Citizen Science Seed Mix

The Citizen Science seed mix includes a variety of native Minnesota plant species that 1) may provide dense shade in situations ranging from fairly open woodlands to closed forests, 2) have approximately state-wide ranges, and 3) are available locally through Minnesota seed suppliers.

The species below were included in the final seed mix and distributed to participants.

Five native Minnesota plant species including black eyed susan, red elderberry, Canada wildrye, monarda, and sugar maple

Grasses & Sedges

Scientific Name Common Name More about this plant
Bouteloua curtipendula side-oats grama
Bromus pubescens hairy woodland brome
Elymus canadensis Canada wild rye
Elymus hystrix eastern bottlebrush grass
Elymus villosus silky wild rye
Elymus virginicus Virginia wild rye
Festuca subverticillata nodding fescue
Muhlenbergia mexicana Mexican muhly
Panicum virgatum switchgrass
Schizachyrium scoparium little bluestem
Carex blanda common wood sedge
Carex sprengelii Sprengel's sedge

Wildflowers

Scientific Name Common Name More about this plant
Agastache foeniculum  blue giant hyssop
Aquilegia canadensis red columbine
Symphyotrichum laeve  smooth blue aster
Desmodium canadense  showy tick-trefoil
Monarda fistulosa wild bergamot
Rudbeckia hirta black-eyed susan
Scrophularia lanceolata  figwort
Thalictrum dasycarpum  tall meadow rue
Verbena hastata blue vervain
Zizia aurea golden alexanders
Osmorhiza claytonii  sweet cicely

Shrubs & Trees

Scientific Name Common Name More about this plant
Ribes americanum American black currant
Prunus virginiana chokecherry
Sambucus racemosa red elderberry
Cornus alternifolia pagoda dogwood
Prunus serotina  black cherry
Tilia americana  American basswood