Species were selected to perform well in wet meadows, floodplain bottoms, drainage swales, and riparian buffers, where upland mixes often fail. The result is a resilient, diverse planting that supports pollinators, songbirds, amphibians, and wildlife brood cover while meeting NRCS conservation objectives.
Includes (#s/ac): Milkweed, Swamp (Marsh) (0.551), Marigold, Swamp (0.297), Marigold, Nodding Bur (Nodding Beggartick) (0.323), Sedge, Fox (0.046), Aster, Flat-topped (Parasol Whitetop) (0.094), Wildrye, Virginia (0.639), Joe-Pye-Weed (0.051), Boneset, Common (0.037), Sneezeweed (0.049), Sunflower, Swamp (Narrow Leaved) (0.129), Monkeyflower, allegheny (Square-stemmed) (0.01), Red Top Panicgrass (0.112), Mint, Narrowleaf Mountain (Slender) (0.01), American senna (0.625), Aster, Calico (0.092), Aster, New England (0.067), Vervain, Blue (0.067), Ironweed, New York (0.301). Created January 2026.
Why This Mix Works
- Built specifically for wet and seasonally saturated sites
- High forb diversity with strong insect production
- Light grass component to avoid suppressing wildflowers
- Excellent fit for interseeding or full establishment
- Compatible with Great Plains drills (split-box friendly)
- Designed to meet NRCS diversity and density guidelines
Ideal Use Sites
- Wet meadows and floodplain edges
- Riparian buffers and stream corridors
- Low-lying CRP fields
- Seasonally flooded conservation plantings
- Wildlife brood and pollinator habitat near wetlands
Management Notes
- Plant late fall (dormant seeding) or early spring
- Avoid deep burial of small-seeded forbs
- Control aggressive weeds during establishment
- Expect strongest forb expression in years 2–4
Recommended Great Plains Drill Setup
PA biologists were spoken to during the creation of these mixes and recommended separating small vs. fluffy/large seeds to avoid poor seeding ratios when using a Great Plains conservation drill. Here are recommendations if you would like your seed separated by the supplier.
Native (Fluffy) Seed Box
Use this box for: grasses/sedges + large/chaffy legumes & larger forbs
BOX 1 — Native / Fluffy Seed Box
- Elymus virginicus (Virginia wildrye) — 0.6390
- Panicum rigidulum (Redtop panicgrass) — 0.1120
- Carex vulpinoidea (Fox sedge) — 0.0460
- Asclepias incarnata (Swamp milkweed) — 0.5510 (fluffy seed—preferred here)
- Senna hebecarpa (American senna) — 0.6250
- Helianthus angustifolius (Swamp sunflower) — 0.1290
- Vernonia noveboracensis (New York ironweed) — 0.3010
Native / Fluffy box subtotal: 2.4030 PLS lbs/ac
Great Plains notes (Native / Fluffy box)
- Picker wheels ON
- Agitator slow-to-medium
- Avoid high fan speed (can fracture milkweed & larger legume seed)
- Target depth: ⅛–¼ inch
Small Seed Box
Use this box for: fine-seeded wildflowers/forbs (surface set)
BOX 2 — Small Seed Box
- Bidens cernua (Nodding bur marigold) — 0.2970
- Bidens frondosa (Beggar ticks) — 0.3230
- Doellingeria umbellata (Flat-topped white aster) — 0.0940
- Eupatorium perfoliatum (Boneset) — 0.0370
- Eutrochium fistulosum (Joe-Pye weed) — 0.0510
- Helenium autumnale (Sneezeweed) — 0.0490
- Mimulus ringens (Monkeyflower) — 0.0100
- Pycnanthemum tenuifolium (Narrow-leaf mountain mint) — 0.0100
- Symphyotrichum lateriflorum (Calico aster) — 0.0920
- Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (New England aster) — 0.0670
- Verbena hastata (Blue swamp vervain) — 0.0671
- Solidago nemoralis (Gray goldenrod) — 0.0100
Small seed box subtotal: 1.0970 PLS lbs/ac
Calibration + carrier note
For best flow and uniform distribution, mix Small Seed Box seed with a carrier (pelletized lime, rice hulls, cracked corn, or clean sand) at 1:3 seed-to-carrier by volume. Close depth bands, drop seed on the surface, and firm with press wheels or a roller.
Planting order
Option A — One-pass (preferred): Run both boxes simultaneously if calibration allows.
Option B — Two-pass (safest): Native/Fluffy box first (⅛–¼"), Small Seed box second (surface-set + pack).
If you would like to separate your seeds or order rice hulls, please contact Brooke at bmorgan@pheasantsforever.org
Note: All of our mixes can be customized to meet your needs.
