Wisconsin Pollinator Habitat Kits

Kits are to be used by Wisconsin farmers or community food initiatives to create or enhance pollinator habitat on working lands or in community spaces. Habitat kits are not available for home/private properties or gardens. 
 

The Wisconsin Habitat Kit Program specifically supports habitat projects for both of the below individuals or groups:

• Farmers who use organic or ecologically mindful practices; or,
• Community food initiatives: school gardens, community gardens, food pantry gardens, incubator farms, or other sustainable food educational projects.
   

Projects can vary in size from 400 square feet to 2 acres and should be located in areas of full sun to part shade. The soil moisture can range from wet to dry. Projects that are 400 - 1200 square feet in size will use plant plugs or seeds. Projects larger than 1200 square feet will use seed mixes. Plants and seeds can be distributed amongst different planting areas on the same property. 
 

The expected planting dates for all habitat kit projects that use plant plugs are from May - July (summer planting) or September - October (fall planting); seed mixes are to be planted from April - May (spring seeding) or November to March (dormant seeding). In rare cases, other expected planting dates may be considered.

Pollinator Habitat Kits are available for sites located anywhere in the state of Wisconsin. The kits will create or enhance habitat that must be permanent, protected from all pesticides, and situated in a farmscape or community property to maximize habitat functionality for pollinators, people, and adjacent land use. In addition, particularly in urban areas, soils should be free of contaminants or heavy metals such as lead. Additional permissions must be secured from the landowner if the property is leased where the habitat kit project is to be created.

Depending on the size of the proposed habitat area, the site prep strategy, and planting preference we are offering two different ways to complete your pollinator habitat kit project: with native plant plugs or prairie seed. 
 

The plant plug or seed mixes for each habitat kit will be custom-designed to match the site’s soils and sun exposure: from wet to dry and full sun to part shade. Kits will contain a balanced selection of native grass, sedge, and forb (wildflower) species. All projects will receive a complete list of plants included in their kit, their bloom time and height, and information on pollinators for each species. 
 

The number of plants or amount of seed provided will depend on the size of the proposed habitat kit area – details that will be finalized with Xerces staff during the proposal process. The general features for both the plant plug and seed mix habitat kits are described below.

Habitat Kit Projects: Plant Plugs

• Planting dates are from May - July (summer planting) or September - October (fall planting)
• Plant plugs can be used with projects that are 400 - 1200 square feet
• Plant plug kits are composed of 16 - 24 plant species: 4 - 6 grasses/sedges and 12 - 18 flowers
• Plant plugs will be spaced from 12 - 18 inches apart
• Kits will include 280 - 600 individual plants; roughly 30% of each kit are grasses/sedges and 70% are flowers
• Plugs are grown in 2 x 2.25-inch cells with 32 to 36 plants per-flat
• When planting plugs, expect to spend 1 to 2 worker hours per flat of 36 plants
• Example species list for plug projects from the 2024 kit program
   

Habitat Kit Projects: Seed Mixes

• Planting dates are from April - May (spring seeding) or November to March (dormant seeding)
• Seed mixes can be used for projects that are 400 square feet to 2 acres
• Seed mix kits are composed of 30 or more plant species: 30% - 60% of the mix will be grasses/sedges and 40% - 70% flowers
• The seed mix rate will be at least 50 seeds per square foot
• Seeds will be delivered pre-mixed or grouped by seed size (large + small) and/or by plant type (grass/sedge + flower)
• Hand broadcasting seed will take about 1 worker hour to mix and sow seed on a 1/8th-acre
   

To begin the proposal process, potential habitat kit partners first complete the online proposal form for projects that will be planted in 2026. Proposals may be submitted at any time and are reviewed as they are received until funding has been exhausted. The proposal form provides Xerces staff with a general overview of the project including information about the farm or community initiative, interest in pollinator habitat, where the kit will be planted, the size of the project area, and the expected planting date. 

We recommend that proposals be submitted well in advance of an expected planting date to accommodate our participatory review process and allow for the timely and thorough implementation of site prep practices. Proposals must be received at least 3 months before the expected planting date: for example, if you hope to plant pollinator habitat in June you must have submitted your proposal no later than the end of March.
 

If your project meets the eligibility requirements, you will be asked to participate in a virtual call with Xerces staff and to share additional project information through the Habitat Action Plan – a project worksheet that asks you to detail habitat placement, site characteristics, preparation strategies, habitat maintenance tasks, and education activities.
 

The virtual call is an opportunity for both parties to learn more about the proposed project and to talk through the requirements to successfully plan and manage pollinator habitat. During the virtual call, Xerces staff will review and – as needed – recommend changes in the location, site prep, planting, and care details outlined in your Habitat Action Plan. After the virtual call, projects may be invited to finalize their participation as a Habitat Kit Program Partner by completing the Project Partner Collaborative Agreement (PPCA). Alternatively, it may be clear from the review and virtual call that your project is not a match for the WI Habitat Kit Program.
 

