Wild
FlowersWild
Flowers
Creating a wildflower garden
To create and enjoy a wildflower garden requires a different approach to gardening and will perhaps be difficult for tidy gardeners. After the initial planting you should allow things to develop in their own way. Self-seeding will create informal and natural-looking plantings that you could never achieve by planning. There will be a lot of surprises! Scarlet poppies will spring up in unexpected places; mulleins will appear towering above the surrounding vegetation; and as if by magic the butterflies and birds will arrive. Why not try growing some seaside plants inland, or sowing seeds at odd times in containers for flowers out of season.
The meadow garden in early summer:
Few of our beautiful old flowering hay meadows remain - modern farming methods have 'improved' grassland and eradicated most of the colourful flowers. You can create your own meadow patch in quite a small area.
Early Summer Quaking-grass Its heads quiver in the slightest breeze. Known in the Midlands as 'Tommy tottles'. A decorative grass with green/purplish spikelets which shake in the breeze.
Flowers: June to August.
Requires: Sun.
Height: 22-45cm.Ribwort plantain Has a deep root system that resists drought. Grass-like perennial with spikes of blackish-brown flowers with yellow anthers. Common meadow component.
Flowers: April on.
Requires: Prefers a sunny position.
Height: 60-90cm.
Ragged Robin Grows in wet meadows forming sheets of pink. A lovely perennial with dainty pink flowers with 'ragged' petals. Looks terrific in a wetland meadow with meadow buttercup.
Flowers: May-July
Requires: Damp soil and sun.
Height: 30-60cm.Hoary plantain Is an unusual plant that looks prettiest in a drift.A grass-like perennial with a 5cm spike of small vanilla scented pinkish-purple flowers. Good reliable meadow subject.
Flowers: June-August.
Requires: Sun and well-drained soil.
Height: 30 cm.
Oxeye daisy Often dominates a new meadow for the first year or two. It attracts bees and butterflies. A well known wild flower with lovely, large, white daisy flowers. Also known as the Dog Daisy. Often seen in meadows and on roadsides.
Flowers: May on.
Requires: Sun well-drained soil.
Height: 30 –60 cm.Meadow buttercup Is the most invasive of the buttercups. The tallest and most graceful of all the butter-cups. Glossy yellow flowers, superb growing in association with Ragged Robin.
Flowers: May on.
Requires: Damp sun.
Height: 30-90cm.
Meadow crane's-bill Spreads easily once established. A handsome plant with bright blue flowers over 2cm across, good bee plant. Highly recommended for herbaceous border.
Flowers: June on.
Requires: Sun and well-drained soil.
Height: 30-60cm.
Common vetch Climbs above the other foliage to show off its bright flowers. Only pink succulent to be found in woods, numerous small purplish - pink flowers
Flowers: June-Sept.
Requires: Sun
Height: 45 cm
Cowslip This plant has bright yellow flowers. Gay and beloved, becoming scarce, fragrant deep yellow flower
Flowers: April-May.
Requires: Damp.
Height: 7-20 cm
Crown vetch Another scrambling vetch with bright flowers.Pale pink, purple tipped pea like flowers.
Flowers: Jun-Aug.
Requires: Sun
Height: 60 cm
Common bird's-foot trefoil Prefers poor, well-drained soil. 'Eggs and Bacon' Lovely clusters of yellow/orange pea-like flowers.
Flowers: May on.
Requires: Sun and well-drained soil.
Height: 15-25cm.
Red clover
Flowers: May on.
Requires: Sun and well-drained soil.
Height: 10-45cm.Salad burnet An attractive rosette of leaves which smell of cucumber when crushed. Unusual purple tinged flowers.
Flowers: May-August
Requires: Sun
Height: 30cm.
Kidney vetch Is a real show-stopper and good for bees and butterflies. Showy yellow flowers and a hairy calyx. A long flowering period.
Flowers: May on.
Requires: Open sunny position chalk or limestone preferred.
Height: 7-15cm.
White clover Makes good ground cover. Pinkish-white flowers beloved by bees, could be used to make a lawn.
