Wildflower ideas anyone???

[dean young]

Hi everyone,i'm new to the forum and i'm looking for advice on what to plant in my garden.I want to keep it native so am thinking of wildflowers.I have already planted a native hedgerow around the garden last winter and just need some wildflower ideas to go with the hedge.
Thank you.I look forward to your responses.

[animartco]

Hi Dean,
Is there a tree or any shrubs in your garden? If there is room for them they should be planned and put in before you think of flowers. Don't use native trees. In the garden centres the plants all say how tall they will eventually grow. Always try to think what anything you put in will look like at full size. In the meantime use annual and biennial seeds. Wildflowers you will find in seed packets at any shop are Honesty, Cornflowers, and possibly Poppies, though these would ussually be slightly altered. For others you would need to go to a specialist or buy a wild meadow mix pack of seeds. There are many cultivars of wild flowers found at any garden centre but obviously these are not true wildflowers. However the wildlife they encourage is the same.
Please send us a picture of the garden with the annuals in bloom, and another even better the next year with the biennials as well!

[AshLee]

I sometimes look at all the oddballs in my garden and wish I'd kept to native (or close to native) species (tastes change). So I love the idea of what you are trying to achieve.

I don't have a lot to add to this thread, but I'll be following it with interest.

One thing I do though. Every so often I go out and collect local wildflower seeds and see what I can get to grow. I find things that I think will look attractive and hope they will thrive here. They only germinate occasionally. To this end, I grew wild carrot in pots and transplanted it. I thought it had died, but it's really picked up this winter, and I'm hoping for some flowers later this year. Of course, this approach is one of the most natural methods of introducing natives, but relies on some knowledge of which plants are wild in your area (not at all easy when you live on the edge of a city, like I do). And a lot of patience.

Failing this very "natural" approach, there will be loads of species that people can recommend. A few from me. How about Cowslip, Primrose, Snake's-head Fritillary, Foxgloves, Ox-eye Daisies, Cranesbill, Native Bluebells and Daffodils, Clover and Lesser Celandine. Check your soil pH and light conditions etc to make sure each will thrive.

[Susie]

You can buy packets of seeds from most garden centres that are perfect for what you want. I have some at the moment which are native wildflowers for shady places which are ideal for growing along hedgelines that dont get much sun, another for sunny spots which has many cornfield and meadow flowers. These are all native seed but not taken from the wild.

My

[Susie]

whoops sorry, can only post so much from my phone at a time!)

My garden favourites, in addition to Ashlee's excellent suggestions, would be red campion, garlic mustard, and ladies smock.

[Cotham Marble]

Originally Posted by dean young

Hi everyone,i'm new to the forum and i'm looking for advice on what to plant in my garden.I want to keep it native so am thinking of wildflowers.I have already planted a native hedgerow around the garden last winter and just need some wildflower ideas to go with the hedge. Thank you.I look forward to your responses.

You may find it helpful to trawl through the archive of the Garden Forum - see lower down the main forum page. The first step is to consider the conditions of your garden - soil type, aspect (which way it faces), how much sun/shade and whether it is exposed or sheltered. Secondly, are you concerned to plant native species as an end in itself, or is your intention to attract wildlife ? These two points can be different in the sense that many non native plants are excellent food sources for native animals.

If you can provide more details about your garden then I'm sure folks here will have many suggestions to make about specific plants, in addition you may want to have a look at the Natural England listing at Plantpress.com - Natural England - Gardening with Wildlife in Mind chose "plants" from "Type" box and your region from the two drop down lists on the search page (ignore the two other drop down boxes - and you'l get an alphabetical listing of the main wildlife iportant plants native to your region - each plant listed has info on its suitability - moisture, sun etc.

CM

[Hedera]

Two plants that bees love are purple toadflax and clary. The spires of flowers are very attractive.
Some packets of "wildflower" seeds contain some strange things which are not native: they may have been grown in Malta or somewhere else!

[Cotham Marble]

Link seems non functional: should be Natural England - Gardening with Wildlife in Mind

CM

[animartco]

Ooh Ashley you naughty girl! You shouldn't collect plants from the wild! Mind you I expect we all do, but always always make sure that there are at least 50 of the plants growing in the area before you take one. Also always respect the plant and give it prompt attention when you get home. I'd be interested to know what plants you have managed to adapt to your garden.
Oh, and Susie, you like garlic mustard? Odd choice. It's not a pretty plant. Mind I don't dig it up the minute I see it, but I would never plant it. The other two you mention are lovely. I was lucky last year in finding a large clump of ladies smock growing in the garden, just from nowhere! It's there again this year. I also have lots of red campion, which was given to me by a gypsy. She also gave me soapwort. The double one. I'm not sure that this is native. Anyone? It is a super plant. Smells like night sented stock, but all day long.
I know several people who have banks of celandine in their gardens. It is a lovely plant for a narrow grassy part shaded bank along a drive.

[Cotham Marble]

Originally Posted by animartco

Ooh Ashley you naughty girl! You shouldn't collect plants from the wild! Mind you I expect we all do, but always always make sure that there are at least 50 of the plants growing in the area before you take one.

Ashlee wrote about collecting seed - which is legal so long as the plant doesn't appear on the 'protected species' list. Of course anyone taking any 'fruit' from the wild should have the land owner's permission otherwise (at least in law) a trespass may be committed. Growing from seed is usually the most ecologically sound way to stock a garden, the only reservation relates to the inputs used to raise the seedlings but so long as one avoids peat based composts, one is likely to be on the side of the (green) angels.

CM