CP42 CRP seed mix — pollinator habitat built for bloom coverage.
Clarity Seed Farms builds and ships CP42-compliant pollinator seed for landowners enrolling or re-enrolling in USDA Conservation Reserve Program contracts. Wildflower-forward blends with three bloom windows, matched to your state, county, and NRCS seeding plan.
What's in our CP42 mix
CP42 targets pollinator value first. Our base blend layers 15–25 native wildflowers across early, mid, and late-season bloom windows, held together by a light bunchgrass matrix so forbs don't get shaded out.
- • Early-season forbs — golden alexanders, prairie phlox, wild lupine, spiderwort
- • Mid-season forbs — purple coneflower, black-eyed susan, wild bergamot, butterfly milkweed, common milkweed, gray-headed coneflower
- • Late-season forbs — stiff goldenrod, showy goldenrod, New England aster, smooth blue aster, rough blazing star, meadow blazing star
- • Native legumes — showy tick trefoil, roundhead lespedeza, purple prairie clover, white prairie clover, partridge pea
- • Bunchgrass matrix — little bluestem, sideoats grama, prairie dropseed (kept low so forbs dominate)
New to native plantings? Read our native food plot guide for species selection, layout, and year-one weed control. Comparing practices? See CP25 prairie reconstruction or CP2 grass-only cover.
Seeding rate, timing, and method
| Seeding rate | 6–8 lbs PLS / acre |
|---|---|
| Grass / forb split | 25–35% grass · 65–75% forbs by seed count |
| Forb species | 15–25 across three bloom windows |
| Best planting window | Dormant — mid-Nov through early March |
| Method | Native-seed drill or broadcast + cultipack |
| Establishment | Year 2 first bloom, year 3–4 full diversity |
CP42 frequently asked questions
- What is a CP42 CRP seed mix?
- CP42 is the USDA Conservation Reserve Program practice for Pollinator Habitat. A CP42 mix is a wildflower-forward native seed blend designed to bloom across all three growing-season windows and support native bees, monarchs, and songbirds, with a bunchgrass matrix to hold the stand together.
- How is CP42 different from CP25 or CP2?
- CP2 is grass-only permanent cover. CP25 is broad prairie reconstruction with balanced grass and forb components. CP42 is the most forb-heavy of the three — pollinator value is the goal, so wildflowers dominate the mix and grasses stay minimal to avoid crowding forbs out.
- How many forb species are in a CP42 mix?
- USDA-approved CP42 mixes typically require at least 9 forb species with bloom coverage across early, mid, and late season. Our standard blend runs 15–25 forbs depending on ecoregion and budget.
- What is the CP42 seeding rate?
- Most state NRCS specs land at 6–8 lbs PLS (pure live seed) per acre. Composition by seed count is roughly 25–35% grass and 65–75% forbs, though state plans vary.
- When should CP42 be planted?
- Dormant seedings from mid-November through early March give the best forb germination — many wildflowers need cold-moist stratification. Frost seeding into February snow is common. Late spring seeding is possible but forb establishment drops.
- How do I order CP42 seed?
- Send acres, state, county, and planting window through the quote form. We match the mix to your approved CRP seeding plan, price it, and ship direct.
Ready to price your CP42 acres?
Share your acres, state, and planting window. We'll match a CP42 pollinator mix to your CRP contract and ship direct.