Sourcing Meadow Seed Mixes

Interested in converting a lawn, open area, fallow field, hayfield, or agricultural field to a flowering native meadow buzzing with pollinators? Find everything you need to know about meadow seed mixes below, and check out our Gardiner, Gallatin and Red Hook case studies to see examples of meadow installation projects.

What do meadow mixes cost?

Highly diverse native mixes such as those recommended in this guide usually cost $35-$50 per 1,000 square feet or $1,000-$2,000 per acre. Prices for the mixes at Ernst Conservation Seed are listed in the downloadable spreadsheet, current as of April 2024 and subject to change from season to season. 

Do I have to install the recommended mix exactly as specified?

No - but be aware that removing or substituting species can change the number of at-risk pollinators supported by your planting. There are a few rules of thumb for tailoring custom meadow seed mixes. First, most mixes, including those recommended here, comprise about 50% grass-like species and 50% wildflower species (sometimes called forbs). Wildflower seed is usually much more expensive than grass seed, so changing that ratio will alter the cost of the mix. Some grasses can also be aggressive and choke out wildflowers over time, so mixes that are much more than 50% grass at the outset may shift towards all-grass systems over a period of years. 

Because some of the species in our recommended mixes are relatively uncommon, their availability can fluctuate from year to year. The seed company you work with might need to alter the seed mix percentages accordingly, by either increasing the quantities of other available species, or substituting a different species. Just make sure any substituted species are locally native!

Working with Ernst Conservation Seeds, we’ve created five custom meadow mixes to fit the following five site types: sunny dry soils; sunny moist soils; shady dry soils; shady moist soils; and tough, compacted urban soils in full sun to part shade. Download the species list for each mix as well as detailed ordering instructions at the link below: 

Meadow Seed Mix FAQ

What plants are in the recommended mixes?

The mixes offered in this guide are custom-designed to support at-risk Hudson Valley native pollinators.  They include perennial wildflowers, sedges, and grasses, as well as a few native annuals and low-growing shrubs. Most of the species in these meadow mixes come from the Action Guide Plant List; a few additional, locally native plant species have been added to create well-rounded meadow plant communities. 

White meadowsweet, Spiraea alba, flowering in a wet meadow in June

Where can I get the recommended seed mixes?

PCA worked with Ernst Conservation Seeds to design these custom mixes and they can be ordered pre-mixed directly from Ernst. Detailed ordering instructions can be found in the downloadable spreadsheet above. You can also provide the species list that best fits your site to any other conservation seed company for custom mixing. View our nursery list to find additional seed sources.

Those interested in local ecotypes should note: Ernst has some New York and Northeastern ecotype seed options, while Prairie Moon carries only Midwestern ecotype seeds. A smaller selection of species is also available at Hudson Valley Seed Company and Eco59 Seed Company, both of which have Hudson Valley local ecotype seeds. Learn more about PCA’s seed work with Hudson Valley Seed Company here! 

VIEW OUR NURSERY LIST

The native seed in this bag is enough to cover 1,400 square feet - a little goes a long way.

How are these mixes different from other wildflower mixes?

Many so-called wildflower seed mixes sold in seed catalogs or big box stores are unfit for restoring Hudson Valley pollinator habitat. They often include non-native perennials and even non-native annuals like zinnias, cosmos and marigolds. Even mixes marketed as native often use mainly Midwestern prairie species like coneflowers (Echinacea species) and black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia species). These flowers are not native to the Hudson Valley and can’t sustain our local threatened pollinators. 

Asters (pale pink) and goldenrods (yellow) are a classic native combination seen in many Hudson Valley meadows; both plants are loved by at-risk pollinators.

How much seed do I need?

Our meadow mixes are based on bulk seed, with recommended application rates of 10-12 pounds of seed per acre or 1/4 to 1/3 lb per 1,000 square feet. These rates take into account the fact that not all the seed in the mix will germinate - some will not be viable, while some will be lost due to erosion or other factors. You may also encounter native seed mixes that are based on Pure Live Seed (PLS). You can increase or decrease seeding rates, or convert between bulk seeding and PLS, with the guidance of your seed company.

Locally collected seed from common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

Can I collect wild seeds to create my own seed mix?

Collecting a handful of seeds from a friend’s property can be a fun way to establish a small garden planting, but when it comes to sourcing for seed mixes, wild seed collection is usually best left to professionals. The Seeds of Success protocol is the gold standard of practices for ethical and environmentally responsible seed collection. Professional collectors are trained in these practices and must obtain permits to collect anywhere other than their own land. 

If you’re interested in collecting seed from a few species on your own land to add to a commercial meadow mix (as demonstrated in our Gallatin Case Study) note that some of the plant species in our recommended mixes are becoming rare in our region - check the conservation status of plants on the New York Flora Atlas before harvesting any seed, and leave rare or threatened plants alone! If you’re interested in learning more about wild seed harvesting and propagation, consider getting trained in the Seeds of Success protocol or getting involved with the Northeast Native Seed Network.

A seed collector harvesting little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium).