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Core + Expanded + Maximum Diversity: representative late-summer view of all three components. Add-ons are sold separately.
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Core + Expanded + Maximum Diversity: representative fall view of all three components. Add-ons are sold separately.
Images are representative of seasonal appearance. Actual results vary with site conditions, establishment and management.
Maximum Diversity Add-On — Native Prairie Seed Mix
Maximum Diversity Add-On — Native Prairie Seed Mix
For open, sunny mesic to dry-mesic prairie sites. Check drainage and existing vegetation before ordering.
A supplemental diversity component for a compatible prairie planting; this package contains only the species listed for this component.
Your selection: species & seed quantities
Your selection: species & seed quantities
Your selected mix:
Combined specification per acre*:
Total PLS seed for your selected coverage and package quantity:
Species rows show the selected components only. Values are rounded supplier figures per acre; combined headline totals may differ slightly from summed rows. PLS is viable seed content, not gross bag weight.
Seed + Warrior project planner
Seed + Warrior project planner
Choose a seed mix on its product page to use its saved recommendations.
Edit these two numbers, then calculate.
Open a seed mix to start with its product and coverage selection.
Recommendation alignment is an editorial planning guide, not a success probability or a scientific seed-to-plug equivalence.
Plant roles, quantities & planning details
The seed mix supplies broad base coverage. Place Warrior plugs intentionally in suitable microsites; the per-acre density applies only to the targeted treatment area, not an instruction to space plants evenly across the site.
Below 50% seed stays red; 50% to below 100% stays yellow. Extra diversity or plugs never offsets underseeding. For a tiered mix, full-rate Core starts light green, Core + Expanded reaches its upper end, and Core + both add-ons starts the dark-green optimal zone. Verified, appropriate Warrior density raises alignment smoothly within the applicable diversity band. Extra seed above 100% adds no rating credit.
Flywheel Ecology: site investigation through ongoing monitoring
Read the current mix specification
Detailed seed quantities & custom-quote calculator
Quick View: Maximum Diversity Add-On — Native Prairie Seed Mix specifications*
Quick View: Maximum Diversity Add-On — Native Prairie Seed Mix specifications*
Maximum Diversity Add-On Seed Mix Specifications
Seeding rate: 0.548 PLS lb/acre (5.86 seeds/square foot). This component contains 22 species.
| Common name | Scientific name | % of mix by PLS weight | Seeds/ft² | PLS lb/acre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prairie Brome | Bromus kalmii | 15.326% | 0.25 | 0.084 |
| Canada Anemone | Anemone canadensis | 1.368% | 0.02 | 0.008 |
| Thimbleweed | Anemone cylindrica | 0.912% | 0.05 | 0.005 |
| Whorled Milkweed | Asclepias verticillata | 0.912% | 0.02 | 0.005 |
| Cream Wild Indigo | Baptisia bracteata | 3.193% | 0.01 | 0.018 |
| False Boneset | Brickellia eupatorioides | 1.825% | 0.12 | 0.010 |
| Prairie Coreopsis | Coreopsis palmata | 1.825% | 0.04 | 0.010 |
| Midland Shooting Star | Dodecatheon meadia | 1.368% | 0.17 | 0.008 |
| Flowering Spurge | Euphorbia corollata | 1.825% | 0.03 | 0.010 |
| Grass-leaved Goldenrod | Euthamia graminifolia | 0.547% | 0.39 | 0.003 |
| Round-headed Bush Clover | Lespedeza capitata | 5.474% | 0.09 | 0.030 |
| Northern Blazing Star | Liatris scariosa | 2.919% | 0.06 | 0.016 |
| Wood Betony | Pedicularis canadensis | 4.865% | 0.32 | 0.027 |
| Wild Petunia | Ruellia humilis | 3.649% | 0.04 | 0.020 |
| Prairie Dock | Silphium terebinthinaceum | 4.561% | 0.01 | 0.025 |
| Stout Blue-eyed Grass | Sisyrinchium angustifolium | 12.772% | 0.77 | 0.070 |
| Early Goldenrod | Solidago juncea | 0.912% | 0.53 | 0.005 |
| Gray Goldenrod | Solidago nemoralis | 0.912% | 0.55 | 0.005 |
| Showy Goldenrod | Solidago speciosa | 2.737% | 0.52 | 0.015 |
| Heath Aster | Symphyotrichum ericoides | 1.368% | 0.55 | 0.008 |
| Sky Blue Aster | Symphyotrichum oolentangiense | 4.275% | 0.69 | 0.023 |
| Heartleaf Alexanders | Zizia aptera | 26.455% | 0.64 | 0.145 |
Supplier quote NATUR26147C, received October 6, 2026. Rates are PLS weights, not physical bulk packet weights. Displayed rows are rounded. Availability and substitutions are reviewed at order time; this is not a current stock guarantee.
