Sandy Soils get a hard time for making it difficult to grow or establish plants or grass, but we know that with the right mix – an abundant wildflower meadow can be created within even the sandiest of soils! The wildflower species in this mix were picked for their unbridled ability to root, grow and thrive in sandy soils conditions, turning your sandy soil eyesore into a wildflower haven. As the species in this mix are RHS Plants for Pollinator approved, they are also a great source of food for bees and other pollinators.
Mixture Breakdown
1.5%Lady's Bedstraw
When does it bloom?
June - September
What colour is it?
Yellow
Annual or Perennial?
Perennial
Latin Name
Galium verum
Description
Lady's Bedstraw used to be used in bedding due to its soft and springy texture! This is definitely a wildflower you'll want in your meadow... when you walk past it, it smells of honey.
0.2%Meadow Cranesbill
When does it bloom?
June - August
What colour is it?
Purple
Annual or Perennial?
Annual
Latin Name
Geranium pratense
Description
This plant gets its name from the large, purple flowers that turn into bill-like seed pods. It is very popular among bees.
2.3%Wild Carrot
When does it bloom?
June - September
What colour is it?
White
Annual or Perennial?
Perennial
Latin Name
Daucus carota
Description
Part of the carrot family, Wild Carrot smells like carrots but is not the kind of one you would want to eat. Its low nutrient and drought tolerant abilities make it ideal for sandy soils.
2.8%Oxeye Daisy
When does it bloom?
May – September
What colour is it?
White / Yellow
Annual or Perennial?
Perennial
Latin Name
Leucanthemum vulgare
Description
Imagine the daisy chain these would make! Oxeye Daisy is the largest member of the daisy family and its almost flat surface makes the perfect landing pad for bees and pollinators.
2.5%Black Medick
When does it bloom?
April - July
What colour is it?
Yellow
Annual or Perennial?
Annual
Latin Name
Medicago lupulina
Description
Despite its name, Black Medick is actually a yellow wildflower that resembles a clover. Just like a clover, it is exceptionally good at attracting bees and pollinators and due to its 'sprawling' ability, is particularly good at thriving in clay soils!
2.1%Yellow Rattle
When does it bloom?
May - September
What colour is it?
Yellow
Annual or Perennial?
Annual
Latin Name
Rhinanthus minor
Description
Yellow Rattle can be used in existing meadows where meadow grasses have taken over. It helps to weaken these grasses to allow other wildflowers to flourish, and does this by locking its roots to those of the grasses, and therefore lessens their abundance.
0.1%Weld
When does it bloom?
June - September
What colour is it?
Green
Annual or Perennial?
Perennial
Latin Name
Reseda luteola
Description
Weld sprouts teeny tiny cream buds and has a tendency to appear near foot paths. Although it may not have as much flora as other wildflowers, the spikes on its small flowers are an excellent source of pollen and nectar for butterflies and bees.
1.2%Birdsfoot Trefoil
When does it bloom?
May – September
What colour is it?
Yellow / Red
Annual or Perennial?
Perennial
Latin Name
Lotus corniculatus
Description
Birdsfoot Trefoil is part of the pea family and grows up to 35cm. It is well known for its yellow slipper like petals and red centre, which has given it the nickname of 'Eggs and Bacon'!
1%Goat's Beard
When does it bloom?
May - July
What colour is it?
White
Annual or Perennial?
Perennial
Latin Name
Aruncus dioicus
Description
This plant has creamy-white flowers that grow well above the green foilage below.
0.4%Kidney Vetch
When does it bloom?
June – September
What colour is it?
Yellow / Orange
Annual or Perennial?
Perennial
Latin Name
Anthyllis vulneraria
Description
Kidney Vetch is a bright yellow budding wildflower that sometimes gets the name Woundwort. Although this isn't the nicest nickname, it was once used for treating ailments, and of course - wounds.
1.5%Common Sorrel
When does it bloom?
May - August
What colour is it?
White / Green
Annual or Perennial?
Perennial
Latin Name
Rumex acetosa
Description
Common Sorrel is a perennial plant that thrives in clay conditions. Although its leaves are green, they often turn red and pink offering a pop of colour to your meadow.
1%Common Eyebright
When does it bloom?
May - September
What colour is it?
White
Annual or Perennial?
Annual
Latin Name
Euphrasia officinalis
Description
This plant has oval leaves which are sharply toothed. It has white flowers with purple veins.
0.5%Vipers Bugloss
When does it bloom?
June - September
What colour is it?
Violet
Annual or Perennial?
Perennial
Latin Name
Echium vulgare
Description
The electric blue blooms of Vipers Bugloss are irresistible to bees and as its stamen’s stick out, they’re extra easy to get to. Offering a pop of colour to your meadow, you can be sure that this wildflower is a tourist attraction for bees far and wide.
0.5%Sheeps Sorrel
When does it bloom?
May - August
What colour is it?
Red
Annual or Perennial?
Perennial
Latin Name
Rumex acetosella
Description
This plant has a tall, upright stem with small red flowers emerging from the end.
1%Marjoram
When does it bloom?
June - September
What colour is it?
Pink
Annual or Perennial?
Perennial
Latin Name
Origanum vulgare
Description
This plant has oval leaves which form in neat clumps on the end of its reddish stems. It is very attractive to bees and other pollinators.
2.2%Yarrow
When does it bloom?
June – November
What colour is it?
White / Occasionally pink
Annual or Perennial?
Perennial
Latin Name
Achillea millefolium
Description
Yarrow produces clusters of white small-petalled blooms. It is an aromatic perennial making it particularly attractive to bees and pollinators who are enamoured by its sweet scent.
