Appendix 4B: Sample Seed Mixes
Table of Contents
The following seed mixes were supplied to Iowa counties and cities with an approved Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management plan. The seeding rates are based on a 3:1 slope. If planting seeds on a more level slope, it is recommended that seeding rates should be decreased. For a steeper slope, seeding rates should be increased. For example, for a 2:1 slope, seeding rates can be reduced by 35–40%. And for a 4:1 slope, seeding rates can be increased by 35–40%.
2025 Cleanout Mix, 10 Acres
Group I—Grasses and Grass-Like Plants
| Species Name | Scientific Name | Bags | PLS lbs./bag | Seeds/Square Foot | Habitat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big bluestem | Andropogon gerardii | 1 | 20 | 7.35 | Mesic |
| Indiangrass | Sorghastrum nutans | 1 | 15 | 6.61 | Mesic to dry |
| Little bluestem | Schizachyrium scoparium | 1 | 20 | 11.02 | Mesic |
| Rough dropseed | Sporobolus compositus | 1 | 5 | 5.14 | Dry |
| Sideoats grama | Bouteloua curtipendula | 1 | 20 | 4.41 | Dry |
| Switchgrass | Panicum virgatum | 1 | 7.5 | 3.86 | Mesic |
| Virginia wildrye | Elymus virginicus | 1 | 20 | 2.57 | Dry |
| Bottlebrush sedge* | Carex hystericina | 1 | 0.22 | 0.24 | Mesic |
| Total grass and grass-like plant seeds per square foot | 41.2 | ||||
*These are in the forb bags.
PLS = pure live seed
1 Black Bag, Blue Tie
Group II—Forbs
| Species Name | Scientific Name | Bags | PLS lbs./bag | PLS oz./bag | Seeds/Square Foot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black-eyed Susan | Rudbeckia hirta | 1 | 0.438 | 7 | 1.48 |
| Canada milkvetch | Astragalus canadensis | 1 | 1.25 | 20 | 0.69 |
| Foxglove beardtongue | Penstemon digitalis | 1 | 0.5 | 8 | 2.39 (small seed) |
| Golden Alexanders | Zizia aurea | 1 | 1.875 | 30 | 0.76 |
| Gray-headed coneflower | Ratibida pinnata | 1 | 1.25 | 20 | 1.38 |
| Ironweed | Vernonia fasciculata | 1 | 0.5625 | 9 | 0.41 |
| Marsh muhly | Muhlenbergia racemosa | 1 | 0.156 | 2.5 | 0.60 |
| Ox-eye sunflower | Heliopsis helianthoides | 1 | 0.625 | 10 | 0.14 |
| Pale purple coneflower | Echinacea pallida | 1 | 1.25 | 20 | 0.22 |
| Partridge pea | Chamaecrista fasciculata | 1 | 1.25 | 20 | 0.12 |
| Purple prairie clover | Dalea purpurea | 1 | 2.675 | 42.8 | 1.67 |
| Showy goldenrod | Solidago speciosa | 1 | 0.25 | 4 | 0.69 |
| Showy tick trefoil | Desmodium canadense | 1 | 0.625 | 10 | 0.13 |
| Sky blue aster | Symphyotrichum oolentangiense | 1 | 0.25 | 4 | 0.73 |
| Smooth blue aster | Symphyotrichum laeve | 1 | 0.25 | 4 | 0.73 |
| Stiff goldenrod | Oligoneuron rigidum | 1 | 0.4375 | 7 | 0.66 |
| White prairie clover | Dalea candida | 1 | 2.675 | 42.8 | 2.16 |
| Wild bergamot | Monarda fistulosa | 1 | 0.4375 | 7 | 1.12 |
| Total forb seeds per square foot | 16.08 | ||||
PLS = pure live seed
2025 Diversity Mix, 10 Acres
Group I—Grasses and Grass-Like Plants
| Species Name | Scientific Name | Bags | PLS lbs./bag | Seeds/Square Foot | Habitat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big bluestem | Andropogon gerardii | 1 | 20 | 7.35 | Mesic |
| Indiangrass | Sorghastrum nutans | 1 | 15 | 6.61 | Mesic to dry |
| Little bluestem | Schizachyrium scoparium | 1 | 20 | 11.02 | Mesic |
| Rough dropseed | Sporobolus compositus | 1 | 5 | 5.14 | Dry |
| Sideoats grama | Bouteloua curtipendula | 1 | 20 | 4.41 | Dry |
| Switchgrass | Panicum virgatum | 1 | 7.5 | 3.86 | Mesic |
| Virginia wildrye | Elymus virginicus | 1 | 20 | 2.57 | Dry |
| Bottlebrush sedge* | Carex hystericina | 1 | 0.22 | 0.24 | Mesic |
| Field oval sedge* | Carex molesta | 1 | 0.22 | 0.20 | Mesic |
| Total grass and grass-like plant seeds per square foot | 41.4 | ||||
*These are in the forb bags.
