Descriptions and popular species of seed mix types resulting from the k = 6 cluster analysis using Ward's minimum variance.
| Mix Type (Cluster No.) | Frequency (% of Total) | Most Popular Species | Popularity Value for Cluster | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pollinator mixes (1) | 289 (28.0%) | Rudbeckia hirta (black-eyed Susan) | 47.3 Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem) | 47.1 Dalea purpurea (purple prairie clover) | 43.8 Bouteloua curtipendula (sideoats grama) | 43.3 Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot) | 40.7 | Mesic prairie mixes with an emphasis on showy, summer-blooming forb species. Seed mixes are commonly associated with pollinator-oriented CRP practices (viz., CP25 and CP42). Compositions seem to closely overlap with and intergrade with cluster 2. |
| Tallgrass prairie mixes (2) | 266 (25.8%) | Andropogon gerardii (big bluestem) | 53.9 Sorghastrum nutans (Indian grass) | 52.6 Panicum virgatum (switch grass) | 49.0 Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem) | 47.5 Rudbeckia hirta (black-eyed Susan) | 42.7 | Prairie mixes that range from dry to wet mesic; commonly includes basic tallgrass prairie mixtures with a greater emphasis on C4 grass species. Includes many CRP mixes which are intended for functional benefits or wildlife conservation (e.g., CP25 and CP33, respectively). Compositions seem to closely overlap with and intergrade with cluster 1. |
| Wetland mixes (3) | 108 (10.5%) | Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed) | 43.0 Elymus virginicus (Virginia wild rye) | 41.0 Carex vulpinoidea (brown fox sedge) | 40.4 Scirpus atrovirens (dark green bulrush) | 37.8 Verbena hastata (blue vervain) | 37.2 | Seed mixes for wetlands and low-lying areas, especially many emergent marsh species. Includes mixes for marshes, edges of ponds, sedge meadows, ditches, and swales. This cluster tends to include more obligate wetland species compared to those of wet prairies (see cluster 4); however, clusters 3 and 4 intergrade and share many species. |
| Wet prairie mixes (4) | 126 (12.2%) | Andropogon gerardii (big bluestem) | 46.6 Panicum virgatum (switch grass) | 41.7 Elymus virginicus (Virginia wild rye) | 40.6 Carex vulpinoidea (brown fox sedge) | 39.3 Verbena hastata (blue vervain) | 36.7 | Mixtures for wetter soils. These mixtures are commonly described as wet or wet mesic prairies. Other described end uses are detention basins, rain gardens, and sedge meadows. |
| Dry prairie mixes (5) | 209 (20.3%) | Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem) | 58.5 Bouteloua curtipendula (sideoats grama) | 55.8 Dalea purpurea (purple prairie clover) | 41.2 Rudbeckia hirta (black-eyed Susan) | 37.7 Elymus canadensis (Canada wild rye) | 33.5 | Prairie mixes for dry soils which are often described as low growing, including mixes for sandy areas. This cluster overlaps with clusters 1 and 2, but typically has shortgrass prairie analog species. |
| Woodland and savanna mixes (6) | 33 (3.2%) | Elymus villosus (silky wild rye) | 43.0 Elymus virginicus (Virginia wild rye) | 42.5 Elymus hystrix (bottlebrush grass) | 38.2 Aquilegia canadensis (Canadian columbine) | 32.3 Zizia aurea (golden Alexanders) | 29.5 | Seed mixes for shaded habitats including woodlands, savannas, and woodland edges. This seed mix type is the most infrequent but perhaps distinctive seed mix type; it has many unique species not found in other seed mix types. |