Native Origin Irish Wildflower Seed Mixtures: Ecotype Range 
Product Code:  EC07
Product Name: Wild Flora for Drumlins and Cuttings.
Typically a mixture for the northern half of the country or where steep cuts have been created in situations such as behind houses set into a hillside.
This mixture will grow on dry to wet soils esp' heavy soils with springs poor drainage near marsh conditions, or where there is a wide variety of soil types in one area.
EC07 is a very colourful mixture, that attracts wildlife and is easy to maintain requiring one cut. If the site is fertile a spring cut may be required in the early years

Species List: Code EC07 Wild Flora for Drumlins and Cuttings

Birdsfoot Trefoil
Black Meddick
Bluebell
Burdock
Corn Marigold
Corn Poppy
Corncockle*
Cornflower*
Cowslip
Devils Bit Scabious
Meadow Buttercup
Field Scabious
Fleabane*
Foxglove
Greater Trefoil
Hedge Garlic Mustard
Hemp Agrimony
Hoary Plantain
Cow-Parsley
Lady's Bedstraw
Lesser Knapweed
Scentless Mayweed
Meadowsweet
Ox-eye Daisy
Purple Loosestrife
Ragged Robin
Red Bartsia
Red Campion*
Red Clover
Ribwort Plantain
Rough Hawksbit
Sorrel
St Johnswort
Water Avens*
White Campion*
Wild Angelica
Wild Carrot
Wood Avens
Yarrow
Yellow Flag Iris
Yellow Rattle*
Primrose
Dog Violet
Welsh Poppy*

*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 Foxglove which are toxic if ingested.

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

Seed Mixture Specifications:
Total number of seeds per gram: 2796
Native Irish Origin, Wildflower Seed Mixture. EC07
Suitable for soil type: All types of soil, Clay, Loam, Sand, Light Soil and Heavy Soil 
Moisture Level: Dry, Normal, Moist, but not flooded.
pH range: Best between 5.5 >7.9
Aspect: Sunny, Semi Shade and not deeply shaded.
Morphology:
Life Cycle: Annual / Biennial / Perennial. 
Height Range: <30cm to >180cm 
Flowering Period:  May 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 if the ground is kept free of grass and cultivated each year. Birdsfoot Trefoil, Cowslip, Devil's Bit Scabious, Meadow Buttercup, Field Scabious, Fleabane, Greater Trefoil, Lady's Bedstraw, Lesser Knapweed, Marsh Ragwort, Meadowsweet, Purple Loosestrife, Ragged Robin, Red Campion, Red Clover, Ribwort Plantain, Rough Hawksbit, St Johnswort, Water Avens, Wood Avens, Yarrow, Yellow Flag Iris. 
Annual Species: Red Bartsia, Yellow Rattle, 
Corn Chamomile, Corn Marigold, Corn Poppy, Corncockle, Cornflower, Scentless Mayweed, Redshank, Nipple Wort
Biennial Species: Burdock, Cow-Parsley, Foxglove, Mullein, Hedge Garlic Mustard, Opium Poppy, Teasel, Upright Hedge Parsley, Wild Angelica, Wild Carrot, Welsh Poppy. 
Rare, unusual, and feature species: Primrose, Dog Violet, Welsh Poppy,
Species which will grow if the conditions are ideal: All, this mixture suits both limy and acid soils, If the drumlin or cutting is derived from a particular pH type soil, choose from our 'MM' Meadow Mixture range.
Species which will be affected by management: Red Bartsia and  Yellow Rattle, if left uncut will not persist. Bluebell will need shade from shrub or overhanging trees. White Campion will establish if there is erosion or a sunny open dry microclimate. 
Additional species which could be added to this mixture as individual species of seeds or plants: If the soil is very limey add Mullein. Other species could include Opium Poppy, Teasel, Upright Hedge Parsley and Wild Parsnip.

Design Notes: I have created this mixture from talking to customers and observing wildflowers naturally occurring or sow on Drumlins and earth exposed cuttings. In the north-east of Ireland drumlins occur frequently, often the flora varies greatly in a short space, mixed between shade loving species under over hanging trees or along a hedgerow and moisture loving only a few feet away. wetlands occur at the bottom of the slopes. The centre of a drumlin's slope can be saturated wet in winter and 'clay back dry'  in summer. I have seen an eroded blanket bog on one large drumlin and the next pure acid grassland. If the designer chooses you can pick different mixtures to perform better in each situation, however in many cases, this mixture will suit the diversity of mixed vegetative types and soils in very localised situations, especially where wide spaced trees and shrubs have been introduced. I have included the Cornflower, I am aware it is out of character for the area, but it is an annual and will not re-appear.
Most 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, if clay, ensure a fine tilt or press the seed into clean soil.
Optimum Sowing Time: Late spring, early autumn, when the soil is warm.

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 very poor fertility such as quarry or very poor subsoil. 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. 

Grass seed or nurse crop requirement:

Nurse Crop: No nurse crop is required. 
Grass Seed Requirement: n/a
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 the soil is has a weed problem or where erosion may occur. Sow as low as 10% grasses for clean sites. 

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

Seed Specification:  
In normal conditions (mainly in early Autumn and Spring) this mix should germinate 6 weeks after 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.
Up to 70% of all seed should germinate in the first year.
Up to 70% of all species should germinate in 12 months. 
Up to 60% of all species should have flowered by the fourth year after sowing, the fall of is due to the fact that it is unlikely that all requirements of this mixture will be met. 
Late Autumn and early Summer sowings may be slow to emerge, on cold clay.  

Performance: The third year is the critical year to maintain this meadow as grasses will try to dominate.
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: Low 
Tolerance of Cutting: High after second year. 
General Cutting Time: Mid to end of Summer and again in spring. Cutting may be hazardous on steep slopes.
Specific Cutting Time: Wait 3 weeks until after the last flush of flowers fade away, after seeds set.

Management: Control grasses and weeds until well established. Control weeds, especially Creeping Buttercup. If Creeping Buttercup is present cut this meadow in May in year two. The third year is the critical year to maintain this meadow as scutch grass, creeping thistle, 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. 
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.