Example of a typical 85:15 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.
Lady's Bedstraw (Galium verum)
– Mat-forming; stabilises soil and provides nectar.
Salad Burnet (Sanguisorba minor)
– Deep-rooted perennial; improves soil structure and drought resilience.
Cowslip (Primula veris)
– Early-flowering; important nectar for spring pollinators.
Hedge Bedstraw (Galium mollugo)
– Climbing perennial that thrives in meadows and hedgerows, offering nectar for bees and other pollinators.
Common Sorrel (Rumex acetosa)
– Adds diversity; food plant for Small Copper butterflies.
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.
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.
Smooth-Stalked Meadow Grass (Poa pratensis)
– Creeping perennial grass with fine texture; provides dense sward and good ground cover.
Meadow Fescue (Festuca pratensis)
– Tuft-forming perennial grass with broad, graceful leaves; adds height and resilience to meadow swards, thriving on fertile, moist soils.
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.