During the proposal review process and virtual call, projects may be rejected or recommended for resubmission if they do not meet the below qualifications:

• The habitat kit project is not eligible for our support (see Eligible Projects and Qualifying Locations sections)
• There is inadequate or insufficient information to assess the habitat kit project
• The project timeline is not realistic or site prep cannot be reasonably accomplished before the expected planting date
• Site conditions are not conducive to the success of a pollinator habitat project

Proposal Review Process:

1. Complete and submit the project proposal form. Proposals must be received at least 3 months prior to an expected planting date.
2. The project proposal is reviewed by Xerces staff for eligibility.
3. Xerces staff email the primary contact with an eligibility decision and, if invited to proceed in the proposal process, are asked to complete the Habitat Action Plan and to participate in a virtual call (usually occurring within four weeks of proposal submission).
4. Project primary contact completes the Habitat Action Plan and shares it with Xerces staff.
5. Xerces staff and project contact participate in a virtual call reviewing project details and the Habitat Action Plan.
6. Within one week after the virtual call, a final decision is made on whether to award the proposed project a habitat kit as a formal WI Habitat Kit Program partner.
    

Whether you intend to use native prairie seed or plant plugs, we encourage you to read through the What Makes a Successful Habitat Kit Proposal and Planting guidance document for suggestions on how to be successful with your project proposal and habitat planning. In addition, Table 1 in Xerces’ Creating Perennial Pollinator and Beneficial Insect Habitat Using Plugs is a great comparison between plugs or seeds as the two planting methods. 
 

For detailed information and ideas on site preparation and planting strategies on using native plant plugs or prairie seed, we recommend you review the following guidance documents. 

• WI Habitat Kit Case Studies (plant plugs)
• Upper Midwest Pollinator Meadow Habitat Installation Guide (seeds)
• Organic Site Preparation for Wildflower Establishment (plant plugs and seeds)

Who should I contact if I have questions?
If you have questions about the WI Pollinator Habitat Kit Program, you can contact Kathryn Prince at kathryn.prince@xerces.org.
 

How do I participate in the Habitat Kit Program?
To begin the proposal process, first complete the online proposal form. Proposals must be received at least 3 months before the expected planting date. 
 

If I am selected, how do I get my kit?
Kit awardees are required to coordinate with Xerces staff on the timely pick up or delivery of their plants or seeds. Following the receipt of their kit, participants should install the plants or seeds following the plan outlined in their project proposal.
 

What is required of participants?
Participants are required to do the hard work of site preparation, planting, and post-planting stewardship. In addition, participants must confirm that the kit plants or seeds have been planted and provide follow-up information on the planting such as plant survival, plant germination, weed pressure, photos of plantings, project reflections (successes and challenges), and comments on pollinator or beneficial insect visitors.
Participants will receive a Project Partner Collaborative Agreement that outlines all requirements prior to receiving their kit.
 

Which plants are in the kits?
Plant lists will be designed for each habitat kit project to support either a plant plug or seed mix installation; and, will match a site’s soils, sun exposure, native plant ranges, and weed pressure. You can see an example species list for plug projects from the 2024 kit program (sample seed mixes in development). Final plant lists for both plug and seed projects will change as species are substituted depending on nursery availability.
 

How do you decide what plants to include in the plant plug or seed mix habitat kits?
Plants are selected for two key reasons: 1) their native range includes a majority of WI counties and/or they are native to the county a kit project site is located in; and, 2) they provide optimal foraging and nesting resources for native pollinators and beneficial insects. Other considerations that influenced species selection included nursery availability and soil moisture requirements.
 

How much space do I need for a kit?
Habitat kit projects can vary in size from 400 square feet to 2 acres and should be located in areas of full or part shade. Either seeds or plant plugs can be used to create habitat for areas between 400 - 1,200 square feet. Projects that are larger than 1,200 square feet will use seed. Please contact kathryn.prince@xerces.org to discuss how a kit can fit into a larger habitat project or farmscape plan.
 

How long does it take to plant a kit?
If you’ve prepared your planting area well and have the appropriate planting tools on hand, you should plan to spend about 1 to 2 worker hours per tray of 36 plant plugs or per 1/10th acre for seeding.
 

Can I get technical assistance for creating and maintaining my kit?
Yes! We are happy to help. Each kit will arrive with a planting plan and care guide. You may contact us at kathryn.prince@xerces.org with questions about your project and for additional guidance on how to ensure that your project will be successful. You can also find a variety of informational materials on our website.
 

I am not a farmer nor part of a community food initiative, can I still request a kit or purchase one?
No. These kits are an exclusive project designed to support working lands.
We encourage you to contact your county’s land and water conservation department or local conservation initiative to see if they organize a spring native plant sale. Many local native plant nurseries also have ready-to plant pollinator or rain garden kits available.
 

I do not live in Wisconsin. Am I eligible for a kit?
Unfortunately, we can only provide kits to people who will be planting them in Wisconsin. Visit our other Xerces habitat kit programs to see if there is an active program that covers your community.
 

How can I support the Xerces habitat kit program?
The habitat kits are possible thanks to the generosity of Xerces Society donors and members. Visit our donation page to find out how you can support the Xerces Society.
 

Contact Xerces staff (kathryn.prince@xerces.org) with habitat kit program questions or to talk through your project idea.