Native Origin Irish Wildflower Seed Mixtures: Ecotype
Range
Product Code: EC04
Product Name: Hedgerow Wild Flower Mixture.
A hedgerow mixture requires light shade and will require
occasional maintenance to rake the soil open for new seedlings to
germinate.
To increase the diversity, we can mix with EC04 any other mixture in our
Product Range that is suitable for your particular situation. Please ask for more bluebell seed
to be added if sowing this mixture in deep shade under overhanging
trees or shaded banks.
Species List:
Code EC04 Hedgerow Wild Flower Mixture
Birdsfoot trefoil
Black Meddick
Burdock
Bluebell
Corn Marigold
Corn Poppy
Corncockle*
Cornflower*
Cowslip
Devils Bit Scabious
Foxglove
Hedge Garlic Mustard
Hemp Agrimony
Hoary Plantain
Cow-Parsley
Lesser Knapweed
Scented Mayweed
Meadowsweet
Mullein
Ox-eye Daisy
Purple Loosestrife
Primrose
Ragged Robin
Red Campion
Ribwort Plantain
Sorrel
St Johnswort
Teasel
Upright Hedge Parsley
Wild Angelica
Wild Carrot
Wood Avens
Sweet Violet
Dog Violet
![Primsore banks can be cut short to see the flowers and allowed to grow for summer](../images/primrose_ec04.jpg)
*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.
![Foxgloves are idal for any shaded garden situation under hegdes and shrubs.](../images/shadyborder_ec04.jpg)
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 Corncockle, Hemp Agrimony, Bluebell and Foxglove which are toxic if
ingested.
Seed
Mixture Specifications:
Total number of seeds per gram: 2440
Native Irish Origin Wildflower Seed Mixture EC04
Suitable for soil type: All types of soil, Clay, Loam, Sand, Light Soil, Heavy
Soil, and cultivated Peat,
Moisture Level: Dry, Normal, Moist, but not Flooded Wet
pH range: Best between 5. - 7.5
Aspect: Semi Shade and Shaded. The performance will be limited
under very heavy tree canopies.
Morphology:
Life Cycle: Annual, Biennial & Perennial.
Height Range: <10cm to >180cm
Flowering Period: March to September.
Fertility Range: Will
grow in very fertile soil to poor soil.
Wintergreen: Yes
The main species which should dominate and persist in this
mixture if the ground is kept free of grass and not cultivated. Cowslip, Devilsbit, Lesser Knapweed, Meadowsweet, Ox-eye Daisy, Purple
Loosestrife, Ragged Robin, Ribwort Plantain, Sorrel, St Johnswort,
Wood Avens,
Annual Species:
Corn Marigold, Corn Poppy, Corncockle,
Cornflower, Scented Mayweed.
Biennial Species: Burdock, Foxglove,
Mullein, Hedge Garlic Mustard,
Teasel, Upright Hedge Parsley,
Wild Angelica, Wild Carrot, Welsh Poppy.
Rare, unusual, and feature species: White Foxglove (Found in Carlow, to keep pure collect seed from white
flowers and sow separately), Primrose,
Species which will grow if the conditions are ideal: Primrose, Sweet Violet, Dog Violet, Purple Loosestrife
prefers damp soil.
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.
Design
Notes: Can be sown with grasses, but is unnecessary, This mixture will not
require a nurse crop, as it contains annuals..
EC04 if sown in any light or semi shade,
tolerates moist or dry conditions.
While the mixture will grow in full
sun it will perform best when there is some shade for part of the day.
This seed mixture will provide many species that are colourful in late
spring.
In dry areas under trees it will produce about 8 final species.
In
dry shady areas under trees and hedge's, EC04 can be sown with EC03 or
woodland plants at the same time as you plant seed.
The
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
primula.
EC04 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.
Some species in this mixture
are 'Browse' resistant.
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 if under trees or in September or Spring in semi-shade or full sun..
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. 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: None.
Grass
seed or nurse crop requirement:
Nurse
Crop: Annuals provided in Mixture.
Grass Seed Requirement: None.
Sow with or without grasses: Unnecessary,
Seed Specification:
Up to 80% of all seed should germinate in the first year.
Up to 90% of all species should germinate in 24 months.
Up to 95% 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:
Persistence if unmanaged: Moderate.
Tolerance of Cutting: Moderate.
General Cutting Time: July or August and Early march to 10cm.
Specific Cutting Time: Wait 3 weeks until after the last flush
of flowers fades away, after seeds set in July.
Management: Strim, The third year is the
critical year to maintain this meadow as scutch grass, nettle and dock
will try to dominate as the growing conditions are ideal for such
unwanted species.
A
General Description of Ecotype Range:
Ecotype seed mixtures are
designed to imitate natural ecologies found in specific situations. This
Hedgerow mixture contains many species found in semi-shaded wild
situations in Ireland. It will grow on all soils and in
many different situations, if 15 to 20 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.
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