Special General Meadow Seed Mix
Our premium seed mix for spring 2025 consists of a range of native meadow species commonly occurring throughout most of the UK on a wide range of soils. They do need full sun, however, and soils which aren't regularly waterlogged or wildly acidic or alkaline.
Wildflower meadows are one of the richest, most interesting and attractive habitats in the UK, which hasn't stopped us from destroying most of them. Thank you for doing your bit to put a little bit of them back.
About This Wildflower Meadow Seed Mix
The wildflower seeds in the mix are sustainably harvested from a SSSI - site of special scientific interest - in South Gloucestershire. The seed is carefully and sustainably harvested using a brush harvester by one of the leading wildflower seeds in the country. We've also added some cornfield annuals to give you colour in the first year of establishment.
Like all our mixes, our special general mix has a LOT of wildflowers, both in terms of species numbers and the % of wildflowers to grasses. Most "off the shelf" mixes only have up to 20% wildflowers; this one has over 50%. As it's harvested from an existing meadow, the grasses are native rather than certified. The mix is appropriate for a wide range of neutral soils.
Although this seed mix has a lot of wildflowers, we have stripped out the Yellow Rattle which was originally in it. This seed would now be largely unviable as the seed has a very short shelf life. You will need to add Rhinanthus minor in the autumn.
There are instructions on the back of the packet, but in essence it's easy to get the seed started off. Weed and remove grass in the area you want to seed. Wait until the soil is moist and warm, usually spring or late summer / autumn. Hand broadcast - you'll have to do it by hand because the seeding rate is so low. Don't panic if you think you've screwed up - 4g/square metre is twenty times less than the rate you might seed your lawn at. Add some sand if you're nervous about using too much seed too quickly. Once you have sown the seed, don't bury it; just gently roll or tread in to ensure good contact with the soil. That's it. Our video should be helpful too.
You can expect to receive your seed within five working days of placing an order.
Major species:
Wildflowers
Centurea nigra – Common Knapweed
Cerastium fontanum – Common Mouse Ear
Hypochaeris radicata – Catsear
Linum catharticum – Fairy Flax
Leucanthemum vulgare – Oxeye Daisy
Lotus corniculatus – Birdsfoot Trefoil
Medicago lupulina – Black Medic
Plantago lanceolata – Ribwort Plantain
Primula veris – Cowslip
Prunella vulgaris – Selfheal
Ranunculus acris – Meadow Buttercup
Rhinanthus minor – Yellow Rattle
Trifolium dubium – Lesser Trefoil
Trifolium pratense – Wild Red Clover
Cornfield annuals - Field poppy, Cornflowers
Grasses and Sedges
Alopecurus pratensis – Meadow Foxtail
Agrostis capillaris – Common Bent
Anthoxanthum odoratum – Sweet Vernal-grass
Bromus hordeaceus – Soft Brome
Carex flacca – Glaucous Sedge
Cynosurus cristatus – Crested Dogstail
Festuca rubra – Red Fescue
Hordeum secalinum – Meadow Barley
Holcus lanatus – Yorkshire Fog
Lolium perenne – Perennial Ryegrass
Other species will be present in smaller quantities.
Supplier: Emorsgate Seeds