27/3 update: Good availability of seed for Easter Weekend

Cornflowers with honeybee
Cornfield annuals
Cornfield Annuals Seed Mix
Cornfield Annuals Seed Mix
Cornfield Annuals Seed Mix
Cornfield annual mix as nurse

Cornfield Annuals Seed Mix

Origin: UK 

Soil Type: Most well drained soils

Seeding rate: 0.5 - 2g per square metre (see below)

Approximate flowers:grasses ratio: 100:0

Species mix: Please see below

Regular price
£10.95
Regular price
Sale price
£10.95
Unit price
per 
Availability
Awaiting current harvest
VAT included. Free shipping.

Cornfield Annuals

Cornfield annuals - flowers like poppies and cornflowers - were once considered arable weeds. Ploughing arable fields triggered their germination, and you still see poppies in particular, before harvest. That soil disturbance was why there were so many poppies in Flanders, incidentally. For the French the cornflower (pictured) has a similar resonance as the poppy does for us. We think both species were accidentally brought to Britain from the Continent by farmers, in the Iron Age.

These flowers are NOT found in wildflower meadows! They're not perennials, so won't come back year after year unless you allow them to set seed and then agitate the soil with a hoe or similar. Nor do they flower for long; we generally recommend sowing them in two lots, with a two week interval. They will flower pretty reliably 8 - 10 weeks after seeding.

Why and How Can I Sow Annual Wildflowers?

Cornfield annuals can give a cheerful splash of bright primary colours to wasteland or verge. They're not as helpful ecologically as perennial meadow species as they don't persist and only flower briefly. We sometimes add them to some of our meadow mixes as a "nurse" though; they can suppress weeds, as well as announcing that someone has seeded there! If you are going to use them like this, only add around 5-10% of the main mix you are using. This usually means you will be sowing at only something like 0.5g / square metre. It is really important you don't exceed this kind of density.

We also recommend them for school projects, sowing in containers, and for seed packets; they are quick to grow and pretty bombproof, enjoying a range of lower fertility soils and conditions. Despite this a couple of species in this mix, Corncockle and Cornflowers, are now rare in the wild.

About These Seeds

The wildflower seeds in the mix are sustainably harvested from plants in the UK, so they not only have UK provenance, they also have British origin. They can be sown in spring or in autumn, when they will flower the following summer.

Once they have set seed, leave the plants in the gound for a while then remove them and hoe over the bare soil. A new generation of seedlings will appear.

You can usually expect to receive your seed within five working days of placing an order.

Species making up over 10% of the mix are shown in bold.

100% Wildflowers

Corncockle Agrostema githago

Corn Chamomile Anthemis arvensis

Cornflower Centaurea cyanus

Corn Marigold Chrysanthemum segetum

Scentless Chamomile Matricaria perforata

Field Forget-me-not Myosotis arvensis

Corn Poppy Papaver rhoeas

PLEASE NOTE: Corncockle is beautiful and in the wild rare, so we think it's important to include it in this mix, but it is toxic when eaten.

Supplier: All Things Rural

Customer Reviews

Based on 14 reviews
86%
(12)
7%
(1)
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(1)
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P
Paul Mooney
Cornfield mix

Great service, fast delivery along with plenty of tips for when planting the seeds, can’t wait to see the results, will definitely purchase more seeds

R
Robin Cheyne
Great choice and information

The seeds arrived promptly and with good information on preparation before spreading the seed. We will see ho well they germinate and flower next year.

A
Anne Ellen
Excellent delivery

Great choice of seeds at a very reasonable price. Very quick delivery

C
Customer
An exciting package ready to plant

The process of selecting the seeds from the website and delivery was great. I can’t wait to see, when the conditions are right, how this will look overall. I’ve just prepared a garden and I’m using the seeds as a beautiful placeholder until it can be developed further

G
Graham Hatherley
Good so far

Prompt delivery and a good native annuals selection. I can already see a few seedlings coming up so encouraging so far, but otherwise it is too early to review.