The seeds need a period of cold, moist storage before they will germinate. This can be done by sowing outdoors from fall until midwinter. If sowing indoors, store seeds in moist, not wet, fine sand for two months in a refrigerator at 35 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit, or 1.7 to 4.4 degrees Celsius, before sowing into a soilless potting mix. I have also sown seeds directly into a premoistened seed-starting mix and placed that in a refrigerator for two months before putting the whole tray under lights. I’ve had trouble successfully transplanting seedlings into the garden; however, naturally reseeded plants do quite well. It may be that the young root system is very fragile.
The seeds of rabbit tobacco are tiny, about 0.5 millimeter long. When working with tiny seeds, it is often helpful to blend them with some fine sand. This way you can see where the seed falls as you spread it. Whether you sow indoors or out, the seeds need light to germinate. They should be scattered over the surface of the soil and pressed into contact, but not buried.
Rabbit tobacco grows primarily as an annual. In some cases it may behave as a biennial, growing a low rosette of fuzzy leaves the first growing season and then blooming in the second season. The flowers are insect-pollinated, most commonly by short-tongued bees, flies and wasps. The plant also serves as a larval host for the American lady (Vanessa virginiensis) and painted lady (V. cardui) butterflies.
Shown: A clump coming up in a recently cleared thicket that is being managed as a meadow. It is right on the edge of a mowed path. The fine hairs on the stems catch the light and make them look nearly white.
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Browse plants native to other regions of the U.S.
from Houzz http://ift.tt/1SiojGL
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