Wildlife Habitat Wildflower Seed Mix

50% Wildflowers, 50% Grasses & Grains

This is the only mixture we sell that includes grasses and grains; all others are pure wildflower seed. They are included here along with plenty of wildflowers as well, because the special use of this mixture is to provide food and cover for wildlife.

A new mixture for a new trend.

We've made up this mix especially for the growing group of people who want to provide wildlife habitat on a portion of their property. Led by the National Wildlife Federation, more and more homeowners are anxious to do their part by adding to the shrinking inventory of habitat in North America. It’s all about creating an area in your yard where your family can watch wildlife up close, while providing birds, butterflies, and small mammals the food and cover they need. Children, particularly, enjoy seeing all the wonders of a meadow environment.

The results here will not be the same as with our regular wildflower mixtures. Keep in mind that with our regular mixtures, the goal is maximum color and establishment of flower plants. With this mix, your planting will also include grasses and grains like oats and wheat-like plants. However, the display should still be very attractive, especially since a full 50% of the seed is wildflowers, both annuals for first year color, and perennials to "come back" and bloom every year.

Plant Species Included | See full list »

31 Wildflowers make up 50% of the mix, chosen to attract butterflies, bees, seed-eating songbirds and nectar-seeking hummingbirds:

• Perennials include favorites like purple coneflower, coreopsis, blue flax, and black-eyed susan.
• Annuals include cosmos, red poppy, lupine, baby snapdragon, and more.

Grasses, Grains and Clovers make up the other 50% of this mix:

• Field Peas, white flowers, plus food for waterfowl and game birds (pheasant, quail, etc.).
• Triticale, a common food grain that is a cross between wheat and rye. Attracts small wildlife such as chipmunks.
• Oats, attractive grain plant that provides food and cover for birds and most small wildlife.
• Sorghum/Sudangrass, a fast-growing food grass favored by browsing and grazing wildlife.
• Red Clover (Trifolium pratense). Attractive perennial clover loved by deer, rabbits, hummingbirds and bees.
• Crimson Clover (Trifolium incarnatum) Short annual clover with brilliant red flowers.Attracts hummingbirds.

Bird and Butterfly Favorites

• Cornflower Seeds are a highly favored food for many birds, particularly American Goldfinches.
• Purple Coneflower, also known as Echinacea, is a favorite of Monarch and other Butterflies.
• Brilliantly-colored tubular flowers, such as baby snapdragon and lupine, and also Crimson and Red Clover, are particularly effective at attracting Hummingbirds.

How to get started

This mixture of seed is planted in the same way as all our others. It can be planted in spring, summer or fall. (See "Planting Instructions" under Gardening Information tab on homepage.) Because it includes grasses and grains, it should be planted more thickly than the all-flower seed mixtures. Our recommended planting rate for this mix is one pound per 1000 sq. ft.

	Botanical Name	Common Name	Life Cycle	Color	Height	Bloom Season
	Aster ptarmiodes	White Upland Aster	Perennial	White	24"	Summer, Fall
	Aster tanacetifolius	Prairie Aster	Annual	Yellow, Purple	18"	Mid/Late Summer
	Centaurea cyanus	Cornflower	Annual	Mixed	35"	Spring, Summer
	Cheiranthus allionii	Siberian Wallflower	Perennial	Orange	18"	Spring
	Chrysanthemum maximum	Shasta Daisy	Perennial	White	48"	Summer
	Coreopsis lanceolata	Lance-Leaf Coreopsis	Perennial	Yellow	48"	Summer, Fall
	Coreopsis tinctoria	Plains Coreopsis	Annual	Yellow, Red	30"	Summer, Fall
	Cosmos sulphureus	Sulphur Cosmos	Annual	Mixed	33"	Summer, Fall
	Cosmos bipinnatus	Wild Cosmos	Annual	Red, White, Pink	47"	Summer, Fall
	Dactylis glomerata	Orchard Grass, Latar	Perennial	Green	47"	Summer, Fall
	Dianthus barbatus	Sweet William	Biennial	Red, White	20"	Spring, Summer
	Echinacea purpurea	Purple Coneflower	Perennial	Purple	36"	Summer, Fall
	Eschscholzia californica	California Poppy	Annual	Orange	18"	Spring, Summer
	Gaillardia aristata	Blanket Flower	Perennial	Yellow, Red	30"	Summer, Fall
	Gaillardia pulchella	Indian Blanket	Annual	Red, Yellow	24"	Summer
	Gysophila elegans	Baby's Breath	Annual	White	28"	Spring, Summer
	Helianthus annuus	Wild Sunflower	Annual	Yellow	60"	Summer, Fall
	Helianthus annuus	Dwarf Sunflower Sunspot	Annual	Yellow, Brown Center	16"	Summer, Fall
	Hesperis matronalis	Dame's Rocket	Perennial	Purple	48"	Summer
	Iberis umbellata	Candytuft	Annual	Mixed	12"	Spring, Summer
	Linum perenne lewisii	Blue Flax	Perennial	Blue	24"	Summer, Fall
	Linum grandiflorum rubrum	Scarlet Flax	Annual	Red	24"	Spring, Summer
	Lolium perenne	Perennial Ryegrass, Faithful Tetraploid	Perennial	Green	24"	Summer
	Lupinus perennis	Wild Lupine	Perennial	Blue	36"	Spring, Summer

Habitat Creation

The internet is brimming with wonderful websites filled with information on creating backyard habitat. Here are some of the best sources:

1. Get info and your habitat "certified" by the leader: National Wildlife Federation The NWF has been the leader in encouraging homeowners and families to create wildlife habitats for years. It's easy to qualify for their Backyard Habitat Certification Program, and it's free. If you like, you can buy a little sign with their logo proudly proclaiming your area a "certified" habitat.
   As of May, 2002, the NWF had certified over 32,000 backyards all over the country, and the program continues to grow.
   NWF Homepage
   NWF Backyard Habitat Site

2. Great information from the Wildlife Habitat Council This website, sponsored by businesses that have devoted their lands to wildlife habitat, offers well done lesson plans and lots of other "how-to" free to teachers and parents. Particularly useful with children is the "Visiting a Meadow Habitat" section, which can be printed out on 5 pages, and gives you a complete plan for introducing kids to the fun of wildlife watching.
   WHC Homepage
   WHC's "Visiting a Meadow" plan

3. Windstar Wildlife Institute This is a private, non-profit organization in Maryland, dedicated to helping people create habitat all over the country. Founded by Thomas Patrick, nationally-known nature photographer/journalist and environmentalist. Their beautiful website is filled with useful tips for creating wildlife habitat.
   WWI Homepage

4. National Resources Conservation Service, USDA This is a federal government site with lots of information. Their "Backyard Conservation Tip Sheet" is particularly useful in creating family-friendly habitats with plant lists, tips on attracting birds, bees and mammals.
   NRCS Backyard Wildlife

Watch Our Video About Our Wildlife Habitat Seed Mix: