Data for “Roadside native species seeding practices of Midwestern US departments of transportation”

These data are from the paper “Roadside native species seeding practices of Midwestern US departments of transportation” published in Transportation Research Part D by Wesley J. Bollinger, Rabin Bhattarai, and Jeffrey W. Matthews.

We reviewed the specifications manuals from the Departments of Transportation (DOT) of eight US states to synthesize information on native plant species used, seed mixes, site preparation, seeding methods, and maintenance to provide recommendations for roadside vegetation management. Michigan DOT did not list any native seed mixes in its specifications manual, but seven other Midwestern states listed one or more native-dominant seed mixes. The data include native plant species lists for individual seed mixes from seven states, as well as specific-specific information on flowering phenology, seed cost, plant height and functional form, and habitat requirements. DOT manuals varied among states in terms of the species composition and functional diversity of plants listed for use. Individual mixes included an average of 14 native species, although some had as few as 3, and many lacked functional diversity or early blooming forbs that would benefit pollinators. In the paper, we identified several early-blooming, low-cost, conservative plant species that could be incorporated into seed mixes. Compared to other states, Minnesota listed more native species and seed mixes, and provided detailed specifications for seeding, establishment, and maintenance, aligning well with recommendations based on ecological restoration research.