Built around a balanced combination of native warm-season grasses and flowering forbs, this mix establishes into an open, resilient meadow that supports nectar and pollen resources from early spring through fall, while also providing nesting and escape cover for wildlife.
Milkweed, Swamp (Marsh) (0.25), Milkweed, Common (0.25), Tick-trefoil, Showy (Canada) (0.25), Deer Tongue Grass (0.6), Wildrye, Virginia (0.8), Lespedeza, Roundhead (Bushclover) (0.2), Bergamot, Wild (Prairie Beebalm) (0.3), Bluestem, Little (VNS) (0.9), Goldenrod, Canada (0.25), Aster, Smooth Blue (0.12), Aster, New England (0.22), Vervain, Blue (0.18), Alexander, Golden (0.18). Created January 2026.
Primary Use: Pollinators, monarchs, songbirds, and general wildlife habitat
Region: Statewide New York
NRCS Fit: Conservation Cover (327), Wildlife Habitat Planting (420), Pollinator Habitat (327 – Pollinator emphasis)
This mix is ideal for conservation plantings, field conversions, CRP/NRCS projects, and private land habitat improvements where long-term ecological function and native integrity are priorities.
Habitat & Wildlife Benefits
- Continuous bloom window for native bees, butterflies, and monarchs
- Seed production and structure for songbirds and small wildlife
- Milkweed inclusion for monarch reproduction
- Native grasses provide soil stabilization and overwintering cover
Ideal Sites
- Old fields and former pasture
- CRP and NRCS conservation practices
- Pollinator corridors and buffer strips
- Private land habitat restoration projects
Establishment Notes
- Seeding Method: Drill or broadcast with cultipacking
- Timing: Late fall dormant seeding or early spring planting
- Maintenance: Mow high in year one if needed for weed suppression; long-term management may include periodic mowing or prescribed fire where appropriate
