A Guide to UK Wildflower Species

UK native wild flower seeds are perfect for transforming any space in any garden. Everyone loves exotic flowers, but wild flower plants that originate from our own shores are the envy of the rest of the world. The nature of these flowers means that they work best when woven together - as if a bird, small animal or the breeze had carried the seed, and scattered it - creating a lush tapestry of colour and scent not to be found anywhere else in the world.

Our wildflower seed mixtures contain a wide range of wildflower species designed to give you staggered flowering from April right through to October. We all appreciate the beauty and variety of flowers, but it is also nice to be able to identify them, right? Once you know a flower and the conditions it thrives in, you can start to sculpt your wildflower meadow to suit your fancy. This is why we've created a handy Guide to Wildflower Species, which you can download and keep for FREE.

It’s important to encourage the local wildlife to inhabit your garden too, and you can do that by sowing native wildflower seeds. British wildflower plants will feed and attract native wildlife into you garden - making it an oasis for insects, birds and small mammals alike, as well as creating a beautiful summertime vista for yourself.

We think that some of the most common UK wildflowers can also be the most beautiful. Here are just a handful of our favourites:

Forget-me-not (Myosotis)
Nostalgic clouds of tiny bright blue flowers. The delicate little bloom of the Forget-me-not is surely the inspiration for every child’s drawing of a flower - perfectly formed, abundant and perfect for the edges of borders, paths and background planting.

Height - 40cm
Flowers - May - July
Soil Type - Loams, Clay
Conditions - Sunny, Damp and Wet


Evening Primrose (Oenothera stricta)
Common Evening Primrose (or Evening Star) is more famous for its health benefits these days. Thriving naturally on dry waste grounds and verges, this gorgeous yellow bloom easily reaches 1m in height and is loved by insects. These sun shaped yellow flowers open only in the evening, and release a heavenly scent. Perfect for sitting outside late into the summer evenings.

Height 1m
Flowers June - October
Soil Type Sandy, Loam
Conditions Sunny, Damp


Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata)
Also known as ‘Jack-by-the-hedge’, the small white plant of Garlic Mustard is popular with foragers. The leaves are edible and give a delicate garlic edge to salads. This plant thrives well in shady or damp ‘problem’ areas in gardens. Growing on tall stems, the pretty heart-shaped leaves are dotted with tiny clusters of white, four-petalled flowers.

Height 30 - 80cm
Flowers April - July
Soil Type Loam, Clay
Conditions Sun or Shade, Damp and Wet


Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vesca)
This wild fruit is not actually related to our commercial strawberries. The delicious edible fruits can produce well into September and even early October in mild conditions. Wild Strawberry plants spread quickly to the ground and produce pretty white flowers before fruiting. 

Height 20 - 30cm
Flowers May - June
Soil Type Sandy
Conditions Sun, Dry


Field Scabious (Knautia Arvensis)
These lilac pom pom-like flowers on the ends of tall stalks are synonymous with summer, lining every cottage garden and loved by bees and butterflies. Whilst the word ‘scabious’ doesn’t conjure images of beauty (but rather hints at its historic medicinal use), the blooms of the Field Scabious are very pretty and have an extended flowering period.

Height 30 - 90cm
Flowers June Onwards
Soil Type Loam, Clay
Conditions Sun, Dry

Keen to create a sea of wildflowers in your own garden? Buying wildflower seeds in bulk allow you to carpet larger areas, and choosing a wildflower seed mix or a plant collection means you can enjoy a range of expertly selected wildflowers in one easy click, too.

On the other hand, if you'd prefer tobe a little more selective and buy individual wildflower species, you can choose from over 100 different ones - all of which have UK provenance. You can learn all about the different species on offer in the handy guide we mentioned above. Turning your garden into a dreamy wildflower meadow and a haven for native wildlife is easy when you know how! - A Guide to Wildflower Species.