Shade Tolerant Wildflower Mix

Designed for those tricky, partially shaded corners of the garden, our Shade Tolerant Wildflower Mix brings life, colour and pollinators to semi-shaded areas where other plants might struggle. Providing beauty and essential food sources for pollinators, this mix is ideal for brightening up sites which receive direct light for only 4-5 hours a day.

Key features:

• Tailored for success in low-light and partially shaded areas
• Supports pollinators, and other wildlife with nectar rich blooms
• Mix of perennial and annual native species for extended flowering
• Easy to grow and low-maintenance once established
• Ideal for semi-shade site such as woodland edges and north-facing borders

Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria)
– Important for soil improvement and a key food plant for the Small Blue butterfly.

Pepper Saxifrage (Silaum silaus)
– A perennial of old meadows; supports a range of pollinators.

Musk Mallow (Malva moschata)
– Attractive pink blooms; nectar source for bees and hoverflies.

Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia)
– Nitrogen-fixing legume; enhances soil fertility and supports pollinators.

Salad Burnet (Sanguisorba minor)
– Deep-rooted; improves soil structure and drought resilience.

White Clover (Trifolium repens)
– Nitrogen fixer; boosts soil health and provides forage.

Bird’s-foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)
– Supports pollinators; key larval food plant for Common Blue butterflies.

Common Sorrel (Rumex acetosa)
– Adds diversity to meadows; food plant for Small Copper butterflies.

Meadow Vetchling (Lathyrus pratensis)
– Climbing legume; fixes nitrogen and feeds bees.

Red Campion (Silene dioica)
– Long flowering season; nectar for moths, bees, and butterflies.

Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata)
– Deep roots improve compacted soils; host for butterfly larvae.

Black Medick (Medicago lupulina)
– Nitrogen fixer; early nectar source for bees.

Devil’s-bit Scabious (Succisa pratensis)
– Late-flowering nectar source; vital for Marsh Fritillary butterflies.

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
– Hardy perennial; improves soil aeration and attracts pollinators.

Selfheal (Prunella vulgaris)
– Low-growing; nectar source for bees and butterflies.

Tufted Vetch (Vicia cracca)
– Vigorous nitrogen fixer; attracts bees and supports soil fertility.

Cowslip (Primula veris)
– Early-flowering; nectar source for spring pollinators.

St John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
– Supports pollinators and adds resilience to meadow plantings.

Oxeye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare)
– Classic meadow flower; attracts a wide range of insects.

Hedge Bedstraw (Galium mollugo)
– Climbing plant; supports biodiversity and soil cover.

Greater Knapweed (Centaurea scabiosa)
– Nectar-rich; highly valuable for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.

Lady’s Bedstraw (Galium verum)
– Mat-forming plant; supports soil stability and provides nectar.

Our Shade Tolerant Wildflower Mixture is a diverse collection of UK-native species specifically chosen for their ability to flourish in semi-shaded. Whether you're sowing beneath tree canopies, along hedgerows, or in less sun-soaked corners of your garden, this mix will help create a natural wildflower haven that benefits both biodiversity and visual appeal.

Together, they offer a staggered flowering period from late spring to early autumn, ensuring a continual nectar supply and a changing palette of colour throughout the season.

Many of the included species are perennial or biennial, meaning they’ll return year after year with minimal input. Once established, this mixture provides an enduring, naturalised look that supports local ecosystems and encourages a greater diversity of insects and small animals.

Sow in spring or autumn directly onto bare, weed-free soil. Lightly rake to ensure seed-to-soil contact but do not bury the seeds deeply, wildflowers prefer shallow sowing. Water gently after sowing and keep moist during the germination period, which usually occurs within 2–4 weeks depending on conditions.

These species are suited to dappled or partial shade, such as woodland edges, north-facing beds, or under deciduous trees. Avoid deep shade where very little light penetrates.
Once established, maintenance is minimal.

Avoid over-fertilising, as nutrient-rich soils encourage vigorous grasses over wildflowers. In late summer or early autumn, after flowering has finished, cut back growth and remove cuttings to reduce soil fertility and encourage regeneration.

We offer a flat shipping rate of £5.99.

Garden lawn seed, wildflower seeds, and wildflower seed mixtures are typically dispatched within 1 to 3 working days.

Products from our agricultural, landscaping, and equine ranges may be shipped separately as they are mixed to order.

We aim to ensure customer satisfaction with all products supplied. If you experience any issues with your order, please contact us at info@kentseeds.co.uk within 5 working days of the dispatch date, quoting your order number and a detailed description of the issue.

Read our full Delivery & Returns policy here.

Q1: Can wildflowers grow in the shade?
A: Yes, some native wildflowers can tolerate partial shade. This mix includes species specifically chosen for their shade tolerance.

Q2: When should I sow shade-tolerant wildflowers?
A: Spring (March–May) and autumn (August–October) are ideal sowing windows. Autumn sowing often results in earlier flowering the following year.

Q3: How do I prepare shady ground for sowing?
A: Remove any existing vegetation, lightly dig or rake the soil to loosen it, and sow directly onto bare ground. Ensure there’s adequate light reaching the area as total shade will not support growth.

Q4: Will the flowers come back every year?
A: Yes, many of the included species are perennials or biennials. With proper care and minimal disturbance, they will self-seed and return year after year.