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Which seed should I use?

Whether you wish to create a meadow from scratch or introduce more wildflowers and grasses into your meadow or grassy area, or within your garden lawn, our species lists are here to guide you.

A wildflower meadow with yellow, white, purple flowers in among the grass. The meadow is in Ryewater, Dorset. Image is by Jo Costley.

When selecting seeds, the first things to think about are:

  • soil type
  • fertility levels
  • problem plants and how to manage them.

You can do this by understanding what the species that are already there are telling you about your soil, fertility and its existing species, and/or by carrying out a soil test. If you are wishing to introduce more species to an existing grassland, then knowing what you already have is important so that you can tailor what you introduce to be an appropriate match.

It is best to survey your grassy area over the summer and use our handy ‘plant forensics’ guide to help you understand which species are likely to do well, before purchasing any seed.

We recommend using local seed mixes which you can check against the most appropriate species list below to be sure of a good match. Alternatively, if you know a local meadow with appropriate species, and you can organise either green hay or brush-harvesting, or even hand collecting ripe seed of specific species, this would be even better.

Choosing your species

field full of variety of flowers in pink, yellow purple

To help you on your meadow-making journey, we have made these lists as a starting point for creating or restoring grassland in a typical species-poor or species-moderate grassland scenario.

Please note that these are not definitive lists, and different sites and situations may require a more bespoke approach. If your grassland is outside of the ‘norm’ such as within a national park or AONB – then contact us for a more bespoke guidance on seed-mixes which will reflect the site’s regional distinctiveness.

For example, a pH neutral hay meadow in the south west of England won’t have the same community as a neutral hay meadow in the Lake District . We have also left out species which are very geographically specific. So, if you have an unusual site with potential to support a rare habitat, then contact us for more bespoke list.

These lists divide the species into Groups 1, 2 and 3, in order of their fussiness to levels of fertility and difficulty establishing from seed-introduction.

  • Group 1 – fertility-tolerant and easy to establish from seed
  • Group 2 – moderate fertility, moderate colonisers from seed
  • Group 3 – poor colonisers, sensitive and poor soils only, may need introducing via established plugs

No quantities have been outlined in the lists below because seed providers should be able to provide this detail, or already have this outlined in their meadow-mixes. In general, however, grassland communities will be between 50-80% grass, and those with high fertility will usually settle into a higher percentage content of the grass species.

Species lists for different grassland types

pH Neutral grassland 5-6.5

  • All these grasses can be introduced as seed

    Grasses to introduce (if absent):

      • Yellow Oat-grass – Trisetum flavescens
      • Smooth Meadow-grass – Poa pratensis 
      • Meadow Foxtail – Alopecurus pratensis 
      • Smaller Cat’s-tail – Phleum bertolonii 
    		Grasses (additional) if bare soil:

      • Yorkshire-fog – Holcus lanatus 
      • Red Fescue – Festuca rubra 
      • Crested Dog’s-tail – Cynoscurus cristatus 
      • Common Bent – Agrostis capillaris 
      • Sweet Vernal-grass – Anthoxanthum odoratum 
      • Meadow Barley – Hordeum secalinum 

  • Group 1

    • Black/Common Knapweed – Centaurea nigra 
    • Burnet Saxifrage – Pimpinella saxifrage 
    • Common Birds-foot Trefoil – Lotus corniculatus 
    • Meadow Vetchling – Lathyrus pratensis 
    • Ox-eye Daisy – Leucanthemum vulgare 
    • Rough Hawkbit – Leontodon hispidus 
    • Bulbous Buttercup – Ranunculus bulbosus 
    • Common Cat’s-ear – Hypochaeris radicata 
    • Common Sorrel – Rumex acetosa 
    • Lesser Trefoil – Trifolium dubium 
    • Ribwort Plantain – Plantago lanceolata 
    • Meadow Buttercup – Ranunculus acris 
    • Red Clover (native variety) – Trifolium pratense var pratense 
    • Selfheal – Prunella vulgaris
    • Yarrow – Achillea millifolium 
    • Wild Carrot – Daucus carota 
    • Germander Speedwell – Veronica chamaedrys 
    • Black Medick – Medicago lupilina 

