Mesic Tallgrass Prairie Native Seed Mix
Mesic Tallgrass Prairie Native Seed Mix
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Quick View - Seed Mix Specifications
Quick View - Seed Mix Specifications
Seeding Rate: 11.48 lb/acre (77.1 seeds/square foot)
Component quantities and seed densities are rounded as published. Retained-component calculations are estimates.
| Common Name | Scientific Name | % of Mix | Seeds/ft2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Grasses Big Bluestem |
Andropogon gerardii | 4.36% | 1.8 | 0.50 PLS lb |
| Sideoats Grama | Bouteloua curtipendula | 27.23% | 6.9 | 3.13 PLS lb |
| Canada Wild Rye | Elymus canadensis | 8.71% | 1.9 | 1.00 PLS lb |
| Switchgrass | Panicum virgatum | 7.08% | 4.2 | 0.81 PLS lb |
| Little Bluestem | Schizachyrium scoparium | 16.34% | 10.3 | 1.88 PLS lb |
| Indiangrass | Sorghastrum nutans | 5.45% | 2.8 | 0.63 PLS lb |
| Prairie Dropseed | Sporobolus heterolepis | 0.54% | 0.4 | 0.06 PLS lb |
|
Sedges & Rushes Plains Oval Sedge |
Carex brevior | 1.39% | 1.7 | 0.16 PLS lb |
| Bicknell's Sedge | Carex bicknellii | 0.54% | 0.4 | 0.06 PLS lb |
|
Forbs Anise Hyssop |
Agastache foeniculum | 1.09% | 4.1 | 0.13 PLS lb |
| Swamp Milkweed | Asclepias incarnata | 0.82% | 0.2 | 0.09 PLS lb |
| Common Milkweed | Asclepias syriaca | 0.09% | 0.0 | 0.01 PLS lb |
| Smooth Blue Aster | Symphyotrichum laeve | 0.27% | 0.6 | 0.03 PLS lb |
| New England Aster | Symphyotrichum novae-angliae | 0.27% | 0.8 | 0.03 PLS lb |
| Canada Milkvetch | Astragalus canadensis | 0.70% | 0.5 | 0.08 PLS lb |
| White Wild Indigo | Baptisia alba | 0.54% | 0.0 | 0.06 PLS lb |
| Partridge Pea | Chamaecrista fasciculata | 2.79% | 0.3 | 0.32 PLS lb |
| Tall Coreopsis | Coreopsis tripteris | 0.54% | 0.3 | 0.06 PLS lb |
| White Prairie Clover | Dalea candida | 0.70% | 0.6 | 0.08 PLS lb |
| Purple Prairie Clover | Dalea purpurea | 1.39% | 1.1 | 0.16 PLS lb |
| Showy Tick Trefoil | Desmodium canadense | 0.70% | 0.2 | 0.08 PLS lb |
| Purple Coneflower | Echinacea purpurea | 2.09% | 0.6 | 0.24 PLS lb |
| Rattlesnake Master | Eryngium yuccifolium | 0.54% | 0.2 | 0.06 PLS lb |
| Cream Gentian | Gentiana flavida | 0.27% | 1.6 | 0.03 PLS lb |
| Ox-eye Sunflower | Heliopsis helianthoides | 3.27% | 0.9 | 0.38 PLS lb |
| Rough Blazing Star | Liatris aspera | 0.27% | 0.2 | 0.03 PLS lb |
| Prairie Blazing Star | Liatris pycnostachya | 0.54% | 0.3 | 0.06 PLS lb |
| Wild Bergamot | Monarda fistulosa | 0.54% | 1.6 | 0.06 PLS lb |
| Wild Quinine | Parthenium integrifolium | 1.39% | 0.4 | 0.16 PLS lb |
| Foxglove Beardtongue | Penstemon digitalis | 0.82% | 4.5 | 0.09 PLS lb |
| Yellow Coneflower | Ratibida pinnata | 0.82% | 1.0 | 0.09 PLS lb |
| Sweet Black-eyed Susan | Rudbeckia subtomentosa | 0.05% | 0.1 | 0.01 PLS lb |
| Black-eyed Susan | Rudbeckia hirta | 3.27% | 12.7 | 0.38 PLS lb |
| Compass Plant | Silphium laciniatum | 0.54% | 0.0 | 0.06 PLS lb |
| Stiff Goldenrod | Solidago rigida | 0.70% | 1.2 | 0.08 PLS lb |
| Purple Meadow Rue | Thalictrum dasycarpum | 0.35% | 0.2 | 0.04 PLS lb |
| Ohio Spiderwort | Tradescantia ohiensis | 0.35% | 0.1 | 0.04 PLS lb |
| Blue Vervain | Verbena hastata | 1.63% | 6.4 | 0.19 PLS lb |
| Culver's Root | Veronicastrum virginicum | 0.17% | 5.9 | 0.02 PLS lb |
| Golden Alexanders | Zizia aurea | 0.82% | 0.4 | 0.09 PLS lb |
Substitutions may be made based on availability at the time of order.
