Wildflower Species M to O
A to B / C to D / E to G / H to L / M to O / P to S / T to Z
Wildflower offer - Nicky's lucky dip 12 packets for £10.00 Add to basket (saving over £6.00)
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Mallow,
Common
Perennial Malva sylvestris - Common Mallow Hgt 20 - 100cm Flowers June to October Pinkish-purple flowers having dark veins appear in the leaf axils. A medicinal and culinary herb. Habitat waysides, wasteground, grassland and hedgerows which it briightens up with its colourful flowers. Prefers a sunny site. Approx 290 seeds per gram Av 1 gram pkt
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| Mallow,
Musk
Perennial Malva moschata - Musk Mallow Hgt 30- 80cm Flowers July to August Attractive large rose-pink flowers with, musk scented. A plant that is at home in old fashioned cottage gardens. A medicinal and culinary herb. Habitat grassy places with fertile soil. Approx 450 seeds per gram Av 1 gram pkt
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| Mallow,
Musk White
Perennial Malva moschata alba Hgt 30- 80cm Flowers July to August Attractive large white flowers with, musk scented. A plant that is at home in old fashioned cottage gardens. A medicinal and culinary herb. Habitat grassy places with fertile soil. £0.79 Av 150 seeds
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| Marigold
Yellow Hardy annual Calendula officinalis Hgt 30cm Rare semi-wild form with masses of single small yellow flowers. Sow where it is to grow in spring to early summer and September. 1 gram approx 160 seeds Av 1 gram pkt Not to be confused with Pot Marigold (Orange) available in herb catalogue
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Marigold, Corn Hardy
Annual Chrysanthemum segetum - Corn Marigold Hgt 15 - 60cm Flowers May to September Solitary golden yellow flower heads. An attractive plant that is a worthwhile addition to the annual flower garden. Habitat cultivated and waste ground. 1 gram approx 700 seeds
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Marjoram Wild
Perennial Origanum vulgare - Wild Marjoram Hgt 30 - 80cm Flowers July to September Pinkish purple flowers in branched clusters. A popular garden plant, a culinary and medicinal herb. Attracts butterflies. Found on grassland, woodland margins and on chalk and limestone. Av 750 seeds
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Marsh
Bedstraw Perennial Galium palustre Hgt 30-50cm Flowers June to August A grassland perennial with white flowers in loose clusters which provide food for moths. Plant out late spring early summer into moist soil, bog garden, pond margins, damp ground.
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Marsh
Cinquefoil Perennial Potentilla palustris Hgt 50-60cm Flowers May to July Origin Shropshire Redish purple flowers. Requires a moist situation, ideal for use in the margins of a wildlife pond, bog garden. Natural habitat Marshes, ditches, wetland areas, wet heaths, moors and bogland. Herbal properties a tea substitute can be made from the dried leaves, a dye is processed from the flowers and tannin from the rots. Sow seed Autumn and early spring in a cold frame, grow on in pots under glass for first winter. Plant out late spring early summer into moist soil, bog garden, pond margins.