     

  • Group 2

    • Autumn Hawkbit – Scorzoneroides autumnalis 
    • Goat’s-beard – Tragopogon pratensis 
    • Musk Mallow – Malva moschata 
    • Agrimony – Agrimony eupatoria 
    • Cowslip – Primula veris 
    • Lady’s Bedstraw – Gallium verum 
    • Salad Burnet – Poterium sanguisorba 
    • Yellow Rattle – Rhinanthus minor 
    • Bugle – Ajuga reptans 
    • Tufted Vetch – Viccia cracca 
    • Eyebright sp – Euphrasia sp. 
    • Common Milkwort – Polygala vulgaris 
    • Tormentil – Potentilla erecta 
    • Pignut – Conopodium majus 

     

  • Group 3

    • Betony – Stachys officinalis
    • Common Spotted-orchid – Dactylohiza fuchsii (If more alkaline)
    • Bee Orchid – Ophrys apifera 
    • Pyramidal Orchid – Anacamptis pyramidalis (If more alkaline)
    • Dyer’s Greenweed – Genista tinctoria 
    • Wood Anemone – Anemone nemorosa 
    • Field Scabious – Knautia arvensis 

     

Wetter soils/floodplain (neutral pH 5-6.5)

  • All these grasses can be introduced as seed

    Grasses to introduce (if not present):

    • Meadow Foxtail – Alopecurus pratensis 
    • Sweet Vernal-grass  – Anthoxanthum odoratum 
    • Marsh Foxtail – Alopecurus geniculatus 
    • Crested Dog’s-tail – Cynosurus cristatus 
    		Grasses (additional) if bare soil:

    • Creeping Bent – Agrostis stolonifera 
    • Yorkshire-fog – Holcus lanatus 
    • Red Fescue – Festuca rubra agg. 

  • Group 1

    • Ragged Robin – Silene flos-cuculi 
    • Cuckooflower – Cardamine pratensis 
    • Great Burnet – Sanguisorba officinalis 
    • Greater Bird’s-foot Trefoil – Lotus pedunculatus 
    • Common Sorrel – Rumex acetosa 
    • Lesser Trefoil – Trifolium dubium 
    • Angelica – Angelica sylvestris 
    • Ribwort Plantain – Plantago lanceolata 
    • Meadow Buttercup – Ranunculus acris 
    • Red Clover (native variety) – Trifolium pratense var pratense 
    • Common Fleabane – Pulicaria dysenterica 

     

  • Group 2

    • Meadowsweet – Filipendula ulmaria 
    • Marsh/Fen Bedstraw – Gallium uliginosum 
    • Water Mint – Mentha aquatica 
    • Common Bistort – Bistorta officinalis 
    • Common Meadow-rue – Thalictrum flavum 
    • Pepper Saxifrage – Silaum silaus 
    • Sneezewort – Achillea ptarmica 
    • Creeping Jenny – Lysimachia nummularia
    • Water Avens – Geum rivale 
    • Narrow-leaved Water-dropwort – Oenanthe silaifolia 
    • Tufted Vetch – Viccia cracca 
    • Marsh Marigold – Caltha palustris 

     

  • Group 3

    • Devil’s-bit Scabious – Succisa pratensis 
    • Saw-wort – Serratula tinctorium 
    • Betony – Stachys officinalis 
    • Marsh Speedwell – Veronica scutellata 
    • Marsh Valerian – Valeriana dioica 
    • Southern Marsh Orchid – Dactylorhiza praetermissa (where more alkaline)

     

Lowland acidic grassland (pH < 5.5)

  • All these grasses can be introduced as seed

    Grasses to introduce (if absent):

    • Sweet Vernal-grass – Anthoxanthum odoratum 
    • Common Bent – Agrostis capillaris 
    • Red Fescue – Festuca rubra 
    • Sheep’s Fescue – Festuca ovina 
    • Wavy Hair-grass – Deschampsia flexuosa 
    • Squirrel-tail Fescue – Vulpia bromoides 
    		 

