With approximately 30 seeds per square foot and a pollinator-heavy species composition, this mix establishes quickly and transitions into a diverse, resilient plant community that benefits upland birds, songbirds, and native pollinators alike.
Milkweed, Common (0.3), Milkweed, Butterfly (Butterflyweed) (0.101), Partridge Pea (0.648), Tick-Trefoil, Panicledleaf, PA Ecotype (0.352), Wildrye, Virginia (0.281), Lovegrass, Purple (0.026), Mistflower (0.056), Joe Pye Weed, Sweetscented (0.082), Lespedeza, Roundhead (Bushclover) (0.161), Primrose, Common Evening (0.056), Beardtongue, Foxglove (Smooth penstemon) (0.176), Susan, Black-eyed (0.071), Bluestem, Little (VNS) (0.116), American senna (0.7), Goldenrod, Early (0.034), Goldenrod, Gray (Field) (Old Field) (0.082), Aster, Heath (0.041), Aster, Calico (0.071), Aster, Frost (hairy white oldfield) (hairy) (0.079), Tridens, Purple Top (0.06). Created January 2026.
Key Benefits
- Excellent brood-rearing habitat for bobwhite quail and pheasants
- High insect production for chicks during the critical first weeks
- Continuous bloom from spring through fall for native pollinators
- Low grass dominance to prevent crowding and maintain bare ground movement
- Adapted to Delaware soils and climate, using regionally appropriate native species
Ideal Uses
- NRCS Wildlife Habitat Planting (Code 420)
- NRCS Pollinator Habitat (Code 327)
- NRCS Early Successional Habitat (Code 647)
- Field borders, conservation buffers, and upland wildlife plantings
Conservation Collaboration
This mix was developed with direct input from Delaware Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever staff, incorporating on-the-ground experience and current state conservation priorities to ensure real-world performance and NRCS compatibility.
Establishment Notes
- Best seeded in late fall (dormant) or early spring
- Drill seeding preferred; broadcast seeding should be followed by cultipacking
- Mow high (8–12”) in year one if needed to suppress annual weeds