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Marsh Lousewort
Annual/Biennial Pedicularis palustris Hgt 25- 60cm Flowers May to September Marsh lousewort or red rattle as it is often known is a root hemiparasite that is best sown autumn for the winter to break the dormancy. Common habitat is wetland areas, damp grasslands with short sward, wet meadows, fens, ditches etc. Sow Autumn. Av 200 seeds
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Marsh Mallow
perennial Althaea officinalis Hgt 60 - 100cm Flowers July to September Pale pink flowers with soft velvety leaves. Medicinal and culinary herb. Habitat marshy places. Approx 550 seeds per gram Av 1 gram pkt
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Marsh
Marigold or King-Cup
Harmful if Eaten Perennial Caltha palustris Hgt 10- 45cm Flowers March to June Shiny golden yellow cup shaped flowers. Habitat marshes and wet meadows. Av 150 seeds
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Click here for Meadow Buttercup
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Meadowsweet
perennial Fillipendula ulmaria Hgt 60- 120cm Flowers June to September Frothy heads of Scented creamy-white flowers. Known as Queen of the meadows. Used as an air-freshener. 1 gram approx 1,500 seeds Av 1 gram pkt
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Mignonette
Biennial/perennial Reseda lutea - Wild Mignonette, Yellow Mignonette Flowers from June to August. The herb is no longer used today but was once thought to bring the body into balance and had a calming effect. The flower attracts bees and is used by beekeepers. Sow seed in situ in spring and lightly cover, grow in neutral to alkaline soil in full sun to semi shade. 1 gram approx 1,300 seeds
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Milk Thistle
Biennial Silybum marianum - Blessed Milk Thistle, Kanger, Thistle Lady's Ornamental herb / Wild Flower. Once used as a vegetable, roots, leaves, stems and flower buds used for salads, artichoke and spinach substitute, stema used young raw or cooked used like rhubarb or asparagus. Seed roasted for a coffee substitute. Medicinal has many uses, used for liver and gall bladder complaints. Sow early spring (for annual) in situ or summer to autumn and it will flower following year (biennial). Position in full sun. £1.45 Av 30 seeds
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Water
Mint Perennial Mentha aquatica - Water Mint Hgt 15- 90cm Flowers July to October Pinkish lilac flowered, strong scented, of the mint family. Herb used for medicinal and culinary uses. Habitat Watersides, marshes, wet woods and rivers. Av 1,000 seeds
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Monkshood CAUTION Toxic if Eaten Perennial Acontium napellus - Aconite, Wolfsbane, Wolfbane, Wolfs Bane, Wolfs Hat, Leopards bane Hgt 1.5m Flowers June to August Monkshood habitat shady stream banks, woodland and dappled shade. Extremely poisonous. A medicinal herb and should only be used under the guidance of the medical trade. Magical powers of invisibility and protection. Monkshood grows in almost any soil in semi shade, takes up to 3 years to flower. Sow early spring in cold frame unheated glasshouse, stratification (cold treatment) of seed for 3-4 weeks aids germination. £1.60 Av 50 seeds
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| Mullein
Great or Aaron's-Rod
Biennial Verbascum thapsus Hgt 80 - 200cm Flowers June to September Origin Norfolk. Yellow flowers appear in the second year in early summer. A tea can be made from the dried leaves, also a medicinal herb. Prefers a sunny site dislike shade and wet soil. Habitat grassy banks, dry open and waste ground. 1 gram approx 10,000 seeds Av 1 gram pkt
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| Mustard Black see
Black Mustard
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| Nettle
Common Perennial Urtica dioica - Common Nettle, Stinging Nettle, Native British Seed Hgt 50-150cm Flowers June to September A very under rated and useful plant for culinary, medicinal, dyestuff, fibre, oil and liquid plant food. The leaves have small hairs that sting causing irritation to the skin. The stinging is neutralised by either drying or cooking, they are then safe to use as an edible plant. This plant is an excellent attractor to wildlife and provides nutritious food. The sting can be relieved by rubbing the effected area with dock leaves. The plant was used in manufacturing cloth from as early as the Bronze age. Culinary the leaves are used young, being picked before June, cooked and can be used as a vegetable like spinach, and added to soups and stews. Young shoots are used to make nettle beer and dried leaves as a herbal tea. A medicinal herb used for treating anemia, stemming internal bleeding, skin and hair problems. It is grown commercially for chlorophyll obtained from the leaves and stems. Sow seed in a cold frame in spring. Position plants in nitrogen rich fertile soil in full sun to partial shade. 1 gram approx 7,000 seeds £1.35 Av 1 gram pkt
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| Nettle