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.
Add 22 species for more seasonal variety. Maximum adds spring flowers, low-growing accents and late-season forage, with taller accents such as Prairie Dock. Plan for sunny, mesic to dry-mesic conditions. Use with a foundation mix or for carefully planned interseeding.
Images are representative of seasonal appearance. Actual results vary with site conditions, establishment and management.
This listing contains only the 22-species Maximum Diversity Add-On. It is shared by the Mixed-Height and Shorter-Grass families at the same per-acre rates and can be bought initially or later for interseeding. It is a supplement rather than a complete foundation for a bare site.
Mixed-Height Native Prairie Seed Mix · Expanded Diversity Add-On
Site conditions
Light and setting: Plan for an open, sunny prairie site. Evaluate shade, drainage and existing vegetation before choosing the mix.
Soil moisture: The recipe brings together plants with different moisture preferences. Match the overall plan to mesic or dry-mesic prairie conditions, and assess wetter or very dry areas separately. Some ingredients favor moister pockets; others favor lean, well-drained ground.
Height: A variable canopy with lower layers and taller accents. Neither the Mixed-Height foundation nor the shared add-ons has a fixed height ceiling.
Coverage sizes and 1,000 sq ft specifications
Choose a 1,000-sq-ft packet, a 1/4-acre package, or one complete package from 0.5 to 5.0 acres in 0.1-acre steps. For example, choose 0.7 acre for a 30,492-sq-ft planting. Match coverage areas when combining components. One acre equals 43,560 sq ft; 1,000 sq ft is approximately 0.02296 acre. The table below shows reference quantities for this component. Request a quote for a larger project.
The recipe is scaled by planting area. The 1,000-sq-ft packet covers an area such as 20 by 50 feet at the published rate. The reference sizes below show the PLS quantity for this component only; adding diversity components adds their separate seed quantities.
| Package size | Planting area (sq ft) | PLS equivalent (lb) |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | 1,000 | 0.0126 |
| 1/4 Acre | 10,890 | 0.1370 |
| 0.5 Acre | 21,780 | 0.2740 |
| 1.0 Acre | 43,560 | 0.5480 |
PLS expresses viable seed content, not gross bag or shipping weight. Actual bulk weight depends on lot purity and germination. Seed counts and PLS weights do not predict mature plant cover. Rounded rows may not add precisely to the stated component total.
Blend ingredients
22 species; 0.548 PLS lb/acre; 5.86 seeds/sq ft. Quoted proportions are by PLS weight, not mature cover.
Flower standouts in Maximum
Flower standouts in Maximum
- Wood Betony brings fernlike foliage and intriguing yellow spring flowers with curved, twisted-looking hoods. This native root hemiparasite can temper the growth of host grasses through its root connections; effects vary with the site and plant community.
- Savanna Blazing Star (Liatris scariosa) adds large purple flowerheads and nectar for adult monarchs and other butterflies in the later growing season.
- Wild Petunia tucks lavender, funnel-shaped summer flowers into a low-growing layer, with blooms visited by long-tongued bees. The flowers resemble garden petunias, and mature seed capsules pop open to fling their seeds.
- Prairie Dock pairs bold, large basal leaves with tall stalks of yellow flowers. Its mature seeds provide food for goldfinches.
- Stout Blue-eyed Grass In our restoration experience, blue-eyed grass is an uncommon sight in recreated prairies. Its tiny blue-violet flowers add a distinctive spring accent.
- Canada Anemone brings bright white flowers above a leafy groundcover. It spreads by rhizomes and can form vigorous colonies, especially in moister areas, so give it room within the planting.
- Whorled Milkweed adds fine, narrow leaves arranged in whorls and small clusters of white summer flowers. Its foliage feeds monarch caterpillars.
- Cream Wild Indigo brings distinctive pale, creamy-yellow spring flowers on a low, spreading plant. The pea-shaped blooms provide food for bumblebees, including new queens.
- Prairie Coreopsis spreads by rhizomes to form colonies with beautiful yellow flowers in early summer. Give the patches room to expand on suitable sites.
- Midland Shooting Star is a spring standout: gracefully nodding flowers with swept-back petals resemble tiny shooting stars. It is associated with relatively intact prairie and savanna habitats.
- Old-field Goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) adds compact, golden flower plumes on a shorter plant, bringing late-season color and forage for pollinators.
- Heath Aster creates clouds of small white flowers in fall, adding airy texture and late-season forage for pollinators.
