Native Origin Irish Wildflower Seed Mixtures: Ecotype Range 

Product Code:  EC03 
Product Name: Woodland Wild Flower Mixture

Woodland wildflowers are not the easiest to establish, but are one of the most rewarding of all seed mixtures for the difficult conditions of low light levels in woodlands.  
Woodland mixture flower mostly in spring/ early summer and only a few flowers appear from June/July onwards.
This mixture will thrive in dappled light under broadleaved trees and is more difficult to establish under conifer trees

The Bluebells seeds in this mixture are native Irish and slow to develop bulbs and then to flower. Primsrose and Violets also take some years to grow and spread.

Species List: Code EC03 Woodland Wild Flower Mixture

Bluebell
Burdock
Dog Violet 
Cowslip
Devils Bit Scabious
Foxglove
Hedge Garlic Mustard
Lesser Knapweed
Meadowsweet
Ramson
Red Campion*
Ribwort Plantain
Sorrel
Upright Hedge Parsley
Wild Angelica
Wood Avens
Hemp Agrimony
Broadleaf Plantain,
Primrose 
Sweet Violet 
Wood Sage

species which may be added: Common figwort, Cow Parsley, Wood Sanicle*, 

Bluebell (Germinates year 2 or 3, flowers by year 4 to 6, the Bluebell in our mixtures is native and not the invasive Spanish bluebell.

Primrose, Sweet Violet and Dog Violet germinate in year 2 or 3, flowers by year 4.

*Denotes a species that is either of diminished national geno-type or specific to only a few sites, or who's habitat is increasingly threatened, or the species is uncommon, rare, becoming rare, is endangered, reintroduced or saved from extinction.
In all cases, your purchase contributes to DBN's work of creating crops of Conservation Grade - Native Origin Wildflora. You help us to inform and pay land-owners to manage native species and to assist DBN in handing on our heritage for another generation.
By growing (some will be difficult) these and all other species, you directly help to conserve national and global Biodiversity and protect wildlife. You should also consider yourself another Irish wildflower grower.

 

Single species will dominate in large woodlands or situations where the conditions are ideal

 

Product Warning: While this Ecotype mixture contains the seed of edible and herbal species, DBN recommend that this mixture is not for human or animal consumption as it contains species such as Bluebell, Hemp Agrimony, and Foxglove which are toxic if ingested. Figwort may attract wasps.

 

Seed Mixture Specifications: Total number of seeds per gram: 2308
Native Irish Origin Wildflower Seed Mixture EC03  
Suitable for soil type: All types of soil, Clay, Loam, Sand, Light Soil, Heavy Soil, and Peat, 
Moisture Level: Dry, Normal, Moist, but not Flooded Wet
pH range: Best between 5.5 - 6.5, <7.5
Aspect: Semi Shade and Shaded. The performance will be limited under very heavy tree canopies of beech and conifers.


Pole-stage woodland is ideal for this mixture, thin out unwanted trees and sow.

 

Morphology:

Life Cycle: Biennial & Perennial. 
Height Range: <30cm to >100cm 
Flowering Period:  March and April to June.
Fertility Range: Will grow in very fertile soil to poor, if very infertile apply fertiliser (see below).
Wintergreen: In sheltered woodland. 
The main species which should dominate and persist in this mixture is the ground if kept free of grass and not cultivated. Bluebell, Cowslip, Devils Bit Scabious, Hemp Agrimony, Broadleaf Plantain,, Cow-Parsley, Ramsons, Red Campion, Wood Avens, 
Biennial Species: Alexanders, Burdock, Foxglove, Mullein, Hedge Garlic Mustard, Upright Hedge Parsley, Wild Angelica, Wild Carrot, Welsh Poppy. 
Rare, unusual, and feature species:  Primrose, Wood Sanicle,  Welsh Poppy, Wood Sage,
Species which will grow if the conditions are ideal: Sweet Violet, Dog Violet.
Species which will be affected by management: Primrose, keep weed free until established, Primula species will germinate in the second or third year after sowing.
Additional species which could be added to this mixture as individual species of seeds or plants: Any woodland species in particular Yellow Pimpernel, Bugle and Wood Rush are occasionally available from our nursery.

 

Design Notes: Do not sow with grasses, This mixture will not require a nurse crop.
Woodland wildflowers will not flower in the first year. Some species are very slow to appear. You will have to wait for 3 years for the bluebells to flower but they do germinate easily, when they germinate they look like Chives.  EC03 is subject to limited availability. Please order well in advance. If sowing into sunny open woodland conditions seek advice.

EC03 is a difficult mixture to grow. The area must be prepared and managed to the highest standards. Try to eliminate all nettles, Ivy and bramble by cutting or strimming the area, or spraying. 
Many species in this mixture are not 'Browse' resistant when germinating.

 

Sowing Specification: As Normal, roll or rake into surface to keep out of reach from birds. 

Soil Preparation:  Normal, create fine tilt on seed bed, 
Optimum Sowing Time: Autumn after leaf fall or spring.


Sowing Conditions: Normal 
Sowing Method: By hand is recommended, if using seed spreaders be careful to insure the small varieties of seed do not drop to the bottom of the seed spreader and get sown all in the one place. Can be Hydrasown. 
Fertiliser: None. Unless in conifer wood or where leaf litter has been removed in old woodland. Powdered or liquid seaweed will aid germination

Seed Sowing Rates: 1.5 grams per metre.
Normal sowing rate 'without added grass seed':  1.5 grams per metre.
High sowing rate 'without added grass seed': Add 3 grams per metre.
Low sowing rate: 1 gram per metre for clean soil over large areas.. 

 

Grass seed or nurse crop requirement:

Nurse Crop: No nurse crop is required. 
Grass Seed Requirement: None.
Sow with or without grasses: Unnecessary, 
If sown without grasses: This mixture will not require a nurse crop.

Nurse crop: None, 

 

Seed Specification:  
Once sown this mixture in normal conditions (mainly in early Autumn and Spring) should germinate 6 weeks after sowing, from then on provided the woodland floor is kept open and a 'Thatch' is not allowed develop, species will continue to germinate and emerge, through to the third year.
Up to 40% of all seed should germinate in the first year.
Up to 60% of all species should germinate in 24 months. 
Up to 80% of all species should have flowered by the fourth year after sowing. 
Late Autumn and early Summer sowings may be slow to emerge, depending on the weather.  

 

Performance: The first year is the critical year to maintain this meadow, as only a few species will be germinating, and some of those that do, will be slow growing, so please keep it weed free by spot spraying/ killing known weeds such as nettles.
Persistence if unmanaged: High 
Tolerance of Cutting: Low 
General Cutting Time: None required. 
Specific Cutting Time: Wait 3 weeks until after the last flush of flowers fades away, after seeds set in July.

Management: Control weeds, ensure the leaf litter remains on the forest/woodland floor. Shelter can be cheaply provided by planting cutting of Elderberry and Wild Raspberry or thornless soft fruit..

 

A General Description of Ecotype Range: 
Ecotype seed mixtures are designed to imitate natural ecologies found in specific situations. this woodland range would be found in semi-natural woods on all soils and in many different situations, if 5 to 10 species persist you have done well.

The EC range is not intended as an exact copies of an Irish ecosystem but to represent floras that would otherwise take hundreds of years to develop if 'nature' was left unaided.  This range of seed mixture is ideal for those concerned with encouraging wildlife and local biodiversity as the plants will attract species suited to the ecology. 
If these mixtures are suitable for your situation, they offer good value, contain some of the most exacting and unusual species and if given time, develop into a diverse flora that will persist if properly maintained.