PLS = pure live seed
1 Black Bag, Grey Tie
Group II—Forbs
| Species Name | Scientific Name | Bags | PLS lbs./bag | PLS oz./bag | Seeds/Square Foot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black-eyed Susan | Rudbeckia hirta | 1 | 0.438 | 7 | 1.48 |
| Canada milkvetch | Astragalus canadensis | 1 | 1.25 | 20 | 0.69 |
| Compass plant | Silphium laciniatum | 1 | 0.4375 | 7 | 0.01 |
| Foxglove beardtongue | Penstemon digitalis | 1 | 0.5 | 8 | 2.39 (small seed) |
| Golden Alexanders | Zizia aurea | 1 | 1.875 | 30 | 0.76 |
| Gray-headed coneflower | Ratibida pinnata | 1 | 1.25 | 20 | 1.38 |
| Great blue lobelia | Lobelia siphilitica | 1 | 0.25 | 4 | 4.59 |
| Hoary vervain | Verbena stricta | 1 | 0.625 | 10 | 0.57 |
| Illinois tick trefoil | Desmodium illinoense | 1 | 0.156 | 2.5 | 0.02 |
| Ironweed | Vernonia fasciculata | 1 | 0.5625 | 9 | 0.41 |
| Large-flowered beardtongue | Penstemon grandiflorus | 1 | 0.5 | 8 | 0.24 |
| Marsh muhly | Muhlenbergia racemosa | 1 | 0.156 | 2.5 | 0.60 |
| Mountain mint | Pycnanthemum virginianum | 1 | 0.281 | 4.5 | 2.27 |
| Obedient plant | Physostegia virginiana | 1 | 0.4375 | 7 | 0.24 |
| Ox-eye sunflower | Heliopsis helianthoides | 1 | 0.625 | 10 | 0.14 |
| Pale purple coneflower | Echinacea pallida | 1 | 1.25 | 20 | 0.22 |
| Partridge pea | Chamaecrista fasciculata | 1 | 1.25 | 20 | 0.12 |
| Prairie blazing star | Liatris pycnostachya | 1 | 0.344 | 5.5 | 0.14 |
| Purple prairie clover | Dalea purpurea | 1 | 2.675 | 42.8 | 1.67 |
| Rattlesnake master | Eryngium yuccifolium | 1 | 0.625 | 10 | 0.17 |
| Rosinweed | Silphium integrifolium | 1 | 0.375 | 6 | 0.02 |
| Roundheaded bushclover | Lespedeza capitata | 1 | 0.3125 | 5 | 0.11 |
| Showy goldenrod | Solidago speciosa | 1 | 0.25 | 4 | 0.69 |
| Showy tick trefoil | Desmodium canadense | 1 | 0.625 | 10 | 0.13 |
| Sky blue aster | Symphyotrichum oolentangiense | 1 | 0.25 | 4 | 0.73 |
| Smooth blue aster | Symphyotrichum laeve | 1 | 0.25 | 4 | 0.73 |
| Spotted Joe pye weed | Eutrochium maculatum | 1 | 0.25 | 4 | 0.73 |
| Stiff goldenrod | Oligoneuron rigidum | 1 | 0.4375 | 7 | 0.66 |
| Thimbleweed | Anemone cylindrica | 1 | 0.085 | 1.36 | 0.12 |
| White prairie clover | Dalea candida | 1 | 2.675 | 42.8 | 2.16 |
| Wild bergamot | Monarda fistulosa | 1 | 0.4375 | 7 | 1.12 |
| Wild quinine | Parthenium integrifolium | 1 | 0.1875 | 3 | 0.07 |
| Total forb seeds per square foot | 25.38 | ||||
PLS = pure live seed
Wet Species
| Species Name | Scientific Name | Bags | PLS lbs./bag | PLS oz./bag | Seeds/Square Foot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue vervain | Verbena hastata | 1 | 0.75 | 12 | 2.56 |
| Fox sedge | Carex vulpinoidea | 1 | 1 | 16 | 3.67 (small seed) |
| Sneezeweed | Helenium autumnale | 1 | 0.438 | 7 | 2.25 (small seed) |
| Swamp milkweed | Asclepias incarnata | 1 | 0.438 | 7 | 0.08 |
| Total wet species seeds per square foot | 8.56 | ||||
PLS = pure live seed
Note: The last species will grow best in a wetter habitat, a location with more soil moisture such as the ditch bottom. The 3 species labeled as having small seeds won’t grow if they get buried. One way to plant them would be to mix the seed in a bucket of sand and scatter it by hand on the soil surface towards the bottom of the ditch.
