Persicaria, hardy geranium, echinacea, narcissus, gaura and more: garden perennials and bulbs that the RHS Plant Finder lists for wildflower meadow planting. Many are young plants in 9 cm pots sold in packs, which suits planting out a larger area, with free tracked delivery to Ireland and 24 more EU countries.
Which plants can go into a wildflower meadow?
The plants here are listed by the RHS Plant Finder for wildflower meadow planting, and the table below shows the hardiness, size and light each one is listed with. They are garden plants, not a native seed mix, and we do not describe them as native or as "true wildflowers" (more on that below).
| Plant | RHS hardiness | Size (height x spread) | Sun | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Persicaria (Persicaria amplexicaulis, P. bistorta 'Superba') | H7 (to about -20 °C) | 0.5 to 2.5 m x 0.5 to 1.5 m, by variety | Full sun; most also partial shade | Flowers summer to autumn; 'Superba' is listed for moist to wet soil |
| Hardy geranium (Geranium sanguineum, G. x cantabrigiense 'Cambridge') | H6 to H7 (to about -15 °C or -20 °C) | 0.1 to 0.5 m x 0.1 to 1 m | Full sun or partial shade | Low, deciduous; flowers spring to summer |
| Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus', 'White Swan') | H5 (to about -10 °C) | 0.5 to 1 m x 0.1 to 0.5 m | Full sun ('White Swan' also partial shade) | Listed for sandy or loam soil; flowers summer to autumn |
| Narcissus ('Tete-a-Tete', N. poeticus var. recurvus, 'February Gold') | H6 (to about -15 °C) | 0.1 to 0.5 m x up to 0.1 m | Full sun or partial shade | Spring flowers; recurvus is listed for moist soil |
| Gaura (Gaura lindheimeri) | H4 (to about -5 °C) | 1 to 1.5 m x 0.5 to 1 m | Full sun | Flowers summer to autumn |
| Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) | H7 (to about -20 °C) | 1.5 to 2.5 m x 0.1 to 0.5 m | Full sun or partial shade | Listed for sandy, loam or clay soil, moist |
Minimum temperatures are the warm end of each RHS band, so they err on the cautious side.
Planting young plants into grass or prepared ground
The RHS advises that sowing seed straight into a lawn is rarely successful. Its lawn-conversion method adds young wildflower plants, bought or raised in pots, directly into the grass, in small groups of the same species. For a seed-sown meadow it starts from bare, weed-free ground.
- Timing: in Ireland, plant in autumn (October to November) or spring (February to April). The RHS gives mid-spring or early autumn for sowing seed and spring for laying wildflower turf.
- Bulbs: the RHS suggests spring-flowering bulbs in grass, planted in autumn, with mowing stopped over them until the leaves die back after flowering.
Poor soil and vigorous grass
The RHS says vigorous grasses overwhelm wildflowers on fertile soil. It recommends no fertiliser, and for new ground either stripping the top layer of soil or growing mustard for a season and removing it before it sets seed. On an existing lawn, fertility falls gradually if you stop feeding and remove the clippings each time you cut. Where grass is too dominant, it suggests sowing yellow rattle, a semi-parasitic annual that weakens grass.
Cutting and watering
For established perennial meadows the RHS describes a spring cut to about 7.5 cm finished by the end of April, a main summer cut between late June and the end of August, and one or two autumn cuts. Leave cuttings a few days so seed drops, then rake them off. Its first-year mowing advice is written for seed-sown meadows, so treat it as a guide only. It says to water small areas until plants are well rooted, and to rely on rainfall for larger meadows.
What this list does and does not mean
The RHS reserves "wild flower" for native plants and pre-1500 introductions, and suggests names such as "ornamental meadow" for cultivated mixes. These are garden plants, so we make no claim that they are native, of local provenance or true wildflowers, and no wildlife claims beyond what an RHS page states. "Listed for meadow planting" and "tolerates" are not the same as "thrives". Data comes from the RHS Plant Finder and PFAF, checked October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Are these plants native wildflowers?
We make no such claim. The RHS Plant Finder lists them for wildflower meadow planting, but many are cultivated varieties.
Can I plant young plants into an existing lawn?
The RHS describes this as part of converting a lawn to a meadow. If your ground is heavy or light, see plants for clay soil and plants for sandy soil.
When should I plant in Ireland?
Autumn (October to November) or spring (February to April). Water small areas until plants are well rooted.
Which plants suit cutting or a border?
Echinacea and gaura flower from summer into autumn, so see plants for cut flowers, or underplanting for roses and shrubs.