    • Early Hair-grass – Aira praecox 
    • Silver Hair-grass – Aira caryophyllea 
    • Heath Grass – Danthonia decumbens 
    • Fine-leaved Sheep’s fescue – Festuca filiformis 
    • Velvet Bent (where damp) – Agrostis canina  
    • Brown Bent – Agrostis vinealis 

  • Group 1

    • Common Bird’s-foot Trefoil – Lotus corniculatus 
    • Rough Hawkbit – Leontodon hispidus 
    • Field Woodrush – Luzula campestris 
    		Where mildly acidic:

    • Common Cat’s-ear – Hypochaeris radicata 
    • Lesser Trefoil – Trifolium dubium 
    • Ribwort Plantain – Plantago lanceolata 
    • Selfheal – Prunella vulgaris 
    • Yarrow – Achillea millifolium 
    • Black Medick – Medicago lupilina 

     

  • Group 2

    • Sheep’s Sorrel – Rumex acetosella 
    • Heather/Ling  – Calluna vulgaris 
    • Heath Bedstraw – Gallium saxatile 
    • Lady’s Bedstraw (on mild acid) – Gallium verum 
    • Lesser Stitchwort – Stellaria graminea 
    • Bell Heather – Erica cinerea
    • Common Bird’s-foot – Ornithopus perpusillus 
    • Common Centaury – Centaurium erythraea 
    • Common Stork’s-bill – Erodium cicutarium 
    • Heath Milkwort – Polygala serpyllfolia 
    • Mouse-ear Hawkweed – Pilosella officinarum 
    • Tormentil – Potentilla erecta 
    • Common Dog-violet – Viola reichenbechiana 
    • Heath Violet – Viola canina 
    • Autumn Hawkbit – Scorzoneroides autumnalis (where mildly acidic)
    • Pignut – Conopodium majus 

     

  • Group 3

    • Betony – Betonica officinalis
    • Devil’s-bit Scabious – Succisa pratensis
    • Heath Spotted-orchid – Dactylorhiza maculata 
    • Wild Thyme – Thymus polytrichus 
    • Blue Fleabane – Erigeron acer 
    • Wood Anemone – Anemone nemorosa 
    • Harebell – Campanula rotundifolia 
    • Heath Speedwell (on anthills) – Veronica officinalis 
    • Field Scabious – Knautia arvensis 
    • Bitter-vetch – Lathyrus linifolius 
    • Lesser Hawkbit – Leontodon saxatilis 
    • Biting Stonecrop – Sedum acre 
    • Lousewort – Pedicularis sylvatica 
    • Saw-wort – Serratula tinctoria 
    • Wood Sage – Teucrium scorodonia 
    • Sheep’s-bit – Jasione montana 

     

Lowland Calcareous pH > 6.5

  • All these grasses can be introduced as seed

    Grasses to introduce (if absent):

    • Upright Brome – Bromopsis erecta 
    • Crested Dog’s-tail – Cynosurus cristatus 
    • Red Fescue – Festuca rubra agg. 
    • Downy Oat-grass – Helictotrichon pubescens 
    • Meadow Oat-grass – Helictotrichon pratense 
    • Yellow Oat-grass – Trisetum flavescens
    • Narrow-leaved Meadow-grass – Poa angustifolia 
    • Quaking-grass – Briza media 
    • Crested Hair-grass – Koeleria macrantha 
    • Yellow Oat-grass – Trisetum flavescens 
    • Sheep’s Fescue – Festuca ovina 

  • Group 1

    • Common Bird’s-foot Trefoil – Lotus corniculatus 
    • Oxeye Daisy – Leucanthemum vulgare 
    • Rough Hawkbit – Leontodon hispidus
    • Kidney Vetch – Anthyllis vulneraria 
    • Chalk Knapweed – Centaurea debeauxii 

    Where mildly alkaline:

