Purpose: Early successional wildlife habitat designed to support gamebird brood rearing, upland birds, and insect-rich cover.
Best Fit: Rhode Island uplands, abandoned fields, field edges, utility corridors, and managed openings where early successional structure is desired.
NRCS Alignment:
- 327 – Conservation Cover
- 645 – Upland Wildlife Habitat Management
Native wildflowers such as tick-trefoil, black-eyed Susan, and goldenrod rive insect production throughout the growing season, while wildryes, panicgrasses, and little bluestem provide low, upright structure without forming dense sod. The result is a habitat that stays open at ground level, responds well to disturbance and rotational management, and performs especially well following light disking, prescribed fire, or rotational mowing.
Includes (#s/ac): Milkweed, Swamp (Marsh) (0.3), Tick-trefoil, Showy (Canada) (0.7), Wildrye, Riverbank (0.6), Wildrye, Virginia (0.4), Lespedeza, Roundhead (Bushclover) (0.3), Monkeyflower, allegheny (Square-stemmed) (0.027), Deertongue panicum (0.4), Smooth Panicgrass (0.15), Red Top Panicgrass (0.1), Bluegrass, Fowl (0.05), Susan, Black-eyed (0.25), Bluestem, Little (VNS) (0.4), Goldenrod, Gray (Field) (Old Field) (0.02), Germander (0.04), Tridens, Purple Top (0.15), Vervain, Blue (0.04). Created January 2026.
Why Choose This Mix
- Designed specifically for brood habitat & early successional wildlife
- High insect production critical for chick survival
- Open canopy — avoids dense grass that limits movement
- Works well for interseeding, field renovation, or full conversions
- Compatible with rotational disturbance management
Establishment & Management Notes
- Performs best in full sun to light edge shade
- Ideal for rotational mowing or prescribed fire every 2–4 years
- Can be planted alone or paired with adjacent meadow or shrub mixes
- Excellent option following crop rotation, idle fields, or light soil disturbance
