Why we should grow Native Wildflower Seeds

Imported mail order wildflowers are not checked for pests or disease when they enter the country, nor can they contain species native. How could they? they are imported.

Imported wild flower seed mixtures now found in creameries, garden centres and multiples and sold in boxes, usually with grass, are regularly checked by DBN to see what foreign flowers they contain. I find far too much grass for the price and the mixtures contain cultivated 'not so wild flowers' such as Calendula, Californian Poppy and Flax, which can be bought for half the price, elsewhere. 
In effect the seller is a liar. they are not wild, they are in a box. 

University of Dublin, Trinity College Botanic Garden, Dublin.

TO : Sandro Cafolla.
Design By Nature.
Crettyard.
Carlow

FROM : DR. Steve Waldren
Date : July 9, 1996

Dear Sandro,

I am concerned about the introduction of foreign plant germplasm for release into semi-natural or rehabilitated landscapes.
Of course thousands of species are introduced on a regular basis for cultivation in gardens etc., the fact that we are able to grow so many species reflects our mild climatic conditions.
In my opinion this is of no concern to conservationists, because the plants raised are maintained in more or less controlled cultivated conditions.

Far more worrying is the trend of using foreign sources of species native to Ireland for seed mixes sown along roadside verges and similar situations which are intended to be semi-natural. 
This foreign germplasm has the potential to interbred with our own native genepools. 
Many of our native species differ slightly from continental populations, they have evolved in relative isolation, and their uniquely Irish genepools may be damaged with interbreeding with imported stocks.
It is for this reason that conservation of Irish genepools is so important.

DR. Steve Waldren.
END.

If this letter is not enough, we have included a series of copied pages from http://www.floralocale.org/

My personal reason for restricting non natives is that they can leaf, flower and seed fruit or seed at different times to natives. thus the birds and wildlife, esp' insects miss-time there life cycles by a few weeks, and critical food sources may be missed. This can effect large areas when motorway or industrial landscape are planted to non native or non local provedence, native Irish sourced seed of wildflowers, trees and shrubs. 

Flora Locale ©   http://www.floralocale.org/v.asp?level2id=5906&depth=1&rootid=5906

Introduction: To Potential purchasers and users of native plants.
A Flora Locale list is provided on our website as a free service to potential purchasers and users of UK and Irish native plants who are planning to undertake ecological restoration schemes (including for landscape and forestry projects), in line with Flora locale’s aim to promote good practice in sourcing and using native plants. Some of the companies listed will also supply plants or seed in small quantities suitable for planting in gardens.  
This is not a service to promote the business of plant suppliers. Mention on this list does not constitute an endorsement by Flora locale of any company, supplier or organisation, their services or products and any associated claims made by them.  
No grower or supplier of native plants is currently entitled to use the name Flora locale in any promotional material, media or correspondence that directly or indirectly promotes their products and/or services except in relation to a statement to the effect that the operation has adopted the Flora locale Code of Practice for collectors, growers and suppliers of native plants and seed (and this must be accompanied by a signed statement in accordance with the conditions of the Code). Note: the Code of Practice is currently a consultation draft and has been posted on the Flora locale website.

Code of Practice for collectors, growers and suppliers of native flora

See the web page for full details. In accordance with the Code: The suppliers on this list with a against their name have adopted the Flora locale Code of Practice for collectors, growers and suppliers of native flora.

• they are able to source identify some or all of the seed or plants that are supplied

• where they can identify the country or locality of native origin and/or local provenance this information is available to actual and prospective plant buyers ("the customer")

• where they are unable to source identify the country of native origin or local provenance of plants or seed of native species, they inform the customer that the locality of native origin and/or local provenance is unknown. Species imported for seed mixtures

• they identify to the plant buyer when a native species that is being supplied is of cultivated origin [in any case this does not qualify for Flora locale's definition of a British native plant] or hybrid stock

• they will not use the terms "British wildflower, British native, British plant" to describe flora that is not of British native origin (or trees and shrubs that are not of native provenance) or to a locality within Britain and that they are equally discriminating over using the term English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish when used

• they will only use the terms "local" and "regional" when describing flora of native origin or native provenance to the local areas or region a referred to in their marketing literature or other sales information

• they agree not to substitute flora specified by the customer with plants or seed that are of a different native origin or native provenance or of a different species than that specified, unless the client has agreed to this beforehand.

Extracts from Flora Locale charter on growing native wild flora

DBN Seed Pledge and Grower-Producer Declaration