Designed to provide food plants and habitats for garden pollinators, this mixture contains wildlife-friendly wildflowers with nectar-rich blooms. Bursting with easy-to-grow wildflowers and British native species such as kidney vetch, oxeye daisy, corn chamomile, field forget-me-not, cornflower, lady’s bedstraw, and tufted vetch, the wildflower seeds in this mixture produce a diverse floral display of bee-friendly flowers which all help to enhance local ecosystems and boost insect populations. Our pollinator wildflower mixture also offers an eco-friendly planting solution for conservation gardening and meadow habitat restoration.
Contents may change with each new harvest and depending on availability. Suitable for most soil types, do not add compost or fertiliser when sowing.
Can I pair wildflowers with garden perennials? Yes, choose single species such as wild carrot, lady’s bedstraw, and cornflower to add vibrant pops of colour and architectural interest to garden borders whilst providing vital habitat and sources of nectar for pollinating insects.
What is the best way to increase biodiversity in my garden? The best way to support biodiversity in your garden is to look at what wildflowers and plants are growing in existing meadows, hedgerows, and nature reserves nearby and try to replicate what you find. To do this you can look for a native wildflower seed mixture that contains those species, or choose to buy individual wildflower species and blend your own.
Sowing rate: We recommend sowing our native North Downs wildflower mix at a rate of 2 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 wildflower seeds: Ideally sown in autumn, however for germination in the spring or early summer it can be sown when the ground temperature is above 12 degrees and the conditions are warm and wet. 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.
% WILDFLOWERS
2% Agrimonia eupatoria – Agrimony
5% Anthyllis vulneraria – Kidney vetch
5% Centaurea nigra – Common knapweed
5% Daucus carota – Wild carrot
4% Echium vulgare – Viper’s bugloss
4% Galium verum – Lady’s bedstraw
5% Knautia arvensis – Field scabious
2% Lathyrus pratensis – Meadow vetchling
5% Leucanthemum vulgare Oxeye daisy
3% Malva moschata Musk-mallow
5% Plantago lanceolata – Ribwort plantain
2% Sanguisorba minor – Salad burnet
1% Primula veris – Cowslip
5% Prunella vulgaris – Selfheal
5% Ranunculus acris – Meadow buttercup
6% Rhinanthus minor – Yellow rattle
6% Silene dioica – Red campion
3% Vicia cracca – Common vetch
5% Borago officinalis – Borage
5% Lotus corniculatus – Bird’s-foot trefoil
5% Trifolium repens – Wild white clover
3% Onobrychis viciifolia – Sainfoin
3% Medicago lupulina – Black medick
2% Silene latifolia – White campion
2% Rumex acetosa – Common sorrel
2% Achillea millefolium – Yarrow
Creating a thriving wildflower meadow takes patience, but with the right preparation and care, you’ll be rewarded with diverse native planting and a thriving habitat that supports biodiversity year after year.
Ground Preparation: Setting the Stage for Growth
The success of your wildflower meadow starts with good ground preparation. Our 100% wildflower seed mixes flourish best on sites with low to moderate soil fertility and minimal perennial weeds.
A little effort in preparation before sowing will go a long way.
- Remove grass: Grass will always outcompete juvenile wildflower plants so don’t scatter your seeds onto a lawn or directly over grassland or pasture as you won’t get good results. In small areas such as gardens, you can remove grass by digging out the sod, roots and all. In larger areas, you will need to introduce a hemi-parasitic wildflower called yellow rattle, also known as the meadow maker, which will suppress the grass’s growth and clear space for your wildflower seedlings to grow.
- Weed control: Begin by removing weeds through repeated cultivation or hand-pulling, focusing on stubborn perennials.
- Soil preparation: Plough or dig over the soil, removing any existing vegetation. Follow this by raking or harrowing the surface to create a fine, crumbly texture (a ‘tilth’).
- Firm the soil: After raking, gently tread or roll the ground to ensure an even, stable surface—this gives the seeds good contact with the soil for germination.
Once you have prepared the ground, wait another week and then pull out any further growth whilst minimising disturbance to the soil. In doing this you are limiting competition from ‘weeds’ and ensuring the ground is clear for your wildflower seedlings to establish.
Sowing: When and How to Sow Wildflower Seeds
The ideal time to sow your wildflower seeds is in autumn or spring when soil temperatures are above 12 degrees and moisture levels are maintained by regular rain showers. However, by ensuring you keep the ground damp – watering with collected rainwater – sowing can be successful through summer.
How to sow:
- Divide and conquer: To ensure even coverage, split your seed mix and the ground into equal sections. Sow each portion of the seed onto its corresponding section.
- Surface sowing: Scatter the seeds on the surface—avoid covering them with soil. Wildflower seeds need light to germinate.
- Press, don’t bury: Use a roller or walk across the area to press the seeds gently into the soil for good contact.
First-Year Management: Patience Pays Off
Around 80% of the wildflowers in our mixtures are perennials which take time to establish, often flowering from the second year onward. The remaining 20% is annual species which reliably flower in year one.
In the first year, you’re likely to see a flush of plants which establish from the soil’s existing seed bank—don’t panic. While untidy, these weeds offer valuable shelter for young wildflower seedlings and support insects essential to the ecosystem. You can always pull out what you don’t want to keep.
Key tips for year one:
- Avoid cutting until late summer, especially if yellow rattle (an annual wildflower) is included—it needs time to establish, suppress unwanted grasses, and drop its seed.
- In September, mow or cut back growth to around 50mm and remove the cuttings to limit enrichment and expose developing wildflowers.
- Control persistent weeds like thistles or docks by digging them out before they spread.
Ongoing Management: Shaping Your Meadow for the Future
By the second year, your meadow will contain a broad mix of species, with the perennials firmly establishing their place. Management now focuses on maintaining balance and encouraging new growth.
Traditional meadow management involves:
- Summer hay cut: Allow the meadow to flower fully from spring until late July or August. Once the bloom period ends, cut back growth to 50mm.
- Seed dispersal: Leave the cuttings on-site for a week to allow seeds to drop and regenerate naturally. Remove cuttings after this period.
- Spreading diversity: Move cuttings to areas of the meadow that need more species diversity for natural reseeding.
- Autumn & winter mowing: Light grazing or mowing helps keep the meadow’s growth balanced—aim to maintain a height of 50mm. An optional spring cut will encourage fresh growth.
If enriching the meadow with new seeds, it is best to do this in autumn. After you have cut the meadow back, scarify the ground to expose soil and broadcast the new seed evenly before rolling or treading it in.
A wildflower meadow is a long-term investment in both beauty and biodiversity. With patience, the right preparation, and consistent care, your meadow will flourish into a vibrant habitat that supports wildlife and adds natural beauty to any space. Whether creating a small wildlife garden or a traditional meadow, these steps will help you achieve success.