Small Annual Urtica urens Hgt 60+cm Flowers May to October Wild flower/Herb Native British Burning Nettle A very under rated and useful plant for culinary, medicinal, dyestuff, fibre, oil and liquid plant food. The leaves have small hairs that sting causing irritation to the skin. The stinging is neutralised by either drying or cooking, they are then safe to use as an edible plant. This plant is an excellent attractor to wildlife. The sting can be relieved by rubbing the effected area with dock leaves. The plant was used in manufacturing cloth from as early as the Bronze age. Culinary the leaves are used young, being picked before June, cooked and can be used as a vegetable like spinach, and added to soups and stews. Young shoots are used to make nettle beer. A medicinal herb used for treating anaemia, bites, stings, burns and stemming internal bleeding, also used for scalp and hair problems. A green dye is obtained from the leaves and stems. Sow seed in a cold frame in spring just covering the seed. Position plants in nitrogen rich fertile soil in full sun. 1 gram approx 2,500 seeds £1.35 Av 1 gram pkt
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| Night Flowering
Catchfly annual Silene noctiflora Flowers July to August. Hgt up to 50cm White to rosy-pink flowers that open at around dusk, they release a clover like fragrance that fills the air around the plant attracting the wildlife. A wildflower of arable land. 1 gram approx 1,000 seeds
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Nipplewort Hardy annual Lapsana communis Hgt up to 150cm Flowers June to August Native of wood edges, hedges, waste ground, walls and cultivated ground. The flower heads are made up of lemon-yellow ray florets. The young leaves can be used in salads or cooked like spinach and used in soups, when used in the young leaf stage is best as a cut and come again crop. Grows in full sun to semi shade. Sow during spring where they are to grow lightly cover seed. Av 350 seeds
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| Old Mans Beard
see Travellers Joy
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Orchid
Bee Orchid Ophrys apifera Hgt 50cm Seed Origin Somerset. Short lived perennial flowering from May to late June or early July. Flowers resemble a bumblebee. Habitat grassland, road verges, waste ground, gravel pits, undisturbed ground and sand dunes. Caution seed is like dust. Sowing info - The easiest way to sow the seed is to sow it onto disturbed or bare ground from early summer until mid autumn and let nature do the work, if the conditions are suitable for orchids they should start flowering in approx five to eight years. Each pkt contains 2,000 + seeds in a plastic vial.
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Orchid
Common Spotted-Orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii Hgt 20-60cm Seed Origin Somerset. Short lived perennial, dark spotted leaves shaped like spears, with pinkish purple flowers streaked and dotted with crimson on flowering stems. Habitat grassland, open woods, hedge banks, occasionally in untended lawns. Caution seed is like dust. Sowing info - The easiest way to sow the seed is to scatter it into a meadow or suitable habitat and let nature do the work, if the conditions are suitable for orchids they should start flowering in approx 3 years. Each pkt contains 2,000 + seeds in a plastic vial.
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| Oxeye Daisy
see Daisy Oxeye
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| Oxlip
Perennial Primula elatior Hgt 20- 30cm Flowers March to May Whitish yellow petals, prefers light to medium shade. Found in woods and meadows mainly in the Cambridge area. Av 600 seeds
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Cultural information for Individual wild flower species
Sowing time all year round with best results sowing either March to early May, or from August to September, for autumn establishment of most species).
Most wild flowers can
easily be sown in one of two ways:
1/ Broadcast directly onto a carefully prepared, weed free seed bed. Germinate
fine seeds on the surface: lightly rake in larger seeds. After sowing the area
should be firmed to ensure the seed comes into contact with the moisture in
the soil. Water with a fine spray to avoid disturbing the surface of the soil.
Keep the area well watered and free from grass and weeds. As the seedlings
grow some thinning out will be necessary, especially with the more vigorous
species. Use the area as a source of plant material by transplanting to other
beds.
2/ Sow into pots or trays of seed compost, place outdoors or in a sunny room.
cold frame or cool greenhouse. Prick out and pot up into potting compost when
large enough to handle. Pot grown plants develop excellent root systems which
enable them to establish rapidly when planted out in their final position at
the end of the growing season.
Special treatment for wild flower seeds
Scarification :- The germination of some seeds is
greatly improved by rubbing the seeds lightly between two sheets of sandpaper.
this enables the moisture in the soil to penetrate the seed coat.
Species that benefit from this treatment are:- Burnet, Salad; Clovers;
Crane's-bills; Liquorice Wild; Medic Black; Melilots; rock Rose; Restharrows;
Trefoils; Vetches and other members of the pea family.
Stratification :- A number of seeds have to be
subjected to a period of cold during winter before germination takes place in
the spring. You can provide the period of cold by adding the seed to damp sand
and putting it in a plastic bag in the fridge for 6-8 weeks. Or sow them in a
cold frame in the autumn.
Species that benefit from this technique are :- Bellflower clustered, Bluebell,
Burnet-Saxifrage, Carrot Wild, Cowslip, Honeysuckle, Lords & Ladies, Mignonette, Ramsons, oxlip,
Primrose, Violets, Weld and all Sedges.
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