References: Canada Anemone · Whorled Milkweed · Cream Wild Indigo · Prairie Coreopsis · Shooting Star flowers · Shooting Star habitat · Wood Betony · Wood Betony experiment · long-term Wood Betony study · Wood Betony field comparison · Savanna Blazing Star · Wild Petunia · Prairie Dock · Stout Blue-eyed Grass · Wild Petunia seed capsules · Old-field Goldenrod · Heath Aster.
Why these species belong in the planting
Each species contributes a different combination of growth form, season or habitat value. The notes below describe established plants on suitable sites; they do not guarantee germination, abundance or wildlife visits.
Maximum Diversity Add-On: every species and its contribution
- Prairie Brome (Bromus kalmii): Adds cool-season growth and fine-textured, knee-high foliage, bringing spring structure before the warm-season grasses reach their full height. Species reference
- Canada Anemone (Anemone canadensis): Adds a spreading, low leafy layer in moister pockets, with white late-spring flowers that offer pollen to small native bees. Species reference
- Thimbleweed (Anemone cylindrica): Contributes early-summer flowers for pollen-seeking bees and distinctive seedheads that turn cottony in fall and can remain through winter. Species reference
- Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata): Adds slender, fine-textured foliage and summer nectar for bees, wasps and butterflies, especially in sunny, lean-soil portions of the planting. Species reference
- Cream Wild Indigo (Baptisia bracteata): Broadens the spring display with a low-growing prairie legume whose creamy flowers provide food for emerging queen bumblebees. Species reference
- False Boneset (Brickellia eupatorioides): Extends nectar and pollen availability into late summer and early fall, with drought-tolerant plants and fluffy seedheads suited to lean, well-drained ground. Species reference
- Prairie Coreopsis (Coreopsis palmata): Creates sunny patches of early-summer yellow flowers with accessible nectar and pollen, adding color before the taller warm-season grasses fill out. Species reference
- Midland Shooting Star (Dodecatheon meadia): Brings late-spring color and pollen for buzz-pollinating bees, then enters summer dormancy, adding a different seasonal rhythm to the planting. Species reference
- Flowering Spurge (Euphorbia corollata): Adds an airy layer of small white blooms visited by bees, wasps and flies, with strong drought tolerance on sunny, well-drained ground. Species reference
- Grass-leaved Goldenrod (Euthamia graminifolia): Adds fine foliage and flat clusters of late-summer flowers for diverse pollinators, with a preference for the planting's moister, sunny areas. Species reference
- Round-headed Bush Clover (Lespedeza capitata): Adds a drought-tolerant native legume with late-season flowers for bees, foliage for skipper caterpillars and seeds eaten by upland birds. Species reference
- Northern Blazing Star (Liatris scariosa): Adds large, purple flowerheads and upright summer-to-fall accents that offer another feeding stop for bees and butterflies on well-drained sites. Species reference
- Wood Betony (Pedicularis canadensis): Adds fernlike low foliage and spring flowers for long-tongued bees, plus the distinctive root connections of a native hemiparasitic wildflower. Species reference
- Wild Petunia (Ruellia humilis): Tucks lavender summer flowers into the lower layer of the prairie, offering nectar to long-tongued bees in open, sunny patches. Species reference
- Prairie Dock (Silphium terebinthinaceum): Adds bold basal leaves and tall, late-season yellow flower stalks, with bee forage above the grasses and seeds eaten by goldfinches. Species reference
- Stout Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium): Adds small blue-violet flowers and tidy, grasslike clumps close to the ground, enriching late-spring bloom in average to moist portions of the planting. Species reference
- Early Goldenrod (Solidago juncea): Starts the goldenrod display in mid- to late summer, adding yellow plumes and food for flower-visiting insects before many other goldenrods bloom. Species reference
- Gray Goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis): Brings compact, late-season golden flowers to dry, lean ground, supplying nectar and pollen where taller, moisture-loving wildflowers may be less suited. Species reference
- Showy Goldenrod (Solidago speciosa): Adds upright golden plumes from late summer into early fall, increasing the variety of late-season flowers available to bees and other insects. Species reference
- Heath Aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides): Finishes the season with clouds of small white flowers, offering fall forage for many insects and foliage for several butterfly caterpillars. Species reference
- Sky Blue Aster (Symphyotrichum oolentangiense): Extends the flower palette with airy blue-lavender blooms in late summer and fall, providing nectar and pollen on average to dry sites. Species reference
- Heartleaf Alexanders (Zizia aptera): Adds yellow spring flower clusters for small bees and flies, with foliage that can host black swallowtail caterpillars in average to drier prairie ground. Species reference
Informed by established ecological restoration practice
Research supports starting with a diverse, site-appropriate native seed mix to help build lasting diversity. You can also enrich an existing planting over time with diversity add-ons and targeted management.
Research on starting diversity: Larson et al. (2017) · Barak et al. (2023).
