MARYLAND NATIVE WILDFLOWER MIXES

Approved Custom Grass-Wildflower Mixes for Conservation Cover (327) The following tables provide seeding recommendations for developing a custom grass-wildflower mix for Conservation Cover (327). The wildflower mixes may also be used as substitutes for mix 8 of the Maryland Conservation Cover practice standard. All of the species listed are Maryland native species. The grasses were selected because they are relatively non-competitive in a mix of grasses and forbs. The grasses all have a bunch-type growth form, and are suitable for sites with low fertility. The wildflower mixes contain species that support beneficial insects, and have been selected to provide flowering throughout most of the growing season. The composition of the wildflower mixes was selected to provide a target diversity-tocost ratio. Select the appropriate mix for the soil moisture conditions of the site. Refer to the Maryland Warm-Season Grasses Job Sheet for establishment, maintenance, and management of the planting.
SEEDING RATES FOR WILDFLOWER PLANTINGS The following rates are the total mix rate for the grass or wildflower portion of the planting. The higher grass seeding rates are for sites where soils have a higher risk of erosion, or for excessively dry or infertile sites. These rates are not intended for sites where the Critical Area Planting practice standard applies.
Planting Type Grass Mix Seeding Rate 1 (lb/ac PLS ) Wildflower Mix Seeding Rate 1 (lb/ac PLS )

Conservation Cover Grasses with Wildflowers Wildflower Meadow

46 23

0.5 4

GRASSES FOR MARYLAND NATIVE WILDFLOWER MIXES Select at least 3 grasses, at least 2 of which are a warm-season grass. At least 50 percent of the grasses, by weight, should be warm-season grasses.
Common Name Scientific Name Warm or Cool Season Soil Drainage 2 Class Remarks

Big Bluestem Broomsedge Deertongue Little Bluestem Purpletop Canada Wild Rye Virginia Wild Rye

Andropogon gerardii Andropogon virginicus Dicanthelium clandestinum Schizachyrium scoparium Tridens flavus Elymus canadensis Elymus virginicus

W W W W W C C

E MW E SP E SP E MW E MW E MW MW P

Tallest (6 8 feet) of the grasses listed here. Prefers dry sites. Often volunteers in idle crop fields with low fertility and low pH. Usually slow to establish, but tolerates a wide range of site conditions. Similar in appearance to broomsedge. Prefers dry sites. Best suited for dry, sandy areas or sites with shallow soils. Does not compete well with CSG or heavy weed pressure. Both species prefer partial shade. Seedlings are vigorous and establish quickly, but are not highly competitive with other grasses. Good in a mix with WSG & forbs, but will not persist if prescribed burning is used.

NRCS Maryland

January 2008

Maryland Native Wildflower Mixes 2

MARYLAND NATIVE WILDFLOWER MIX MESIC SITES Approved mix for Maryland Conservation Cover practice standard (327) mix 8. This mix is appropriate for a wide range of soil moisture conditions, including sites with the following drainage classes2: well drained, moderately well drained, somewhat poorly drained, and poorly drained. The recommended seeding rate is 0.5 lb/ac PLS as part of a grass planting, and 4.0 lb/ac PLS for a wildflower meadow or similar type of planting1.
Common Name Scientific Name % by 3 Weight Bloom Period Flower Color Indicator 4 Status % by 5 Seed

American Senna Aromatic Aster Black-eyed Susan Bur Marigold Common Milkweed Flat-topped White Aster Golden Tickseed New England Aster Ohio Spiderwort Partridge Pea Showy Tick Trefoil Smooth Oxeye Spotted Joe-Pye Weed Stiff Goldenrod Tall White Beard Tongue Wild Bergamot Wild Blue Lupine Wild False Indigo Zigzag Aster Calico Aster Canada Goldenrod Purple Bergamot Smooth Blue Aster

Senna hebecarpa Symphyotrichum oblongifolium Rudbeckia hirta Bidens aristosa Asclepias syriaca Doellingeria umbellata var. umbellata Coreopsis tinctoria Symphyotrichum novae-angliae Tradescantia ohiensis Chamaecrista fasciculata Desmodium canadense Heliopsis helianthoides Eupatoriadelphus maculatus Oligoneuron rigidum var. rigidum Penstemon digitalis Monarda fistulosa Lupinus perennis Baptisia australis Symphyotrichum prenanthoides Symphyotrichum lateriflorum var. lateriflorum Solidago canadensis Monarda media Symphyotrichum laeve

