1 lb – Nature's Seed

Cowpeas

Nature's Seed — Sat, 07 Sep 2024 18:55:26 +0000

Vigna unguiculata, commonly known as cowpeas, are esteemed as a summer annual legume, offering valuable high-protein summer hay or pasture. Resilient and adaptable, they resemble soybeans but exhibit superior tolerance to heat and drought, featuring softer stems and robust regrowth post-grazing. Renowned for their exceptional nitrogen-fixing capabilities, cowpeas surpass soybeans in this regard. Ideally sown in spring when soil temperatures exceed 60 degrees Fahrenheit, they require a seeding rate of 30-60 pounds per acre when planted as a monoculture, at a depth of one inch. Inoculating seeds ensures optimal results. Cowpeas find versatile applications in forage, including pasture, silage, and hay, making them a favored summer option for deer and other wildlife. Moreover, they excel in erosion control and weed suppression, further enhancing their value in agricultural and ecological contexts.

Berseem Clover

Nature's Seed — Sat, 07 Sep 2024 18:55:24 +0000

Trifolium alexandrinum, commonly known as berseem clover or Egyptian clover, emerges as a versatile annual forage legume prized for its multifaceted utility in agricultural systems. This clover, resembling alfalfa in appearance and forage quality, serves as a valuable asset in hay production, green chop, and as a green manure crop for soil improvement. Berseem clover’s flexibility extends to its suitability as a cover crop, where it excels in enhancing soil health and structure while providing valuable forage. Renowned for its high protein content, berseem clover presents an excellent grazing option for young livestock, offering nutritious forage during the critical growth stages. To maintain productivity, it is imperative that livestock consume berseem clover quickly to prevent blooming, as this could restrict regrowth potential. Notably, berseem clover is not known to cause bloat in grazing animals, adding to its appeal as a safe and nutritious forage option. Moreover, berseem clover demonstrates impressive nitrogen-fixing capabilities, with the potential to fix up to 100 pounds of nitrogen per acre. This not only benefits subsequent crops but also contributes to overall soil fertility and health when used as a green manure. With its diverse applications, nutritional value, and soil-enhancing properties, berseem clover emerges as a valuable component of sustainable agricultural systems.

Needle & Thread

Nature's Seed — Sat, 07 Sep 2024 18:55:23 +0000

Stipa comata, commonly known as needle and thread, is a perennial grass native to the prairies, plains, and foothills of the western United States. Characterized by its distinctive needle-like awns, this grass begins growth early in the spring, providing valuable forage for livestock before entering dormancy in early to mid-summer. While its forage value is significant, caution is advised as the awns can cause injuries to grazing animals. Needle and thread grass is highly adapted to arid environments, displaying exceptional drought tolerance and a preference for excessively drained sandy soils. Its growth cycle typically spans from early spring to July, with flowering occurring in June and maturation in July. Despite its resilience, needle and thread grass is not known to be vulnerable to insects or other pests, making it a reliable component of natural ecosystems and a valuable resource for livestock grazing in regions with limited water availability.

Rough Dropseed

Nature's Seed — Sat, 07 Sep 2024 18:53:33 +0000

Sporobolus clandestinus, commonly known as rough dropseed, is a warm-season perennial grass characterized by its rhizomatous growth habit. The name “dropseed” references the grain’s tendency to readily fall from the plant. This grass species typically grows up to 4 feet in height and forms solitary or tufted clumps. Rough dropseed exhibits fair forage value and palatability, with its nutritional value decreasing as it matures. While it tends to proliferate in overgrazed bluestem pastures, it diminishes in overgrazed shortgrass prairies. Despite its fair drought tolerance, the stems and leaves of rough dropseed bleach to a whitish color during the winter months. In terms of nutritional value, rough dropseed is considered fair for livestock and poor for wildlife. While it contributes to the biodiversity of grassland ecosystems, it is not a primary forage species and is primarily utilized for soil stabilization and ecological restoration efforts in its native habitats.

