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When it comes to getting anything to grow on clay soil, you might have given up - but not all hope is lost, as plenty of wildflowers can thrive on clay soil and produce beautiful blooms! So, rather than fight it, you can go for a colourful solution that saves you spending hours trying to figure out what to do with your troublesome soil.
Clay soil has its advantages – it is packed full of nutrients and excellent at keeping your wildflowers well supplied with moisture. However, it takes some special seeds to make use of everything that clay soil offers because it will become bogged down and waterlogged in winter and baked solid and start to crack in summer.
We have gone through the trouble of carefully selecting all the best wildflowers for clay soil and putting them into our Clay Display wildflower seed mix, giving you a beautiful display while providing a solution to your clay conundrum – don’t just take our word for it, let’s meet the flowers you will see popping up in your garden!
10 Wildflowers for clay soil
1. Corn Poppy
Folklore
fact: Poppies are needed to make morphine.
When
does it bloom: June – August
Corn poppies are easily recognised across the UK, and there is no doubt that their bright red petals will add a burst of colour to anywhere they are grown! Whatever meaning the poppy has to you, it will always have a special place in the heart of bees and pollinators – holding a prime position on the RHS Plants for Pollinators list, they are perfect for adding a buzz to your garden.
2. Corn Marigold
Folklore
fact: They built up quite a reputation by adding a golden
shade to cornfields in late summer.
When
does it bloom: June – October
The bright yellow daisy-like flowers on a corn marigold make for the perfect addition to any wildflower meadow by adding a rich, golden glow. When this annual has fully grown, you can expect its bright petals to act as a beacon to any travelling bees and pollinators, making sure they stop by, as the opportunity will be too good to pass up!
3. Oxeye Daisy
Folklore
fact: If cows eat them, it can change the taste of their
milk.
When
does it bloom: May – September
The flat white of the wildflower world, its petals act as a landing pad for bees to enjoy its nectar. The oxeye daisy is the first perennial to make the list, meaning it will become a familiar face in your garden yearly. When sown as part of a mixture, oxeye daisies will be one of the first to bloom – think of the daisy chains you can make while you wait for the rest of your wildflowers to shoot up!
4. Red Clover
Folklore
fact: Used in medicine to help treat respiratory issues.
When
does it bloom: May – September
Red clover is a perennial perfectly suited for growing in clay soil as it thrives in well-drained, poor soil conditions. Red clover plays host to breeding butterflies that use the prickly pink petals to lay their eggs, and being a low-growing species, it makes a perfect addition to a wildflower meadow for feeding bees and insects that don’t quite feel like moving too far off the ground.
5. Ragged Robin
Folklore
fact: It is believed to have magical powers and is used
as a symbol of knowledge.
When
does it bloom: May – June
Ragged robins are perennial wildflowers that take their name from their petals with a ragged pink look, making them easily identifiable in any wildflower meadow. Thriving in wet areas, the ragged robin is an ideal wildflower for tackling the boggy conditions brought about by your clay soil. Before shooting out its petals, this wildflower will have your meadow looking like its growing giant pink jellybeans thanks to its stem that swells around the flower – don’t be tempted to eat them!
6. Yarrow
Folklore
fact: Used as a charm against bad luck and to stop
wounds from bleeding.
When
does it bloom: June – November
While it can be used to treat bleeding of minor wounds, we think you will agree that its better use is being a stunning addition to any wildflower meadow it is sown in! This aromatic perennial likes to grow in clusters, spreading not only its stunning looks across your meadow but also adding a sweet scent throughout it that attracts bees and pollinators.
7. Tufted Vetch
Folklore
fact: A member of the pea family (legumes), and their
leaves look like very small peapods.
When
does it bloom: June - August
The little suction cup petals of the tufted vetch do anything but suck the life out of your wildflower meadow! This perennial is a scrambling plant, meaning its purple petals shoot up along the stem, growing tiny peapods inside them that turn black and release new seedlings when they are ripe. Even though we can’t enjoy eating peas from the tufted vetch, it doesn’t stop bees and pollinators from snacking on its pollen.
8. Greater Burnet
Folklore
fact: Nicknamed ‘Salad Burnet’ and can be used in
recipes.
When
does it bloom: May – September
The egg-shaped, crimson flower heads of the greater burnet mean this wildflower will add a royal look to your wildflower meadow while also looking like a lollipop for all bees and pollinators to enjoy! With its extensive rooting system and ability to grow in flooded areas, this perennial is well equipped to thrive in your clay soil.
9. Wild Carrot
Folklore
fact: The Dutch first developed its famous orange
counterpart in the 17th century.
When
does it bloom: June – September
Wild carrot does indeed smell of carrots, but the roots are not like our dinnertime favourite. This perennial is popular with bees, butterflies, and ladybirds and even visited by finches who are in search of seeds. With petals that grow in clusters the shape of an umbrella, look out for insects hiding under them to take shelter from the rain!
10. Oxeye Sunflower
Folklore fact: Known as the ‘false sunflower’ for being closely related to sunflowers.
When does it bloom: June –
September
The oxeye sunflower brings all the joy
of a regular sunflower to your garden in a fun-sized package. This undemanding
perennial is easy to grow, and its showstopper looks make it the perfect
addition to any wildflower meadow growing in clay soil. Its petals are the
brightest of the bunch, making them stand out from the rest of your field while
attracting bees and other pollinators with their nectar-rich middle. This wildflower
is known for being a particular favourite of the hummingbird, so listen out for
any humming coming from your meadow!
Now you know what you will be growing,
find out how to sow them!