0.2%Dark Mullein
When does it bloom?
June - September
What colour is it?
Yellow / Purple
Annual or Perennial?
Perennial
Latin Name
Verbascum nigrum
Description
Dark Mullein is a very tall wildflower that is used to growing in dry places - so is ideal for sandy soils. We love its large yellow petals and purple centre.
25%Crested Dogstail
When does it bloom?
This is a grass seed and typically germinates at temperatures of 8 -10 degrees
What colour is it?
Green / Beige
Annual or Perennial?
Perennial
Latin Name
Cynosurus cristatus
Description
Crested Dogstail is a grass that performs in most soil types
25%Tall Fescue
When does it bloom?
This is a grass seed and typically germinates at temperatures of 8 -10 degrees
What colour is it?
Green / Beige
Annual or Perennial?
Perennial
Latin Name
Festuca arundinacea
Description
Tall Fescue is a grass that performs in most soil types
25%Slender Creeping Red Fescue
When does it bloom?
This is a grass seed and typically germinates at temperatures of 8 -10 degrees
What colour is it?
Green / Beige
Annual or Perennial?
Perennial
Latin Name
Festuca rubra
Description
Strong Creeping Red Fescue is a grass that performs in most soil types
5%Chewings Fescue
When does it bloom?
This is a grass seed and typically germinates at temperatures of 8 -10 degrees.
What colour is it?
Green / Beige
Annual or Perennial?
Perennial
Latin Name
Festuca rubra ssp. Commutata
Description
Chewings Fescue is a grass that performs in most soil types
Usage Guide
● Remove any existing grass, plants or flora from the area where you plan to sow your wildflower seed. Failure to do this will produce poor results ● Further remove the top 5-10cm to reduce soil fertility ● Allow the area to cultivate for several weeks, and remove any weeds that may pop in the area during this time ● Do not be tempted to add top soil, compost or fertiliser to the area - wildflowers prefer low nutrient conditions ● After the cultivation period ensure to remove stones or any other debris and rake the area to create a fine, friable and level seedbed ● Scatter the seed at a rate of 5g per m2 ● Rake the seed so that it is in amongst the soil ● Water the just-sown wildflower seed well ● If sowing in drought conditions, water as required to keep the area moist in the first 6 weeks after sowing
The above photo depicts the variety of species you should expect to see in your wildflower display. Please note that certain species within this mix and all our wildflower mixes may become more abundant than others, and this varies based on the conditions in which they are sown. Taking this into consideration, your wildflower meadow will evolve and adapt year after year and change in appearance as certain species may become more dominant than others.
Hello, we've just pulled up all the concrete in our garden and want to turn it into a wildflower/grass meadow. At the moment it's 3 or 4 inches of what looks like builder's sand. I know low fertility is good, and we're not going to add topsoil, but it's there another kind of low - fertility soil we can add, just so it's not nearly 100% sand and will be better for my son to run around on? Thanks
Question by: Sarah Miles on 28 Sept 2020, 13:23
If it is sharp sand which it more than likely is then it will be fine. However 100% sand won’t be good enough and you would need to add decent topsoil/loam and incorporate that, that should see you end up with a sandy soil, that is clean (providing the topsoil is) but has some nutrients to sustain the plants. I would then recommended our flowering meadow mix rather than the sandy soil mix, it will be better for a garden, with possibly the addition of some Meadow just for added colour.
Thanks Roisin
Answer by: Roisin McCann on 30 Sept 2020, 09:19
Hi. We have inherited an old equestrian sand school and want to turn it into a wild flower meadow. It has a hardcore base layer with about 80mm of sand on top. What preparation would you suggest we do to the sand and what seed would you recommend?
Thanks
Question by: Martin Spencer on 20 Jan 2023, 18:40
Hi Martin, thank you for your question.
Sandy Soils Wildflowers is the most suitable for this area. It is a mix of wildflowers that have the ability to root, grow and thrive in sandy soil conditions and tolerate soils that are free draining and prone to dryness. This mix contains annuals, perennials and grasses and majority of the wildflowers are perennials.
Below you will find our step by step guide on how to prep and sow a wildflower meadow but if you would like to email some photos of the area to [email protected], I can take a look and advise.
Answer by: Roisin McCann (Admin) on 23 Jan 2023, 09:04
we live in North West Fl. so when would be the best time to sow the Wild Flowers?
Question by: gesa m. schimmer on 26 Sept 2021, 17:59
Hi, all our mixes and seeds are native to the UK. Unfortunately we can only advise on UK climate and what is best for these regions. I am sorry I could not be of more help on this occasion.
Answer by: Roisin McCann on 27 Sept 2021, 10:04
Can I ask if you do low growing meadow seeds which will thrive in sandy soil, please? By low growing, I’m thinking 30cm (12 inches) in height.
Thanks
Question by: Leslie Durrant on 13 Oct 2021, 13:17
Hi, unfortunately we can not make a recommendation for a mix based on height as the mixes contain so many different varieties of wildflower and some may flourish in areas and grow quite tall or they may stay relatively low, this is just something we can not know exactly
Answer by: Roisin McCann on 13 Oct 2021, 13:30
We have a track 220 metres long. On one side we have a verge that is approximately 1metre wide with a ditch and on the other the verge is approximately half a metre wide. It has top soil on both and there is a mixture of clay and sand. As it’s a long track I would like a grass with wild flowers with a short low maintenance grass. Please can you advise what is best for these conditions. Thank you
Question by: Alison OConnor on 19 Oct 2021, 17:48
Hi, if you would like to send some pictures through to [email protected], we would be happy to look at the area and make few recommendations.
