract bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects. Many reseed naturally.
Spring & Summer Management
-
Chop-and-drop: Cut plants at the base and leave them as mulch (peas, fava, clovers).
-
Mow: Use on ryegrass or cereals to turn them into quick mulch.
-
Crimp: Flatten tall rye or grains at flowering to create a long-lasting weed barrier.
-
Shear perennials: Yarrow, thyme, and sedges can be trimmed back after bloom.
-
Self-seeders: Flowers like poppy, clarkia, and meadowfoam will often reseed themselves. Leave some seed heads if you want them back next year.
Quick Tips
-
Cover crops = soil builders.
-
Living mulches = weed suppressors.
-
Wildflowers = pollinator magnets.
Tulle or row cover can protect young seedlings from birds and slugs until established.
-