Example of a typical 80:20 meadow mix
Common Knapweed (Centaurea nigra)
– Hardy perennial with purple thistle-like flowers; loved by bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
– Aromatic perennial with fern-like leaves and white flower heads; thrives in dry, sunny soils and supports many insects.
Meadow Buttercup (Ranunculus acris)
– Tall, glossy yellow-flowered perennial common in meadows and pastures; excellent for pollinators.
Black Medick (Medicago lupulina)
– Low-growing legume with small yellow flower clusters; nitrogen-fixing and beneficial for soil health.
Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata)
– Tough rosette-forming perennial with slender flower spikes; provides food for various moth and butterfly larvae.
Selfheal (Prunella vulgaris)
– Low-growing perennial with purple flower heads; attracts bees and helps knit together swards.
Oxeye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare)
– Showy white and yellow daisy-like perennial; a classic meadow flower that thrives in nutrient-poor soils.
Wild White Clover (Trifolium repens)
– Creeping perennial legume with white flower heads; fixes nitrogen and supports many pollinators.
Yellow Rattle (Rhinanthus minor)
– Semi-parasitic annual that reduces grass vigor, allowing wildflowers to flourish; distinctive rattling seed pods.
Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria)
– Upright perennial with yellow spires of flowers; attractive to bees and thrives on dry, sunny banks.
Red Campion (Silene dioica)
– Showy perennial with bright pink flowers; provides nectar for bees and butterflies, especially in partial shade.
Bird’s-foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)
– Low-growing perennial legume with yellow “bird’s-foot” flowers; excellent for bees and common blue butterflies.
Musk Mallow (Malva moschata)
– Graceful perennial with pale pink blooms and a musky scent; tolerant of dry soils and rich in pollen.
Tufted Vetch (Vicia cracca)
– Climbing perennial legume with purple-blue flower clusters; valuable for nitrogen fixing and bumblebees.
Viper’s Bugloss (Echium vulgare)
– Striking biennial with tall spikes of blue flowers; adored by bees and thrives in sunny, well-drained soils.
Wild Carrot (Daucus carota)
– Umbellifer with delicate white flower heads and a purple centre; attracts pollinators and parasitic wasps.
White Campion (Silene latifolia)
– Robust perennial with white blooms opening in the evening; provides nectar for moths and night-flying insects.
Common Bent (Agrostis capillaris)
– Fine-leaved perennial grass forming dense tufts; tolerant of a range of soils, ideal for meadow mixes.
Sweet Vernal-grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum)
– Early-flowering grass with sweet scent of coumarin; adds fragrance to hay and structure to meadows.
Smooth-Stalked Meadow Grass (Poa pratensis)
– Creeping perennial grass with fine texture; provides dense sward and good ground cover.
Crested Dog’s-tail (Cynosurus cristatus)
– Fine-leaved, tufted grass tolerant of low fertility; adds structure and longevity to meadow swards.
Red Fescue (Festuca rubra)
– Fine, slow-growing grass forming dense mats; thrives in poor soils and complements wildflower mixtures.
