developed by the ISU Monarch Workgroup
The Iowa State University Monarch Research Team developed this seed mix for research purposes. The mix includes three milkweed species. Milkweed is the only host plant for monarch caterpillars. The mix also contains nectar-producing species that benefit butterflies as well as many pollinators, such as bees. All species are perennials native to Iowa.
Grass species included in the mix are mostly short to medium height in order to reduce competition with forbs. The plant species were selected to perform in well-drained and moderately well-drained soils. Adjustments may be necessary for wet soils. Iowa State reserves the right to alter this mix as needed depending on research results. Pure Live Seed (PLS) indicates the amount of seed that is capable of developing into seedlings. [Mesic 1.1]
| Grasses | Scientific Name | Seeds per Square Foot | Rate 0z PLS(Ac) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Bluestem | Andropogon gerardii | 0.05 | 0.218 |
| Side-oats Grama | Bouteloua curtipendula | 1.15 | 5.791 |
| Blue Joint Grass | Calamagrostis canadensis | 0.75 | 0.131 |
| Copper-shoulder sedge | Carex bicknellii | 0.2 | 0.512 |
| Plains oval sedge | Carex brevior | 0.3 | 0.451 |
| Field oval sedge | Carex molesta | 0.25 | 0.436 |
| Canada Wildrye | Elymus canadensis | 0.25 | 1.756 |
| June Grass | Koeleria macrantha | 1.5 | 0.327 |
| Little Bluestem | Schizachyrium scoparius | 3.5 | 9.965 |
| Indian Grass | Sorghastrum nutans | 0.05 | 0.189 |
| Prairie Cordgrass | Spartina pectinata | 0.05 | 0.361 |
| Tall Dropseed | Sporobolus compositus | 1.75 | 2.541 |
| Prairie Dropseed | Sporobolus heterolepis | 0.2 | 0.581 |
Totals | 10 | 23.259 | |
| Forbs (Legumes) | Scientific Name | Seeds per Square Foot | Rate 0z PLS(Ac) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leadplant | Amorpha canescens | 0.5 | 1.218 |
| Milk Vetch | Astragalus canadensis | 1 | 2.562 |
| White Wild Indigo | Baptisia alba | 0.03 | 0.769 |
| White Prairie Clover | Dalea candida | 1.5 | 3.439 |
| Purple Prairie Clover | Dalea purpurea | 1.5 | 4.356 |
| Showy Tick Trefoil | Desmodium canadense | 0.1 | 0.792 |
Totals | 4.63 | 13.136 | |
| Forbs (Non-Legumes) | Scientific Name | Seeds per Square Foot | Rate 0z PLS(Ac) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swamp Milkweed | Asclepias incarnata | 0.15 | 1.361 |
| Common Milkweed | Asclepias syriaca | 0.15 | 1.634 |
| Butterfly Milkweed | Asclepias tuberosa | 0.08 | 0.810 |
| Prairie Coreopsis | Coreopsis palmata | 0.1 | 0.436 |
| Pale Purple Coneflower | Echinacea pallida | 0.25 | 2.055 |
| Tall Boneset | Eupatorium altissimum | 1 | 0.871 |
| Bigtooth Sunflower | Helianthus grosseserratus | 0.2 | 0.581 |
| Ox-eye Sunflower | Heliopsis helianthoides | 0.5 | 3.457 |
| Rough Blazingstar | Liatris aspera | 0.5 | 1.361 |
| Prairie Blazingstar | Liatris pycnostachya | 0.5 | 1.980 |
| Great Blue Lobelia | Lobelia siphilitica | 2 | 0.174 |
| Wild Bergamot | Monarda fistulosa | 2 | 1.245 |
| Stiff Goldenrod | Oligoneuron rigidum | 2 | 2.125 |
| Foxglove Beardtongue | Penstemon digitalis | 2 | 0.670 |
| Prairie Phlox | Phlox pilosa | 0.01 | 0.023 |
| Prairie Cinquefoil | Potentilla arguta | 2 | 0.379 |
| Common Mt. Mint | Pycnanthemum virginianum | 1 | 0.198 |
| Yellow Coneflower | Ratibida pinnata | 1.9 | 2.759 |
| Black-eyed Susan2 | Rudbeckia hirta2 | 1 | 0.473 |
| Showy Goldenrod | Solidago speciosa | 0.75 | 0.344 |
| Heath Aster | Symphyotrichum ericoides | 1.5 | 0.327 |
| New England Aster | S. novae-angliae | 1.5 | 0.990 |
| Sky-blue Aster | S. oolentangiense | 1 | 0.545 |
| Blue Vervain | Verbena hastata | 1 | 0.468 |
| Hoary Vervain | Verbina stricta | 1.25 | 1.945 |
| Ironweed | Vernonia fasciculata | 0.8 | 1.452 |
| Culver's Root | Veronicastrum virginicum | 2 | 0.109 |
| Golden Alexanders | Zizia aurea | 0.75 | 2.970 |
Totals | 27.89 | ||
| Totals | Seeds per Square Foot |
|---|---|
| Forb-Nonlegume | 27.89 |
| Forb-Legume | 4.63 |
| Grass | 10 |
| Grand Total | 42.52 |