Cornfield Annuals Colourful Wildflower Mixture

Bring a pop of colour to your planting schemes next spring with this bright and colourful wildflower mixture. Sow in gaps in garden borders or create a mini meadow in your patio pots.

Annual wildflowers are unlikely to grow in areas of established meadow planting but will suppress annual weed growth and give shelter to undersown perennial species when sown on a bare seedbed.

The native annual wildflower species in this mix include corncockle, scented mayweed, corn chamomile, field forget-me-not, cornflower, common poppy, corn marigold, opium poppy, wild mustard, night-flowering catchfly, and field pansy.

Contents may change with each new harvest and depending on availability. Suitable for most soil types, do not add compost or fertiliser when sowing.

How to ensure your wildflower displays return each year: to ensure the longevity of your wildflower habitat we suggest sowing this mix alongside our North Downs perennial wildflower mixture. Annual wildflowers establish quickly and provide a burst of colour in the first year but need to be managed in order to ensure flowers in successive years. Perennial wildflower species take longer to establish but can be relied upon to return annually, so for optimum displays year on year we recommend sowing annual wildflowers alongside perennial species.

Wildflower seed sowing rate: We recommend sowing our 100% wildflower seed mixtures at a rate of 3 grams per square metre. For more densely populated growth this can be increased to 4 grams per square metre. To encourage even distribution when scattering, wildflower seeds can be mixed with dry sand, sawdust, or flour at a weight ratio of 1:4 (seed to spreader).

When to sow this colourful wildflower mixture:  Ideally sown in autumn, but can also be sown during a mild period in winter, or in spring. A later sowing will shift flowering beyond the normal peak in June. Ensure that the seeds have good soil contact by pressing them lightly into the earth. Do not cover with soil. Take a look at these tips for successful wildflower seed germination.

Management tips for annual wildflowers: Cut back in late summer once flowering is complete and leave the cuttings on the ground for a few days to allow any seeds to drop. Remove these cuttings and collect any remaining seeds to scatter by hand.