Native Origin Irish Wildflower Seed Mixtures: Ecotype Range 

Product Code:  EC06
Product Name: Seaside Wildflora. 
In exposed coastal situations this mixture may not require cutting. Ideal for light sandy or loam soils, in dry or wet situations. 
The Seaside mix will grow short in windy exposed sites or where rabbits occur, or it can be maintained as a low growing meadow. 
EC06 is a colourful mixture containing a few species that will not grow inland. This mixture attracts butterflies and Insects. 
If used to feed migrant birds, cease cutting and allow the mixture to set seed in late summer.

Species List: Seaside Wildflora (Mix) EC06

Birdsfoot trefoil 
Black Medick
Wild Chamomile
Corn Marigold
Corn Pansy
Corn Poppy
Corncockle*
Cornflower*
Cowslip
Devils Bit Scabious
Meadow Buttercup
Field Scabious
Foxglove
Hemp Agrimony*
Kidney Vetch
Lady's Bedstraw
Lesser Knapweed
Marjoram
Scentless Mayweed
Meadowsweet
Mullein
Ox-eye Daisy
Ribwort Plantain

Sea Mayweed
Selfheal
Sorrel
Thrift
Wild Angelica
Wild Carrot
Yellow Rattle*

Yarrow
Sea Campion 
Hare's Foot Clover*
Sea Aster*

If requested Century is also available to add to this mixture

*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.

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 and Tree Lupin which are toxic if ingested.

This photograph is one day in the life of an ever changing meadow.

Seed Mixture Specifications:  
Total number of seeds per gram:
Native Irish Origin, Wildflower Seed Mixture. EC06All, except waterlogged clay or gley
Moisture Level: Dry, Normal, Moist.
pH range: Best between 5.5 - 6.5 (<7.5)
Aspect: Sunny
Morphology:
Life Cycle: Annual / Biennial / Perennial. 
Height Range: <30cm to >120cm 
Flowering Period:  June to August.
Fertility Range: Will grow in very fertile soil to poor, if very infertile apply fertiliser (see below).
Wintergreen: Yes 
The main species which should dominate and persist in this mixture: Wild Chamomile, Cowslip, Devil's Bit Scabious, Meadow Buttercup, Field Scabious, Hemp Agrimony, Kidney Vetch, Lady's Bedstraw, Lesser Knapweed, Marjoram, Scentless Mayweed, Meadowsweet,  Ribwort Plantain, Selfheal, Yarrow Yellow Rattle. 
Annual Species: Red Bartsia, Yellow Rattle, 
Corn Chamomile, Corn Marigold, Corn Pansy, Corn Poppy, Corncockle, Cornflower, Scentless Mayweed,
Biennial Species: Foxglove, Mullein, Wild Angelica, Wild Carrot. 
Rare, unusual, and feature species: Hare's Foot Clover, Sea Aster.
Species which will grow if the conditions are ideal: Thrift, Sea Mayweed, 
Species which will be affected by management: Sea Campion. Ox-eye Daisy.
Additional species which could be added to this mixture as individual species of seeds or plants: Sea Plantain, Sedum Spp. 
There are many seaside species that may be added. 

Design Notes:  Use EC06 on any but waterlogged soils near the coast. This mix can also be sown on golf links. 
EC06 works well as a low growing meadow, most of the species can be regularly 'short cut' or mown. 

In exposed coastal situations this mixture may not require cutting as the foliage will be desiccated by the winter wind.

Sowing Specification: Do not let the soil dry out, so in early spring or early September. 

Roll or rake into surface to keep out of reach from birds. 

It may be beneficial to protest first flush seedlings in very exposed situations.

Soil Preparation: Normal, create fine tilt on seed bed, if clay, ensure a fine tilt or press the seed into clean soil.
Optimum Sowing Time: Spring, early autumn, when the soil is warm. 

Sowing Conditions: Normal, may suffer drought until well established
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 very poor fertility such as sea sand. 

Powdered or liquid seaweed will aid germination. 

Seed Sowing Rates: 1.5 to 2 grams per metre.
Normal sowing rate 'without added grass seed': 1.5 to 2 grams per metre.
High sowing rate 'without added grass seed': Add 4 grams per metre.
Low sowing rate: None 

Grass seed or nurse crop requirement:

Nurse Crop: A nurse crop is required in exposed coastal situations. 
Grass Seed Requirement: Common Bent
Sow with or without grasses: Either 
Sowing rate with grasses: 2 to 4 grams per metre. 50% Flora / 50% grass seed, or up to 80% grass where erosion may occur.

If sown without grasses: This mixture will not require a nurse crop.

Seed Specification:  
In normal conditions this mix should germinate 6 weeks after a spring sowing, 
from then on provided the sward is kept open and a 'Thatch' is not allowed develop, species will continue to germinate and emerge, 
through to the third year. If Autumn sown this mixture should be sown late August or Early September.
Up to 80% of all seed should germinate in the first year.
Up to 70% of all species should germinate in 12 months. 
Up to 95% of all species should have flowered by the fourth year after sowing.

Performance: The first year is the critical year to maintain this meadow as strong wind may desiccate the seed bed.

If this mixture is sow with annuals, or contains annuals, they will flower profusely in the first year, provided they are sown before June. 
They require one cut when finished flowering. In the second year the biennials will also be very colourful. Cut once in late August.
In the third year this meadow mixture will seem to have less flora than the first and second year. Why? 
The perennial species are still young, many will only have germinated in the second season, so flowers will be sparse. However, there should be identifiable foliage and some flowers. If not contact us. 
In the second and third the native grasses in your soil will have grown and will be emerging so strongly that the meadow will require two cuts, one in Spring and the Second in July or August, the meadow can again be cut in September if the grasses are still growing strong. 

When should this meadow be established and require one cut.
In the fourth year the perennials in the mixture should be flowering on many stems and starting to clump and spread, again if the grass is still vigorous cut in spring and in August of the fourth year. However if the perennials are growing strong there will be no need to cut until July, August or September depending on the fertility and wetness of the soil and the species which have grown.

A wildflower meadow should last many years, provided the species established, weeds were controlled and the meadow was cut and the cut material removed and occasional 'Gaps' are created. If not contact DBN.

Persistence if unmanaged: medium to high depending on exposure to sea wind. 
Tolerance of Cutting: High after second year. 
General Cutting Time: Mid to end of Summer. Cutting may be hazardous on cliffs.
Specific Cutting Time: n/a

Management: Accept any weeds in first year as they provide cover, once the sward is established, digging, spot spraying or weed wiping can be used to eliminate problem species.

Most species in this mixture are 'Browse' resistant.

A General Description of this product and the 'Ecotype' Range: 
Ecotype seed mixtures are designed to imitate natural ecologies found in specific situations. This mixture is a general seaside mixture designed to perform over a range of coastal sites, seek advice for a more specific bespoke mixture if the above is unsuitable.
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.