Look beyond summer flowers when planning a prairie. Shooting Star and the other spring-blooming species in Maximum add an earlier seasonal layer, while its other ingredients broaden the planting's structure and bloom sequence. Later additions can help fill observed gaps when site conditions, competition and management allow establishment.
Make your restoration budget go further
Approved Stewardship Circle participants receive 25% off retail native plants and seed. Conservation professionals, volunteers, and members or supporters of qualifying conservation organizations can apply. There is no program membership fee.
Already supporting a land trust or conservation organization? Your involvement may qualify you. If you are considering joining an organization, check eligibility and submit proof with your application. This connects support for conservation with savings on your own planting. Approval is required; organization membership does not automatically activate the discount.
Apply for the Stewardship Circle
Planting and establishment
Prepare suitable seed-to-soil contact and address competing vegetation before sowing. Review our native seed establishment guide and stratification guidance. For established plantings, assess openings and competition before adding seed; broadcasting alone does not assure establishment.
Restoration changes with the seasons, and questions come with it. Book an Introductory Stewardship Consultation for practical guidance on site preparation, installation, species selection and maintenance during years 1–3. You’ll receive written notes and a summary of the discussion to refer back to.
Sessions are approximately one hour, virtual and audio-only. The $25 booking fee returns as $25 Natural Communities store credit after payment is confirmed, which you can use toward native plants and seed.
Explore our planning tools as you prepare. When new challenges arise, you can return for additional consultation; each additional session is booked separately for $25.
Ordering details
Shipping charges are calculated at checkout. Seed ships all year and typically ships within a week of an order being placed.
The add-ons are additional seed only and are shared across the two prairie families.
Availability changes with the crop and season. Species substitutions are reviewed at order time. Regional native suitability does not establish local seed origin: verify lot provenance if your project requires it.
For a truly Short Prairie blend, ask about the separate custom option with a minimum half-acre order.
Mix specifications
| Common name | Scientific name | PLS weight % | Seeds/ft² | PLS lb/acre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prairie Brome | Bromus kalmii | 15.326% | 0.25 | 0.084 |
| Canada Anemone | Anemone canadensis | 1.368% | 0.02 | 0.008 |
| Thimbleweed | Anemone cylindrica | 0.912% | 0.05 | 0.005 |
| Whorled Milkweed | Asclepias verticillata | 0.912% | 0.02 | 0.005 |
| Cream Wild Indigo | Baptisia bracteata | 3.193% | 0.01 | 0.018 |
| False Boneset | Brickellia eupatorioides | 1.825% | 0.12 | 0.010 |
| Prairie Coreopsis | Coreopsis palmata | 1.825% | 0.04 | 0.010 |
| Midland Shooting Star | Dodecatheon meadia | 1.368% | 0.17 | 0.008 |
| Flowering Spurge | Euphorbia corollata | 1.825% | 0.03 | 0.010 |
| Grass-leaved Goldenrod | Euthamia graminifolia | 0.547% | 0.39 | 0.003 |
| Round-headed Bush Clover | Lespedeza capitata | 5.474% | 0.09 | 0.030 |
| Northern Blazing Star | Liatris scariosa | 2.919% | 0.06 | 0.016 |
| Wood Betony | Pedicularis canadensis | 4.865% | 0.32 | 0.027 |
| Wild Petunia | Ruellia humilis | 3.649% | 0.04 | 0.020 |
| Prairie Dock | Silphium terebinthinaceum | 4.561% | 0.01 | 0.025 |
| Stout Blue-eyed Grass | Sisyrinchium angustifolium | 12.772% | 0.77 | 0.070 |
| Early Goldenrod | Solidago juncea | 0.912% | 0.53 | 0.005 |
| Gray Goldenrod | Solidago nemoralis | 0.912% | 0.55 | 0.005 |
| Showy Goldenrod | Solidago speciosa | 2.737% | 0.52 | 0.015 |
| Heath Aster | Symphyotrichum ericoides | 1.368% | 0.55 | 0.008 |
| Sky Blue Aster | Symphyotrichum oolentangiense | 4.275% | 0.69 | 0.023 |
| Heartleaf Alexanders | Zizia aptera | 26.455% | 0.64 | 0.145 |
Rates shown are unchanged from the verified recipe.
Shipping & Care
Shipping & Care
Shipping charges are calculated at checkout. Seed ships all year and typically ships within a week of an order being placed.
Review the native seed installation, establishment and maintenance guidance below.
- Ecosystem restoration considerations
- Native seed establishment best management practices
- Native seed stratification guidance
For project-specific help, book an approximately one-hour, virtual, audio-only Introductory Stewardship Consultation. The $25 reservation fee returns as $25 Natural Communities store credit after payment is confirmed.
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.