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

*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.

 

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.