Maximum Diversity Add-On — Native Prairie Seed Mix

interseeding. Images are representative of seasonal appearance. Actual results vary with site conditions, establishment and management. This listing contains only the 23-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. Coverage and calculated PLS allocation Package size Planting area (sq ft) PLS equivalent (lb) Package size 1,000 sq ft Planting area (sq ft) 1,000 PLS equivalent (lb) 0.0149 Package size 1/4 Acre Planting area (sq ft) 10,890 PLS equivalent (lb) 0.1620 Package size 0.5 Acre Planting area (sq ft) 21,780 PLS equivalent (lb) 0.3240 Package size 1.0 Acre Planting area (sq ft) 43,560 PLS equivalent (lb) 0.6480 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 23 species; 0.648 PLS lb/acre; 5.89 seeds/sq ft. Quoted proportions are by PLS weight, not mature cover. View Mix Specifications 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 · Sh