best seeds for wildflower meadow Native Pollinator Meadow Seed Mix 1 (For West of the Cascades) — Northwest Meadowscapes

best seeds for wildflower meadow Native Pollinator Meadow Seed Mix 1 (For West of the Cascades) — Northwest MeadowscapesMore than 30 species all native to the broader Pacific Northwest Attract bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and beneficial insects with this dramatic wildflower show. The combination of native annuals and perennials in this seed mix provides an ongoing succession of flowers over multiple years. This seed mix includes native bunch grasses to provide nesting habitat for bees and to reduce weed encroachment. Unlike cheap, mass produced "wildflower seed

More than 30-species -- all native to the broader Pacific Northwest

Attract bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and beneficial insects with this dramatic wildflower show. The combination of native annuals and perennials in this seed mix provides an ongoing succession of flowers over multiple years. This seed mix includes native bunch grasses to provide nesting habitat for bees and to reduce weed encroachment.

Unlike cheap, mass-produced "wildflower seed mixes," this mix includes true native species, and is formulated at a seeding rate of 60+seeds per square foot. 

This mix was developed following almost two-decades of extensive research and real world field trials, including information gained during our co-founder, Eric Lee-Mäder's tenure at the Xerces Society as a director of pollinator conservation. In fact, earlier Xerces formulations that this improved mix are based upon were evaluated by the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service in Corvallis, Oregon where these plant species consistently demonstrated: 1) extremely high attractiveness to native bees, 2) extended bloom time across multiple seasons, 3) good multi-year persistence. To date this mix has been successfully established on hundreds of acres regionally.

Some key notes:

1. The photos here show the changes in blooming species across the seasons. Because of the diversity of species in the mix, it is a constantly changing spectrum of plants, a spectrum that also changes from year-to-year.
2. This mix makes good use of native Annual Hairgrass (Deschampshia danthoides), as a fast-growing nurse crop species. This small-statured grass typically establishes early in the first year, filling in spaces between the slower-growing wildflowers (Stabilizing the soil and reducing places for weeds to invade). It does not typically re-seed extensively, nor persist beyond a few years -- so -- if your meadow looks especially "grassy" shortly after planting, please note that much of that grass is likely this beautiful little native species that helps form a bridge between early establishment and the long-term life of the meadow.  

Seed Mix Contents

Annual Wildflowers 30%

Douglas Meadowfoam (Limnanthes douglasii), Globe Gilia (Gilia capitata), Farewell to Spring (Clarkia amoena), Seablush (Plectritis congesta), Spike Primrose (Epilobium densiflorum), White Meadowfoam (Limnanthes alba), Large Flower Collomia (Collomia grandiflora), Prairie Burnet (Sanguisorba annua), Scouler's Popcornflower (Plagiobothrys scouleri), Elegant Calicoflower (Downingia elegans), Fragrant Popcornflower (Plagiobothrys figuratus), Maiden Clover (Trifolium microcephalum), Large-Flowered Collomia (Collomia grandiflora), Red Maids (Calandrinia menziesii), Winecup Clarkia (Clarkia purpurea)

Perennial Wildflowers 50%

Springbank Clover (Trifolium wormskioldii), Spring Gold (Lomatium utriculatum), Self Heal (Prunella vulgaris), Western Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Large Camas (Camassia leichtlinii), Riverbank Lupine (Lupinus rivularis), Bigleaf Lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus), Meadow Checkermallow (Sidalcea campestris), Wooly Sunflower (Eriophyllum lanatum), Western Buttercup (Ranunculus occidentalis), Puget Gumweed (Grindelia integrifolia), Prairie Cinquefoil (Potentilla gracilis), Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis)

Grasses 20%

Annual Hairgrass (Deschampsia danthoides), Roemer’s Fescue (Festuca romerii), Tufted Hairgrass (Deschampsia cespitosa), Meadow Barley (Horedum brachyantherum), Prairie Junegrass (Koeleria macrantha)

Please check out planting instructions for mixes here. You can do this!

Seeding Rates:

100 sqft = 0.6 ounces

400 sqft = 2.7 ounces

1000 sqft = 6.7 ounces

5000 sqft = 33.5 ounces