When to plant wildflower seeds

What to consider before planting wildflower seeds

Wildflowers differ from grass in terms of not needing a certain temperature to germinate (except for wildflower mixes that do contain meadow grasses require minimum temperatures of 8-10℃ to germinate). The ideal planting seasons for wildflowers spans from March – October, but just be aware that if you sow your seeds late in the season, they will not bloom until the following spring!

When is the best time for planting wildflowers

Planting wildflowers in spring (March to April)

• Sowing wildflower seeds in spring will mean any annuals in your wildflower mix will bloom in time for summer, as they usually bloom within 60-90 days
• Perennial wildflowers sown in spring will take a year before they bloom which means you can look forward to an early spring bloom the following year

Planting wildflowers in autumn (September to October)

• Sowing wildflowers seeds in autumn means you will get a bloom in early spring
• This is the best option if you want to see a bloom as soon as possible as the cold and damp of the autumn/winter season helps to speed up the germination process when warmer temperatures hit again in early spring

Choosing the best wildflower seed mix to plant

Selecting the wildflower seed mix that best suits you and your garden is the key to a long-lasting, vibrant wildflower bloom. Luckily, we have wildflower mixes to suit every situation; from wildflower mixes ranging to suit specific soil types, sunlight levels or to increase the presence of pollinators in your garden.

Annual wildflower seeds

• Annuals are known for their bright and vivid blooms throughout the blooming season, but as their name suggests, they bloom only once
• There is a loophole to this though, known as the ‘seed-saving’ method. Let the flowers go to seed at the end of the season. Collect the seed heads, firm them into the soil, and they may return next spring

Perennial wildflower seeds

• Perennials return year-after-year with minimal effort, but they may produce less blooms as time goes on

We also have wildflower mixes that contain combinations of both annuals and perennials for various flower types that bloom throughout the year. We have mixes that include annuals and perennials combined with meadow grasses, which provide an even more beneficial habitat for bees, other pollinators and local wildlife.

You can read more about annual and perennial wildflowers in our helpful annuals vs perennials wildflower guide, which looks at the traits, advantages and beauty of both types of wildflowers.

Our wildflower seed mixtures below include some information on what benefits they can offer your garden:

Wildflower Mixes for Normal Soil Types in Non-Shaded Areas:

• Annuals Mix (does not include grass) – packed with the nation’s favourite cornfield annuals for decorative and vibrant pops of colour and sweet smells.
• Meadow Magic (does not include grass) – a mix of UK native annuals and perennials that provides a flora-full meadow ideal for adding to any garden.
• Bees and Pollinators (includes grass) – this mix is RHS Plants for Pollinators approved and is packed with expertly picked UK native annuals and perennials that greatly benefit native bees and pollinators.
• Flowering Meadow (includes grass) - contains a mixture of RHS Plants for Pollinators approved UK native annuals and long-lasting perennials that are sure to add a dynamic range of colours and shapes to your garden.

Wildflowers for Shaded Areas

• Shaded Area Wildflowers (includes grass) - contains UK native annual and perennial wildflowers that grow naturally in forested areas. These flower species are shade-tolerant and ideal for areas of your garden covered by shadow for most of the day and for areas with little growth. This mix also includes meadow grasses that help provide a canopy habitat for pollinators and local wildlife.

Wildflower Mixes for Problematic Soils

• Sandy Soil Wildflowers (includes grass) – this mix features an expertly chosen blend of UK native annual and perennial wildflowers to thrive in sandy soils and contains arable grasses. It’s also an excellent food source for bees and other pollinators while featuring RHS Plants for Pollinators-approved flowers.
• Heavy Clay Soil Wildflower (includes grass) – packed with UK native annual and perennial wildflowers that thrive in clay soils. This mix offers a year-on-year range of species variety and colour and contains complementing arable grasses.

How to plant wildflower seeds

Once you have picked your preferred time to plant your wildflower seed, the next step is to prepare the area for growing. This involves removing existing grass, weeds, flora, and rocks or branches from the area. Clearing this all away will give your new seeds the best conditions and stop anything unnecessarily hindering their growth.

With the area cleared, you can begin the final preparations and then get planting:

• If your garden has fertile soil in the area where the wildflowers will be planted, then it’s best to remove the top 5-10cm to reduce soil fertility
• After this, you should allow the area to cultivate for a few weeks
• Then, remove any weeds that may show in the area during this time
• There is no need to add compost or topsoil before planting since wildflowers prefer low-nutrient conditions
• After this, you want to level the seedbed
• Do this by raking the area while removing any other stones and breaking down any clumpy soil, so that the soil is fine and even
• Then, scatter the seed at a rate of 5g per m2
• Followed by raking the seed in amongst the soil
• Water the seeds well
• Keep the soil moist for the first six weeks after planting if you’re doing this in warm conditions

We have further reading on how to manage your wildflower meadow to ensure you get the best blooms time and time again!