20.0% 0.5% 3.0% 10.0% 0.5% 0.5% 2.0% 0.5% 0.5% 20.0% 10.0% 15.0% 1.0% 1.0% 3.0% 1.0% 5.0% 1.0% 0.5% 0.5% 1.0% 1.0% 0.5%

Summer Late Summer Early Fall Summer Late Summer Early Fall Summer Late Summer Late Spring Late Summer Spring Summer Summer Summer Summer Early Fall Summer Late Summer Late Spring Summer Late Spring Late Spring Late Summer Summer Late Summer Summer Summer

Yellow Purple Yellow Yellow Pink White Yellow Purple Blue Yellow Purple Yellow Purple Yellow White Pink Blue Purple Blue White Yellow Pink Purple

FAC NI FACUFACW NI FACW FACFACWFAC FACU FAC NI FACW UPL FAC UPL NI NI FAC FACWFACU NI NI

1.6% 1.3% 18.0% 5.0% 1.3% 1.5% 24.6% 2.1% 3.3% 5.0% 2.8% 6.7% 7.6% 3.8% 4.6% 4.8% 0.4% 1.1% 1.3%

The following alternative species can be used in place of similar species in the mesic mix:

NRCS Maryland

January 2008

Maryland Native Wildflower Mixes 3

MARYLAND NATIVE WILDFLOWER MIX DRY SITES Approved mix for Maryland Conservation Cover practice standard (327) mix 8. This mix is appropriate for a wide range of soil moisture conditions, including sites with the following drainage classes2: Excessively drained, somewhat excessively drained, and well drained. The recommended seeding rate is 0.5 lb/ac PLS as part of a grass planting, and 4.0 lb/ac PLS for a wildflower meadow or similar type of planting1.
Common Name Scientific Name % by 3 Weight Bloom Period Flower Color Indicator 3 Status % by 4 Seed

American Senna Aromatic Aster Black-eyed Susan Butterfly Milkweed Common Milkweed Gray Goldenrod Ohio Spiderwort Partridge Pea Showy Tick Trefoil Smooth Blue Aster Smooth Oxeye Stiff Goldenrod Tall White Beard Tongue White Heath Aster Wild Bergamot Wild Blue Lupine Wild False Indigo Purple Bergamot

Senna hebecarpa Symphyotrichum oblongifolium Rudbeckia hirta Asclepias tuberosa Asclepias syriaca Solidago nemoralis Tradescantia ohiensis Chamaecrista fasciculata Desmodium canadense Symphyotrichum laeve Heliopsis helianthoides Oligoneuron rigidum var. rigidum Penstemon digitalis Symphyotrichum ericoides Monarda fistulosa Lupinus perennis Baptisia australis Monarda media

20.0% 1.0% 3.0% 6.0% 2.0% 1.0% 0.5% 20.0% 16.0% 1.0% 18.0% 1.0% 4.0% 0.5% 1.0% 4.0% 1.0% 1.0%

Summer Late Summer Early Fall Summer Summer Summer Late Summer Spring Summer Summer Summer Summer Summer Early Fall Late Summer Late Spring Summer Early Fall Summer Late Spring Late Spring Summer

Yellow Purple Yellow Orange Pink Yellow Blue Yellow Purple Purple Yellow Yellow White White Pink Blue Purple Pink

FAC NI FACUNI NI NI FAC FACU FAC NI NI UPL FAC FACU UPL NI NI NI

2.1% 3.6% 24.0% 2.1% 7.1% 5.1% 4.4% 6.6% 5.9% 5.1% 10.6% 5.1% 8.1% 1.8% 6.5% 0.4% 1.5%

The following alternative species can be used in place of similar species in the dry mix:

Notes 1 Native grasses and wildflowers should be purchased by weight in pure live seed (PLS). 2 Drainage classes are published in county soil survey manuals. E Excessively drained; W Well drained; MW Moderately well drained; SP Somewhat poorly drained; P Poorly drained. 3 Order mixes using the percent by weight column. The wildflower proportions were selected to provide a target diversity-to cost ratio. 4 Region I wetland indicator status; NI = no indicator status. 5 Approximate percentage of species in mix based on number of seeds; this is provided for informational purposes.

NRCS Maryland

January 2008