Flowers: June on.
Requires: Sun and well-drained soil.
Height: 10-15cm.
Cat's-ear Is very colourful and produces dandelion-like clocks of seed. A good meadow component with rich yellow flowers and dandelion-like seed heads.
Flowers: May to September.
Requires: Sun/Part shade
Height: 30-45cm.
Mouse-ear hawkweed Is a lovely miniature plant that makes good ground cover in dry, sunny situations. It seeds freely. Leaves pale green and hairy lemon yellow flowers with red tips.
Flowers: May on.
Requires: Sun
Height: 5 - 30 cm
The meadow garden in high summer:
The flowering meadow in high summer is predominantly coloured with the warm pinks and purples of field scabious, greater knapweed and musk mallow, whilst lady's bedstraw and cat's-ear provide cheerful splashes of yellow.
High Summer Greater knapweed Grows best on light or chalky soils.A lovely plant with large, raggy, purple flowers, looks good with scabious, ox-eye daisy and musk mallow.
Flowers: July on.
Requires: Sun and well-drained soil.
Height: 30-60cm.Musk mallow Can also have white flowers. The foliage is musk-scented. Graceful plant, handsome rose-pink flowers 2cm across. Highly recommended
Flowers: July-Aug.
Requires: Sun
Height: 30 – 90 cm
Musk thistle Will become invasive if allowed to seed in cultivated soil. It is very attractive to bees and butterflies. One of our most handsome thistles, large drooping, reddish purple, fragrant flower heads
Flowers: June on.
Requires: Sun
Height: 30 - 90 cm
Field scabious Attracts butterflies and is the largest-flowered scabious.Blue-lilac 'pincushion' flowers in summer. Looks good with Ox-eye Daisies. A nectar plant for butterflies and bees.
Flowers: June on.
Requires: Sun and well-drained soil.
Height: 30-90cm.
Clustered bellflower Will only establish well on light, chalky grassland. Clusters of handsome violet flowers Small and compact, Suitable for rock gardens.
Flowers: June onwards.
Requires: Sun and well-drained soil.
Height: 5-30cm.
Spiny restharrow Is a colourful food plant of the common blue butterfly. A compact showy plant which justifies inclusion in borders. Erect spiny stems with red-pink, pea-like flowers. Quite rare in the wild.
Flowers: July-Sept.
Requires: Clay soil.
Height: 45 cm.Lady's bedstraw Is a low, spreading plant for light soils that will make a sheet of golden yellow. Used in victorian times to scent bedding. Delicately whorled leaves and bright golden Beautiful sweet scent in high summer.
Flowers: July onwards.
Requires: Sun and well-drained soil.
Height: 15-30cm.
Selfheal Is a spreading plant that can be cut short for a flowering lawn. A perennial with purple-violet flower, Self-seeds readily.
Flowers: June on.
Requires: Sun or semi-shade
Height: Up to 20cm.
Pepper-saxifrage Or sulphurwort, has a strong odour. Neither peppery nor a saxifrage! Has umbels of sulphur yellow flowers.
Flowers: June-Sept.
Requires: Damp heavy soils.
Height: 30 – 60 cm
Yarrow Is a spreading plant with many medicinal properties. White, aromatic flowers.
Flowers: June on.
Requires: Sun.
Height: 30 – 45 cm.
Marjoram Is a herb that is attractive to bees and butterflies. Aromatic perennial with masses dark purple buds turning to paler flowers, a good butterfly plant.
Flowers: July-Sept.
Requires: Sun and well-drained soil.
Height: 30-60cm.Harebell Prefers poor grassland. A well-loved wild flower also known as Scottish Bluebell. Dainty blue 'bells' which attract bees Recommended for the rockery.
Flowers: July on.
Requires: Sun and dry sandy soil.
Height: 15-45cm.
Wild Basil Was once used as a strewing herb. It prefers chalky soil.Downy and faintly aromatic with whorls of pinkish purple, Good bee plant.
Flowers: March - May
Requires: Part/full shade
Height: 30-60cm.
