Guide to Identification Mid-Atlantic Pollinator Conservation Seed Mix Conservation Innovation Grant Project Expanding Pollinator Species Habitat Sites Utilizing Compost Filter Socks
Conservation Innovation Grant Project: Expanding Pollinator Species Habitat Sites Utilizing Compost Filter Socks Mid-Atlantic Pollinators Conservation Seed Mix Identification Guide The Cape Atlantic Conservation District is conducting a project with funds under the NRCS Program to expand or enhance pollinator species habitat areas. Compost Filter Socks are tubes that are constructed of a recyclable mesh material and are filled with compost material. Seed can be added to the sock to aid in the establishment of vegetation. These socks can be applied directly to the ground surface with little effort other than cutting brush or grass. The land does not have to be tilled or a seedbed prepared. Since the socks can be constructed onsite, the ease of their installation is a positive for any landowner. Kelly Gill of New Jersey National Resource Conservation Service and Xerces Society recommended the use of the Mid-Atlantic Pollinator Conservation Seed Mix. It is available from Ernst Conservation Seeds and is a native seed mix specially designed to provide foraging and nesting resources for a diversity of pollinators. Once the Vegetated Compost Filter Socks have been installed, the District will conduct monthly visits during the growing season to document the progress of the vegetation and the presence of bee and butterfly pollinator species. This booklet will serve as a guide to assist District members in identifying which plant species are germinating and maturing in various stages of development. All scientific and common names ar e used from the Xerces Mid-Atlantic Pollinator mix. A special thank you to NRCS, USDA, and University of Texas at Austin for use of images and information.
The Xerces Society Mid-Atlantic Pollinator Conservation Seed Mix Approximately 15 species of perennial wildflowers that provide high quality sources of pollen and/or nectar Includes a native bunch grass that provides nesting habitat for bumble bees and other beneficial insects
Plant Fact Sheet Little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium Makes up 32.85 % of seed mix Description: A perennial grass that grows 2-4 feet in height, requiring direct sunlight and dry soil conditions. Flowers from June - Dec. and appears green to reddish tan in color. Coarse stems and basal leaves. Native to the pinelands.
Plant Fact Sheet Purple coneflower Echinacea purpurea Makes up 16.90 % of seed mix Description: A perennial flower that grows 2-5 feet in height. Requires sun or part shade and dry to moist soil conditions. Flowers from June - December, green to reddish tan in color. Coarse stems and basal leaves. Flowers are lavender to purple in color and occur from April to September. Images courtesy of Marcus, J. www.wildflower.org
Plant Fact Sheet Anise hyssop Agastache foeniculum Makes up 10.98% of seed mix Description: A perennial herb that grows 2-4 feet in height. Requires sun, part shade, or full shade and moist soil conditions. Flowers are clustered small, tubular, and bright lavender in color. Blooms from July to August.
Plant Fact Sheet Lanceleaf coreopsis Coreopsis lanceolata Makes up 9.86% of seed mix Description: A perennial herb that grows in small clumps or colonies 1-2.5 feet in height. Requires sun, part shade, or full shade and dry soil conditions. Flower heads are yellow, about 1-2 inches in diameter, and bloom from April to June. Native to the Pinelands.
Plant Fact Sheet Partridge pea Chamaecrista fasciculata Makes up 6.70% of seed mix Description: An annual herb that grows 2-4 feet in height. Requires sun and moist soil conditions. Flower heads have 5 yellow petals and bloom from May to October. Upper petals have red spots at the base.
Plant Fact Sheet Common monarch flower Asclepias syriaca Makes up 6.22% of seed mix Description: A perennial herb with downy leaves. Requires sun and moist soil conditions. The pinkish to purple flowers are slightly droopy and bloom from May to August. Native to the Pinelands.
Plant Fact Sheet Spiked gayfeather Liatris spicata Makes up 4.36% of seed mix Description: A perennial herb that grows to 3-4 feet in height. Requires sun and moist soil conditions. Tall spikes of flower heads adorn the top. The pinkish to purple flowers bloom from July to September.
Plant Fact Sheet Ohio spiderwort Tradescantia ohiensis Makes up 3.40% of seed mix Description: A perennial herb that grows to a total height of 2-3 feet. Flowers consist of three vibrant blue petals. Requires part shade and dry soil conditions. They bloom from March to August.
Plant Fact Sheet Giant sunflower Helianthus giganteus Makes up 2.02% of seed Description: A perennial herb with purplish stems that can grow as tall as 4-10 feet. The stems are what is giant about this plant, not the flowers. They are small with bright yellow petals and darker yellow centers. It needs full sun and moist to wet soil conditions to thrive. They bloom from July to September.
Plant Fact Sheet Blue false indigo Baptisia australis Makes up 1.70% of seed mix Description: A perennial herb that grows to a total height of 3-5 feet. It s blue-purple pea-like flowers are erect and end in terminal spikes. Requires sun and moist soil conditions. Flowers bloom from April to July.
Plant Fact Sheet Tall white beardtongue Penstemon digitalis Makes up 1.36% of seed mix Description: A perennial herb that grows to a total height of 2-5 feet ending in erect tubular white flowers. Requires sun or part shade and can handle dry to moist soil conditions. Flowers bloom from May to July.
Plant Fact Sheet Wild bergamot Monarda fistulosa Makes up 1.20% of seed mix Description: A perennial herb with stems that grow to 2-5 feet, topped with spiky lavender, pink, or white pompom flowers. The leaves of this plant smell minty. Requires sun or part shade and can tolerate dry to moist soil conditions. They bloom from May to September.
Plant Fact Sheet New England aster Aster novae-angliae Makes up 1.09% of seed mix Description: A perennial herb that grows to be 3-6 feet. Orange-yellow centers are adorned with bright purple petals, but can range from blue to white. It s stems and leaves are hairy. Requires part shade and moist soil conditions. They bloom from August to September. Native to Pinelands.
Plant Fact Sheet Showy goldenrod Solidago speciosa Makes up 0.81% of seed mix Description: A perennial herb that grows to be 1-5 feet. Stems are branch-less and reddish in color. Compact clusters of small yellow flowers bloom from an erect pyramidal form. Requires part shade and moist soil conditions. They bloom in August and September.
Plant Fact Sheet Narrowleaf mountain mint Pycnanthemum tenuifolium Makes up 0.39% of seed mix Description: A perennial herb that grows to be 1-2 feet tall and equally wide. Smooth stems end with clusters of white flowers with purple spots. Crushing the flower or leaves produces a minty smell. Requires sun to part shade and can tolerate dry to moist soil conditions.
Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum Makes up 0.08% of seed mix Description: A perennial herb that grows to 2-4 feet in height. Hairy plant with stems ending in clusters of white flowers. Stem appears to grow through the leaves. Can tolerate sun to shady conditions but requires moist soils. Blooms from June to October. Plant Fact Sheet
Mistflower Eupatorium coelestinum Makes up 0.08% of seed mix Description: A perennial herb that grows to 1-3 feet in height. Small flower heads cluster at the top, blue to violet in color with a fluffy appearance.. Can tolerate sun to part-shade conditions but requires moist or wet soils. Blooms from October to November. Plant Fact Sheet
This material is based upon work supported by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 69-3A75-13-191. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Cape Atlantic Conservation District acknowledges the contributions from The Xerces Society And Filtrexx International 6260 Old Harding Highway Mays Landing, NJ 08330 (609) 625-3144 www.capeatlantic.org