Free Wildflower Seeds

When I first wrote this page, it linked in to a couple of websites offering free wildflower seeds.  However, those offers have since expired, so I now find myself thinking up ways for people to get hold of wildflower seeds for free.  

This time, I'm not going to link into temporary offers, because I only have to go back and sort out broken website links later.  In addition, such offers are seen far less frequently these days. They tend to require a purchase of something else.  So I'm going to approach this topic differently.  Instead, I have put together a list of suggestions of how you can obtain free wildflower seeds for bees and other pollinators. 

You can also check my list of wildflowers loved by different species of bees (as well as other pollinators, of course!).

Why We Need More Wildflowers

Wildflower habitats are crucial to wildlife, but in many countries, these habitats have been drastically reduced. This is bad news for the pollinators that depend upon them.

Why has this happened?  A few reasons, but especially:

• farming and agriculture practice, and 
• building development which has seen housing being built on green belt - I discovered my own home had been built on what was a meadow about 25 years ago.

Whilst I am in favour of seeing more wildflowers around, to an extent, I urge you to have a good think about things before you throw lots of seeds around in your garden:

• Do you know what you are sowing?  Be cautious when using seed mixes - or purchased ones for that matter.
• Be careful not to include non-native, invasive species (not that I am against non-native plants in general - indeed many are very beneficial to pollinators).
• Which kinds of wildflowers can your garden accommodate?
  For example, if you have heavy clay soil, there is no point in trying to sow seeds that only thrive in dry conditions, and vice versa.  Ensure you match your growing conditions to the wildflowers selected.  Some wildflower mixes comprise species that thrive best in well-drained, nutrient-poor soil.
• Are you sure about how you are going to incorporate wildflowers, and is it the best option for both you and the pollinators in your area?

The final point may seem a strange thing to write.  Mostly, I would assert that wildflowers are always great.  However, sometimes it is better to have a well planned garden with carefully selected flowering shrubs, plants, bulbs and so on.

Finding Wildflower Seeds For Bees And Pollinators, Without Paying Anything!

Here is a list of ideas:

1. If legal in your region, collect them from wildflower verges.  Be sure not to disturb rare species of plant.
   
   
2. Find the owner of a meadow nearby, and ask if they would allow you to collect seeds.
   
   
3. Sometimes, conservation organizations promote wildflowers, and will even give away seeds or sell them for a small price.
   
   
4. If you are seeking seeds for a charitable project or school, you may be able to get a donation from a specialist supplier of wildflower seeds, or at least get a discount.  I have personally instigated this to help a school, so I know there are suppliers who will help.  Look on line to find a supplier, and write them an email.  Don't be offended if they say "no" - try some-one else.  Be sure to use the email address of your school or charity, and explain the project clearly. 
   
   
5. Councils may be able to supply you, especially if you are hoping to convert a large area.  Some councils are keen to promote the planting of wildflowers as part of their schemes to aid pollinators and biodiversity.
   
   
6. Join local gardening and conservation groups - it may be possible to share and swap seeds.
   
   
7. Look out for offers on the internet and on social media.  Sometimes there are free seeds available, or very cheaply.
   
   

Further Tips For Selecting Wildflowers For Your Garden

Take into account the local flora
If you are going to plant wildflowers, take a look around your local area.  If you have major abundance of a particular wildflower, you could think about leaving it out of your garden since it is provided elsewhere, and opt for something else that meets the needs of bees.

For instance, if there is a lot of knapweed and hemp agrimony in your area (including along roadside verges), perhaps choose something else, perhaps something that needs help to extend its range. 

Choose something that works and something you like
I like Rosebay Willowherb, and though very valuable, I felt it could be intrusive in our small garden space.  It is definitely worth thinking about the height and spread of a plant and what will work in your garden space.

Beware of plants that spread rapidly and are difficult to remove!
Bees love dandelions but most gardeners don't want them in the garden.  Personally, these days I allow a few to blossom in spring when there are fewer flowers around, but remove any I don't want later in the year.
I previously experimented with hedge woundwort in my garden too, but decided I wasn't keen on the smell of it, and it spreads rapidly via seeds and underground rhizomes.  It has been very difficult to get rid of.

Good choices
In terms of wildflower seeds you may easily acquire for free, in my view, ox-eye daisies, corn cockle, cornflower and poppies are a good choice and work well in most gardens. 

Foxgloves are excellent too, and I have these in my garden, but I believe they are toxic for humans and so they might not suitable if you have young children.

In smaller gardens especially, sometimes it's better to be very selective in your choice of wildflower, and how you use them.  The garden has to work for you as well as the bees - and this is perfectly possible.

A personal experience

Having tried initially to convert our small lawn into a wildflower patch (mini-meadow) a few years ago, I changed my mind about how to manage my garden.

I had persevered with trying to create a sustainable, long-flowering mini-meadow for a couple of years, but it didn't really work as I had hoped, and to be perfectly honest, we did not enjoy the garden, nor did we attract many pollinators. 

Furthermore, we wanted to grow a few food crops: raspberries, plums, sometimes beans and courgettes, and I was keen to install a greenhouse for growing tomatoes.

In short, it seemed neither we nor the bees really got the benefit from our patch of land, so I made changes.  I now have flower borders, and have choice wildflowers incorporated into them, among carefully selected plants for bees.  This works better for me - and the bees, and I now get a greater variety of bee species than before! 

Lawn area
I now keep the grass cut short, apart from areas of clover, daisies, buttercup,  Welsh violets, and selfheal, plus a few spring bulbs (crocus and snowdrops) and dandelions in spring.

Borders and flower patches
Below is an image of a small patch of garden behind my greenhouse.  It is great for pollinators, having Jacob's ladder, lamb's ear, toad flax and campanula. 

In terms of wild flowers, it also had hedge woundwort (which I later abandoned), wild Acquilegia, and fox gloves.  

Elsewhere I have poppies and daisies.

Since I made all the changes, over time, I was able to attract hairy footed flower bees, wool carder bees, mason bees, chocolate mining bees and leaf cutters, as well as a good variety of bumble bee species and the honey bee. 

Update:  I now have a page about planning a bee garden, with a free, printable PDF download.

Good luck with your wildflowers!

More articles about bees and plants

• Bees And Brambles: The Value Of Brambles To Bees Also known as blackberry bush, research shows each bramble flower secretes lots of nectar for bees!
  
  
• Bees And Bee Balm Bee Balm (Monarda) - also known as 'Bergamot) is a herbaceous perennial which is attractive for bees.
  
  
• 30 Fantastic Garden Flowers For Bees Flowering plant recommendations for the perfect bee garden.
  
  
• Bees love lupins – but so do slugs and snails, so what can you do? Here's a way to protect your lupins....using garlic!
  
  
• Plant Oregano For Bees (Marjoram) It's rich in nectar, and attracts bees, butterflies and hoverflies in summer. Here's how to plant it.
  
  
• Fennel Pollen And Nectar Bees love fennel! How to grow it, gather it, and the many uses of fennel seeds and pollen.

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