Reed Canarygrass

Nature's Seed — Sat, 07 Sep 2024 18:53:20 +0000

Phalaris arundinacea, commonly known as reed canarygrass, is a robust and large cool-season grass characterized by its sod-forming growth habit. This grass species typically grows thick culms ranging from 3 to 6 feet tall, emerging from large leafy sod clumps. Native to the Northern United States, reed canarygrass is widely adapted to regions with poorly drained, wetland areas, particularly those prone to frequent flooding, especially in silty or clayey soils. It demonstrates adaptability to elevations ranging from near sea level to about 9,000 feet in the Rocky Mountains. While it is generally incompatible with most other species, it may be used in a legume mixture with intensive culture and management. Reed canarygrass finds widespread use in seeding humid, wet, and irrigated lands for pasture, hay, and silage production. It is also valued for soil conservation purposes, particularly for gully control and maintaining grassed waterways and stream banks. While it exhibits medium palatability for livestock when actively growing, its palatability decreases to poor to fair levels in fall and winter. Renowned for its high forage yields in semi-hydric habitats, reed canarygrass remains a staple component of pasture and conservation programs across its native range.

Fringed Sagewort

Nature's Seed — Sat, 07 Sep 2024 18:51:22 +0000

Frindged sagewort is a short growing sagewort that grows to a height of 4-16 inches. It grows well in high plains, prairies and disturbed sites throughout the United States, except in the south east. In bloom from July-August, its little yellow flowers can be fragrant along with the plant itself. Its pale color gives it an appealing look upon the landscape. The plant is highly edible by deer and pronghorn but can become predominate in overgrazed pastures.

Teff Grass (Coated)

Nature's Seed — Sat, 07 Sep 2024 18:51:21 +0000

Eragrostis tef, commonly known as teff grass, is a warm-season annual grass characterized by its fine stems and rapid growth. Primarily cultivated for hay production, teff grass is highly prized for its ability to cure quickly, often within just one day. Its fine stems, pleasant aroma, and vibrant green color make teff grass particularly appealing to horses and their owners. The grass provides a nutritious and palatable forage option, contributing to the health and well-being of equines. Teff grass is renowned for its adaptability and productivity in various climates, making it a popular choice among farmers and horse enthusiasts alike. Its rapid growth and excellent hay quality make it a valuable asset in the equine industry.

Cudweed Sagewort

Nature's Seed — Sat, 07 Sep 2024 18:51:20 +0000

Cudweed Sagewort is a perennial native specie common in most of the United States and Canada. This short to intermediate height specie is also known as White Sage and Prairie Sage.

Stiff, aromatic, silvery-white perennial that grows 1 1/2-3 ft. tall

Can spread quickly to form large colonies

Shrub-like, white, and densely matted with hairs from rhizome

Small yellowish flowers, that blooms from August to September

Prefers full sun and well drained soils

Very heat and drought tolerant

Provides nesting habitat for bees

Offers various medicinal uses

Common Vetch

Nature's Seed — Sat, 07 Sep 2024 18:51:15 +0000

Vicia sativa, commonly known as common vetch, is a versatile annual legume found across diverse habitats globally. Often cultivated for forage, cover cropping, and soil improvement, common vetch is prized for its nitrogen-fixing abilities and high protein content. With delicate tendrils and compound leaves, it produces clusters of small, vivid flowers ranging from purple to pink, adding a splash of color to fields and meadows. Common vetch is adaptable to a range of soil types and thrives in both full sun and partial shade. While it can become weedy if not managed, it offers benefits for soil health and biodiversity when cultivated mindfully.

Common Lespedeza

Nature's Seed — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 01:28:31 +0000

Kummerowia striata, commonly known as common lespedeza, is an introduced annual plant that thrives across the southern and eastern regions of the United States. This versatile plant is a favorite among grazers like cattle and other herbivores, making it a valuable addition to pastures and mixed grasslands. Blooming from August to September, common lespedeza produces subtle purple flowers that may easily go unnoticed. It flourishes in full sun and exhibits adaptability to various soil types. While it can become weedy if left unchecked, effective control measures such as chemical and mechanical treatments are available to manage its spread and maintain ecological balance.