It’s tempting to think that any plant that finds its way into your garden that you haven’t deliberately planted there is a weed, and therefore needs pulling out straight away.
While this is definitely the right course of action if it’s a nettle or an invasive species like Himalayan balsam, all too often we weed out wildflowers that are just as beautiful as the other blooms in our borders and look great as a backdrop to your rattan garden furniture. Here are some suggestions for wildflowers to welcome into your garden:
Wildflower meadow
If you’re lucky enough to have the space, dedicating an otherwise unused section of your garden to wild planting can produce a glorious display. Native plants, such as ox-eye daisies with their distinctive yellow centres, the pale pink of ragged robin and the vibrant purple of betony combine to reproduce the enchanting colours of a wildflower meadow. If you love hues of blue, then go for forget-me-nots and viper’s bugloss and mix in some hemp agrimony for density and contrast.
Plant wildflowers in your borders
Seed mixes for mixed border planting are widely available and are ideal for empty spaces in your borders. If your soil is well drained and fed, it really is as simple as sow, water and wait. You will be rewarded with the surprise of corncockle’s bright pink flowers, the delicate architecture of the pyramidal orchid, purple columbine and the simple white of cow parsley. Brightly coloured foxgloves, lily of the valley, bluebells and field poppies can also be sown to bring borders to life.
Many wildflowers help to attract butterflies, so alongside creating a colourful new area of your garden, you’ll be doing your bit for wildlife too.
