The Wildflower Seed Box

Borage

A Mediterranean annual that thrives in poor soil and full sun, produces vivid true-blue star flowers from June to October at a rate of nectar replenishment that makes it among the most valuable bee forage plants in cultivation, and whose edible flowers and leaves carry a fresh, clean, distinctive cucumber flavour.

Chicory Wild

Corncockle

The lost cornfield wildflower — once one of the most beautiful sights of a British summer among wheat and barley, now vanished from farmland by herbicides, but revivable in any garden from seed; tall wiry stems and silky magenta-purple trumpets with distinctive dark veining that catch the light like stained glass

Cornflower Blue Ball

The definitive cornflower — the blue that gives its name to 'cornflower blue' in every paint chart, crayon box, and colour dictionary; electric azure double Ball blooms that glow in sunlight as if lit from within, the quintessential cottage garden annual, cut-and-come-again from June to the first frosts

Cynoglossum officinale

The native wildflower biennial for dry, difficult soils and wild gardens — a two-year plant producing velvety grey-green rosettes in year one and dramatic maroon-red flower spikes in year two; RHS Plants for Pollinators, exceptionally hardy (H7), and at home on coastal banks and dry chalky ground where few garden flowers thrive

Daucus Carota (Wild Carrot)

The original wildflower filler — flat, intricate white umbels 8–12cm across on tall, branching hairy stems; a classic cottage garden and cutting garden plant that has given its DNA to every cultivated carrot ever grown, and whose flowers remain among the most beautiful, useful, and wildlife-friendly of all UK wildflowers

Oxeye Daisy

The backbone of the British wildflower meadow -- Hardy Native Perennial H7 producing pure white petals surrounding vibrant yellow eyes on wiry bobbing stems from May to September; surface press in light onto bare poor soil in autumn or spring; poor unfertilised soil essential for compact floriferous plants; make a single annual late-summer cut removing all cuttings to maintain low fertility; pair with Yellow Rattle if sowing into grass; year 2+ produces the full meadow display; RHS Pollinators heavyweight; vigorous enough to take over small formal borders -- plant where it has room

Phacelia

The dual-purpose powerhouse -- Hardy Annual H3 producing lavender-blue coiled fiddleneck flower spikes from just 6-8 weeks after sowing; one of the top five UK nectar plants for bees with all-day continuous nectar; also an exceptional green manure whose dense roots break up clay and foliage protects soil over winter; direct sow and rake in to 1cm depth (needs DARKNESS to germinate); succession sow every 4-6 weeks March-September for continuous bee foraging; skin contact with hairy stems may irritate -- wear gloves

Poppy Flanders Red

The symbol of Remembrance -- Native Hardy Annual H7 producing paper-thin scarlet cups with black blotch on hairy wiry stems; the pioneer plant that bloomed across the battlefields of Flanders in 1915 because it thrives in disturbed soil; scatter on the surface and press with your feet (light needed -- do not bury); autumn sow for biggest plants; direct sow only; thin to 20cm; builds a permanent self-seeding soil seed bank; RHS Plants for Pollinators high-protein pollen; the essential wildflower meadow annual

Red Campion

The native shade wildflower of the British hedgerow -- Very Hardy Native Perennial H7 producing vivid rose-pink clusters of deeply-notched five-petal flowers on hairy 60-90cm branching stems from May to August; DIOECIOUS (male and female flowers on separate plants -- both needed for seed set); the classic Bluebell companion; one of the very few flowering plants that genuinely thrives in semi-shade; surface press (light needed); autumn sow for strongest plants; self-seeding permanent colony; RHS Pollinators; cut back after first flush for second flowering; hybrid warning if White Campion is nearby