Wildflowers look to be a continuing trend in 2016, from planting a meadow, a strip at the edge of a lawn or a few seeds scattered amongst existing borders. Whether creating meadows or wildflower planting schemes from annuals, perennials, bulbs or mixing them up.

Meadow

Annuals

I love scattering a packet or two of seeds over freshly prepared ground or added to an existing border and just seeing what comes up from the umbels of Ammi majus or the biennial of cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris), the brilliant blue of cornflowers (Centaurea cyanus) or the deep purple of ‘Black Ball’ and the vibrant orange of Californian poppies (Eschscholzia californica), a few years ago I found a cream variety of Eschscholzia which look stunning with the cornflowers. Once established many of these annuals self seed and come back next year, providing several vases of cut flowers throughout the summer and some left over to feed the bees (although they are not too keen on sharing, complaining when I cut some to enjoy inside).

Meadow and wildflowers

Perennials

The pale blues of Geranium pratense and Field scabious (Knautia arvensis) interspersed with red clover (Trifolium pratense) and the whites of yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and oxeye daisies (Leucanthemum vulgaris) really lift my spirits on a sunny day. Along with a few grasses to add a different texture, a contrast, the slender stems of meadow foxtail (Alopercurus pratensis) with its dark green grass heads or some fescues red (Festucca rubra) or tall fescue (Festuca pratensis). And for some extra droplets of sunshine Birdsfoot trefoil is a really zingy yellow, not only does it have a really long flowering season from spring until summer it is also loved by butterflies. The highlight of any meadow is to have some orchids, the spotted orchid is one of the easiest to colonise, the excitement when first spotting one and realising that at least one of them has flowered is palpable.

Bulbs

Bulbs

Bulbs whether as part of a mixed scheme with annuals or perennials or on their own, scattered through grass look spectacular. Gladioli, the more delicate species Gladiolus communis subsp. Byzantinus with its deep magenta flowers is often added into a meadow or wildflower mix to add an extra layer of colour. There are bulbs that will provide interest throughout most seasons from the pale mauve of Crocus tommasinianus that flower in February to anemones and Fritallaria in spring. Seeing anemones on the woodland floor as you wander through or having some Anemone appennina or nemorosa scattered through the grass, particularly underneath trees always says to me spring has arrived, life has come back into the garden. One of my favourite bulbs, flowering in May to June, to see planted through grass is Cammasia, particularly en mass, either the vibrant blue of Camassia quamash or the taller, paler Camassia leichtlinii.