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Best wildflower meadow seed mixes
Create a beautiful display of wildflowers to attract pollinators this summer.
Ceri studied horticulture at the University of Reading and RHS Wisley. She edits Which? Gardening magazine and our online gardening content.
A beautiful alternative to a traditional flower border, wildflower seed mixes promise a display of blooms that pollinators will love. But how attractive are they really and how much effort do they need to be maintained?
Which? Gardening magazine grew a range of popular mixes to see which would give the best display and how they would look the following year.
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Full testing results for wildflower meadows seed mixes
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| Mix name | Overall rating | Appearance first year | Appearance second year | Flowering impact first year | Flowering impact second year | Invasive weed grass | Pollinator attraction | Bare ground over winter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston seeds - BSXP 100% Dual Purpose Wildflower mixture | Sign up to reveal Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations. Unlock tableFirst month £5, then £11.99 per month, cancel at any time Already a member? Log in | |||||||
| Boston seeds - BSBP 100% Butterfly and Bees wildflower mixture | ||||||||
| British Wildflower Seeds - Bee Wildflower Seed Mix | ||||||||
| Chiltern seeds - Cornfield special annual mix | ||||||||
| Empathy - mini meadow for bees, bugs & butterflies | ||||||||
| John Chambers - Pro Cornfield Annuals Mix | ||||||||
| Landlife wildflower seeds - LWBP 100% Butterfly and Bees wildflower mixture | ||||||||
| Mr Fothergill's - Wildlife Attracting Mixed Flower Seeds | ||||||||
| The Grass People Annual Mix | ||||||||
| Westland Garden Health - Nature's Haven Easy Wildflowers | ||||||||
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Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations.
Unlock tableFirst month £5, then £11.99 per month, cancel at any time
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The more stars the better. Overall Rating Ignores price and is based on: visual appearance 30%, flowering impact 30% both equal weighting for first and second year assessments, weed grass incursion 10%, pollinator attraction 20%, bare ground over winter 10%.
How to create a wildflower meadow
- Wildlflower meadows are best sown during late autumn or late spring when the soil is warm and the weather is not too dry. Autumn sown meadows will flower early in the following year.
- Remove any existing grass and plants from the area where you plan to sow your wildflower seed and if possible, remove the top 5-10cm of soil as this will reduce fertility.
- Remove stones or any other debris and rake the area to create a fine, level seedbed.
- Do not add top soil, compost or fertiliser to the area - wildflowers prefer low nutrient soil.
- Allow the area to settle for a few days, removing any weeds that start growing during this time.
- Scatter the seed at a rate given by the supplier and rake it gently into the soil.
- Water the seeds in well If needed, protect the area from pests such as pigeons with netting.
- If sowing in dry weather, water as required for the first six weeks.
Discover the best wildflower suppliers
How to manage a wildflower meadow
In August or September (after flowering) cut your wildflower sward to around 8cm. You can do this by putting your mower on a high setting or using a grass trimmer. Leave the cuttings on the ground for a week or so to allow seeds to fall.
Do not fertilise the soil in any way. During the winter months remove any invasive grasses or undesirable weeds.
Within all wildflower mixes some species may become more abundant than others, depending on local conditions.
Sowing additional seed such as cornflowers for annual colour, or yellow rattle to weaken invasive grasses can continually improve your meadow and means your wildflower meadow will evolve and adapt year on year.
Looking for more flowers for your garden? Discover the best plants for bees.