    • Bulbous Buttercup – Ranunculus bulbosus 
    • Common Cat’s-ear – Hypochaeris radicata 
    • Common Sorrel – Rumex acetosa 
    • Lesser Trefoil – Trifolium dubium 
    • Ribwort Plantain – Plantago lanceolata 
    • Red Clover (native variety) – Trifolium pratense var pratense 
    • Selfheal – Prunella vulgaris 
    • Yarrow – Achillea millifolium 
    • Germander Speedwell – Veronica chamaedrys
    • Black Medick – Medicago lupilina 

     

  • Group 2

    • Cowslip – Primula veris
    • Autumn Hawkbit – Scorzoneroides autumnalis (where mildly alkaline)
    • Tufted Vetch – Viccia cracca (where mildly alkaline)
    • Dwarf Thistle – Cirsium acaule 
    • Lady’s Bedstraw – Gallium verum 
    • Sainfoin – Onobrychis viciifolia 
    • Salad Burnet – Poterium sanguisorba 
    • Carline Thistle (s-facing) – Carlina vulgaris  
    • Yellow Rattle – Rhinanthus minor 
    • Common Centaury (well-drained) – Centaurium erythraea 
    • Bladder Campion  – Silene vulgaris 
    • Common Stork’s-bill – Erodium cicutarium 
    • Mouse-ear Hawkweed – Pilosella officinarum 
    • Thyme-leaved Sandwort – Arenaria serpyllifolia 
    • Wild Basil (southern UK) – Clinopodium vulgare 
    • Marjoram – Origanum vulgare 
    • Yellow-wort – Blackstonia perfoliate 

     

  • Group 2 or 3

    • Eyebrights – Euphrasia officinalis agg. 
    • Autumn Gentian – Gentianella amarella 
    • English Gentian (only in south and midlands) – Gentianella anglica 
    • Common Milkwort – Polygala vulgaris 
    • Saw-wort – Serratula tinctorium 
    • Squinancywort – Asperula cynanchica 
    • Lesser Hawkbit – Leontodon saxatilis
    • Common Restharrow 
    • Wild Strawberry 

     

  • Group 3

    • Field Scabious – Knautia arvensis  
    • Betony – Stachys officinalis
    • Clustered Bellflower 
    • Common Rock-rose – Helianthemum nummularium 
    • Devil’s-bit Scabious – Succisa pratensis 
    • Common Spotted-orchid – Dactylohiza fuchsii 
    • Pyramidal Orchid – Anacamptis pyramidalis
    • Bee Orchid – Ophrys apifera 
    • Dropwort – Filipendula vulgaris 
    • Fairy Flax – Linum catharticum 
    • Greater Knapweed 
    • Hairy Violet 
    • Harebell – Campanula rotundifolia 
    • Hoary Plantain – Plantago 
    • Horseshoe Vetch 
    • Small Scabious – Scabiosa columbaria 
    • Wild Thyme – Thymus polytrichus 
    • Large Thyme – Thymus pulegioides 
    • Biting Stonecrop – Sedum acre 
    • Bloody Crane’s-bill 
    • Common Milkwort – Polygala vulgaris 
    • Chalk Milkwort 

     

Upland habitats – all those grasslands which are above approximately 250m (sea level). If close to 250m and somewhat sheltered, the above lowland species may also thrive.

Upland calcareous pH > 6.5

  • All these grasses can be introduced as seed

    Grasses to introduce (if absent):

    • Upright Brome – Bromopsis erecta 
    • Crested Dog’s-tail – Cynosurus cristatus 
    • Red Fescue – Festuca rubra agg. 
    • Downy Oat-grass – Helictotrichon pubescens 
    • Meadow Oat-grass – Helictotrichon pratense 
    • Yellow Oat-grass – Trisetum flavescens
    • Narrow-leaved Meadow-grass – Poa angustifolia 
    • Quaking-grass – Briza media 
    • Crested Hair-grass – Koeleria macrantha 
    • Sheep’s Fescue – Festuca ovina 

  • Group 1

    • Common Bird’s-foot Trefoil – Lotus corniculatus 
    • Rough Hawkbit – Leontodon hispidus

     

  • Group 2

     

    • Salad Burnet – Poterium sanguisorba 
    • Carline Thistle (s-facing) – Carlina vulgaris 
    • Mouse-ear Hawkweed – Pilosella officinarum 