Pure Live Seed
Pure Live Seed
Seed is provided in Pure Live Seed (PLS) unless otherwise stated.
Pure Live Seed (PLS) expresses the viable seed content of a seed lot using its purity and germination or viability test results. It helps you compare seed lots and calculate how much bulk seed is needed to meet a specified PLS planting rate.
PLS weight and bag weight
PLS weight is not the same as the total weight of seed in a bag. For example, a lot with 80% purity and 75% viability contains 60% PLS: 80 × 75 ÷ 100 = 60. Supplying 10 lb PLS from that lot requires about 16.67 lb of bulk seed.
Use the current seed test and the stated basis of the mix specification. Germination calculations may include applicable hard or dormant seed. Seed-count estimates also require the number of seeds per pound; PLS alone does not provide a seed count.
What to check when buying a mix
Check whether each rate is stated in PLS pounds, bulk pounds, or a combination. A mix with both bases should not be described as having an all-PLS total.
PLS does not remove weed seeds or guarantee establishment. Review the seed label and analysis for weed content, and match site preparation, planting conditions and follow-up management to your project.
Sources: USDA NRCS, Understanding Pure Live Seed and The Importance of Seed Quality for Natural Resource Conservation.
Create a tallgrass prairie with native grasses and a diverse flowering component. This blend is intended for mesic prairie restoration, with ingredients that extend into slightly wetter and slightly drier site conditions.
The listed recipe includes milkweeds and other flowering species for prairie habitat. Allow room for mature height and seasonal change. Use the mix as a foundation, then add suitable seed or plugs as the site develops and gaps become clear.
Site conditions
Light: Full sun to part sun.
Soil moisture: Mesic, with some tolerance of slightly wet or slightly dry conditions.
Coverage sizes and 1,000 sq ft specifications
Choose a 1,000 sq ft seed packet for a small-area planting, or select 1/4 Acre, 1/2 Acre or 1 Acre for a larger project. All four sizes use this same published mix formula—not a separate packet recipe.
The 1,000 sq ft package covers, for example, a 20 ft × 50 ft prepared planting area at the published rate of 11.48 lb pure live seed (PLS) per acre. Its calculated allocation is approximately 4.22 oz PLS (119.54 g PLS). The published specification lists 40 species and estimates 77.1 seeds per square foot at that rate.
| Package size | Planting area | PLS equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | 1,000 sq ft | Approx. 4.22 oz PLS |
| 1/4 Acre | 10,890 sq ft | 2.870 lb PLS |
| 1/2 Acre | 21,780 sq ft | 5.740 lb PLS |
| 1 Acre | 43,560 sq ft | 11.48 lb PLS |
PLS expresses viable seed content, not the gross weight of a bag or its shipping weight. Actual packaged seed weight depends on the seed lot's purity and germination. Coverage is calculated from the published seeding rate; it is not a guarantee of establishment. Species and proportions may change with availability; consult the current lot label and mix specification.
Compare site conditions in our Small-Area Native Seed Mixes collection.
Blend ingredients
The following ingredients are listed in the published mix specification. Confirm the current formulation before ordering. Listed proportions follow the source and are not a claim about percentage by seed count.
Planting and establishment
Prepare the site and manage existing weeds before seeding. Germination requirements vary among the ingredients. Some native species benefit from cold, moist conditions; follow the mix-specific sowing guidance rather than treating every ingredient the same. For background, read native seed stratification guidance.
Ordering details
Available sizes: 1,000 sq ft; 1/4 Acre; 1/2 Acre; 1 Acre. Select your coverage size above.
Species substitutions may be made based on availability. Confirm the current formulation and seed-quality basis if your project requires an exact specification. All seed sales are final and cannot be returned.
Shipping & Care
Shipping & Care
Seed ships all year and typically ships within a week of an order being placed.
We have attempted to put together some basic information regarding native seed installation, establishment, and maintenance. We hope you find it helpful. If you need further assistance on native seed establishment, please schedule a free consolation call here.
Consultation Services
Ecosystem Restoration Considerations
Native Seed Establishment Best Management Practices
Native Seed Stratification Best Management Practices
Solving a Site Problem? Get Expert Advice + Get Store Credit
Whether you're fighting severe erosion, replacing invasive species, designing a pollinator haven, or seeding large acreage, choosing the wrong species wastes time and money. Talk 1-on-1 with a restoration ecologist to map out the exact species, plug counts, or seed mixes for your soil and goals. Book a consultation and get all or a portion credited directly back to your order.