Shaded Areas Wildflowers
- Creates a meadow of wildflowers that can grow in little light
- Helps to provide a canopy habitat for pollinators and wildlife
- Makes use of forgotten-about shady spaces
How much do I need?
Simply enter the length and width of the area, to calculate how much you need.
- Creates a delightful display of cornfield annuals and long-lasting perennials
- Develops a year-round habitat for bees and pollinators
- Contains sought-after UK native wildflowers
- A vibrant mix of pollinator-perfect flora
- Contains a balanced mix of annuals, perennials and grasses
- Wildflowers expertly picked for their bee attracting abilities
Growing wildflowers in shady spaces doesn’t have to be difficult – all you need is the right seed! We cultivated this Shaded Area wildflower mix, so that it contains only the wildflowers that are the very best at growing in little light and are similar to what you would find growing naturally beneath trees or in a woodland setting. With annuals, perennials and grass - this mix will help you to create the meadow you’ve longed for in the darker parts of your garden. Containing RHS Plants for Pollinators wildflowers, this mix will attact bees and other pollinators.
Mixture Breakdown
When does it bloom?
March – November
What colour is it?Pink
Annual or Perennial?Perennial
Latin NameSilene dioica
DescriptionRed Campion has hot pink petals that make for quite the show stopper in your wildflower meadow, and can typically be found in woodland areas. Red Campion begins to flower once bluebells begin to fade, so if you notice this happening in your wildflower sward you can begin to look forward to their fuchsia blooms!
When does it bloom?
June – August
What colour is it?Red / Black
Annual or Perennial?Annual
Latin NamePapaver rhoeas
DescriptionCorn Poppy is a vibrant and bright addition to any meadow and easily recognisable and identifiable throughout the UK. Of course it has meaning for many, and also adds a colourful pop to any wildflower plot
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 NameFestuca arundinacea
DescriptionTall Fescue is a grass that performs in most soil types
When does it bloom?
April – May
What colour is it?Violet
Annual or Perennial?Annual
Latin NameHyacinthoides non-scripta
DescriptionHow can you not love this woodland wildflower that can often be found growing underneath trees or dark moist spaces! Sadly, native UK bluebells are under threat from Spanish Bluebells, that are lot more ruthless in their rooting. Luckily, this mix contains UK native Bluebells!
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 NameCynosurus cristatus
DescriptionCrested Dogstail is a grass that performs in most soil types
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 NameFestuca rubra
DescriptionSlender Creeping Red Fescue is a grass that performs in most soil types
When does it bloom?
May – November
What colour is it?Yellow
Annual or Perennial?Perennial
Latin NameGeum urbanum
DescriptionWood Avens can be naturally found in dark and warm spaces and brightens them up with its yellow star-like petals
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 NamePoa nemoralis
DescriptionWood Meadow Grass is a grass that performs in most soil types
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 NameFestuca rubra
DescriptionStrong Creeping Red Fescue is a grass that performs in most soil types
When does it bloom?
April – June
What colour is it?White
Annual or Perennial?Perennial
Latin NameAlliaria petiolate
DescriptionGarlic Mustard is a pretty white perennial that can be typically found in hedgerows and woodland where it thrives in dark and moist soils. If you're wondering how it got Garlic in its name, when its leaves are crushed they smell of it!
When does it bloom?
May – September
What colour is it?Purple
Annual or Perennial?Annual
Latin NameAgrostemma githago
DescriptionCorncockle is a pretty purple wildflower with tall stems and full petals and is a bright addition to any annuals mix. It is currently rare and endangered.
When does it bloom?
June - September
What colour is it?White
Annual or Perennial?Perennial
Latin NameDaucus carota
DescriptionPart 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 shaded areas.
When does it bloom?
June – September
What colour is it?Pink / Purple
Annual or Perennial?Perennial
Latin NameDigitalis purpurea
DescriptionFoxgloves are biennial wildflowers that when sown will reward you with blooms for two whole years. Their bright pink / purple bells are attractive to bees and pollinators who tunnel in to feed on its nectar.
When does it bloom?
June - September
What colour is it?White
Annual or Perennial?Perennial
Latin NameFilipendula ulmaria
DescriptionMeadow Sweet produces frothy clusters of sweet-smelling white flowers. It can be found and favours woodland shaded areas with damp soil
● 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
| Sowing Rate | 5g per m2 |
| Sowing Depth | 20 - 40mm |
| When | For best results sow in September |
I’ve sown my wildflower seed in April / May (spring)
In August / September of the first year you have sown your wildflower seed, cut your wildflower sward to 7cm after flowering – you can do this by putting your mower on a high setting. In most cases remove clippings* (Note: a late spring sowing will result in late flowering). Do not be tempted fertilise or add top soil to this area – wildflowers prefer poor soil conditions, and this is how they should stay. Continue this same process, year after year. *If you have annual wildflowers in your mix and you do not wish them to return the following year, remove the clippings. If you want your wildflowers to return the following year - let them go to seed head, and manually assist their self-seeding by firming the seed heads into the soil. By doing this, your annuals will return the following year.
I’ve sown my wildflower seed in September / October (autumn)
In March / April of the first year of sowing your wildflower seed, make sure there is sufficient material to mow – your wildflowers / grasses should be at a height of 10cm. If your wildflowers are at this height, mow to 7cm no later than mid-April, as this will delay their blooming process. In August / September, after they have bloomed, cut your wildflower meadow again to 7cm, remove all clippings unless you want your annuals to return. If you wish for your annual wildflowers to make a reappearance the following spring, follow the process above by letting the seed heads drop into the soil, and give them a helping hand by firming them into the soil.
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, subject to the conditions that they are sown in. Taking this into consideration, your wildflower meadow will evolve and adapt year on year, changing in appearance as certain species may become more dominant than others.
Product Questions
We do not recommend allowing pets to graze on wildflowers. Whilst most are safe, there can be few such as Buttercups and Foxgloves that are poisonous to animals and can be to humans. Each of these wildflowers have minor to moderate toxicity and can prove fatal if consumed / ingested in any amount. Therefore, we would not recommend sowing any of our wildflower seed mixes, or any others, near your children or pets if you have concerns that they would consume them.
It is called, When should I sow wildflowers? This goes into more detail about sowing wildflowers at different times.
I have some very steep banks in my north east facing garden - so naturally fairly shady - and plan to seed with wildflower and grasses. Is this seed mix suitable for planting on banks…and how would I retain the seed when watering in the early days (I have a vision of a bare bank with lots of flowers and grass at the bottom where the seed has slid down the bank!)
Many thanks
Will they flower all year round?
Thanks.
If you plan to sow now wildflowers will bloom from spring through the summer but not all year. If there are grasses within the mix then these will be the first to show and will be around for longer. If your garden has limited access to sunlight even during the summer months then I would recommend the shaded mix. It is a mix of annuals, perennials and grasses that will tolerate and establish in damp and shaded areas.
Whilst autumn is still a great to time to sow wildflowers you shouldn't expect to see much in the way of flowers until the spring. However if there are grass varieties within the mix and temperatures are right for germination you could expect to see this first. These temperatures need to be consistent for 2 weeks. The thing to note with any of our shaded mixes is that they do require warmer temperatures to assist germination and may struggle at this time of year. the good news is that the wildflowers mix will keep until then if stored in a cool dry place.