     

  • Group 2 or 3

    • Eyebrights – Euphrasia officinalis agg. 
    • Autumn Gentian – Gentianella amarella 
    • Squinancywort – Asperula cynanchica 

     

  • Group 3

    • Common Rock-rose – Helianthemum nummularium 
    • Dropwort – Filipendula vulgaris 
    • Devil’s-bit Scabious – Succisa pratensis 
    • Fairy Flax – Linum catharticum 
    		 

    • Harebell – Campanula rotundifolia 
    • Wild Thyme – Thymus polytrichus 
    • Small Scabious – Scabiosa columbaria 
    • Horseshoe Vetch – Hippocrepis comosa 

     

Upland acid pH < 5.5

  • All these grasses can be introduced as seed

    Grasses to introduce (if absent):

    • Sweet Vernal-grass – Anthoxanthum odoratum 
    • Common Bent – Agrostis capillaris 
    • Sheep’s Fescue – Festuca ovina 
    • Wavy Hair-grass – Deschampsia flexuosa 
    • Yorkshire-fog – Holcus lanatus 
    • Fine-leaved Sheep’s Fescue  – Festuca filiformis  
    • Velvet Bent (where damp) – Agrostis canina 
    • Brown Bent – Agrostis vinealis 
    • Squirrel-tail Fescue – Vulpia bromoides 
    • Early Hair–grass – Aira praecox 
    • Silver Hair-grass – Aira caryophyllea 
    • Heath Grass – Danthonia decumbens 

  • Group 1

    • Common Bird’s-foot Trefoil – Lotus corniculatus 
    • Field Woodrush – Luzula campestris 
    • Rough Hawkbit – Leontodon hispidus

     

  • Group 2

     

    • Sheep’s Sorrel – Rumex acetosella 
    • Heath Bedstraw – Gallium saxatile 
    • Heather/Ling – Calluna vulgaris 
    • Tormentil – Potentilla erecta (group 2 or 3)

     

Upland hay meadows pH neutral 5 – 6.5

  • All these grasses can be introduced as seed

    Grasses to introduce (if absent):

     

    • Yellow Oat-grass – Trisetum flavescens
    • Smooth Meadow-grass – Poa pratensis 
    • Yorkshire-fog – Holcus lanatus 
    • Crested Dog’s-tail – Cynosurus cristatus 
    • Red Fescue – Festuca rubra agg. 
    		 

    • Common Bent – Agrostis capillaris 
    • Sweet Vernal-grass – Anthoxanthum odoratum 
    • Meadow Barley – Hordeum secalinum 

  • Group 1

    • Common Bird’s-foot Trefoil – Lotus corniculatus 
    • Black/common Knapweed – Centaurea nigra 
    • Burnet Saxifrage – Pimpinella saxifrage 
    • Great Burnet – Sanguisorba officinalis 
    • Rough Hawkbit – Leontodon hispidus
    • Ragged Robin – Silene flos-cuculi 
    • Meadow Vetchling – Lathyrus pratensis 
    • Autumn Hawkbit – Scorzoneroides autumnalis (group 1 or 2)

     

  • Group 2

     

    • Bugle – Ajuga reptans 
    • Meadowsweet – Filipendula ulmaria 
    • Lady’s Mantles – Alchemilla sp. 
    • Marsh Marigold – Caltha palustris 
    • Sneezewort – Achillea ptarmica
    • Water Avens – Geum rivale 
    • Common Bistort – Bistorta officinalis 

     

     

  • Group 2 or 3

    • Eyebrights – Euphrasia officinalis agg. 
    • Tormentil – Potentilla erecta
    • Pignut – Conopodium majus 
    • Saw-wort – Serratula tinctorium 
    • Yellow Rattle – Rhinanthus minor 

     

  • Group 3

     

    • Devil’s-bit Scabious – Succisa pratensis 
    • Wood Anemone – Anemone nemorosa 
    		 

    • Wood Crane’s-bill 
    • Meloncholy Thistle – Cirsium heterophyllum  

     

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