PRO FLORA 14

Tall herb and tussock mix 

By using species with varying heights and structures we can provide a habitat for a wider range of insects, small mammals, amphibians and reptiles. These taller growing species can also help visually to blend more traditional parkland/meadow mixtures with woodland and natural scrub. Tall Herb grassland provides a vital pollen and nectar source late into the year to sustain invertebrates which in turn provide a food source for birds as do the seeds themselves. Maintenance differs from that of conventional species rich wild flower grassland. Ideally divide the area into three parts and mow one part per year in rotation so as not to lose the essential habitat that has been created. If possible leave the arisings in large piles on site; this very course hay plays an important part in habitat creation, providing egg laying and hibernation sites for reptiles.

Sowing rate: 5g/m2

% COMMON NAME SPECIES HEIGHT (CM) COLOUR PERIOD
  20% WILD FLOWERS         
8 BLACK KNAPWEED CENTAUREA NIGRA 30-80 PURPLE JUNE SEPT
9 COMMON AGRIMONY AGRIMONY EUPATORIA 30-60 YELLOW JULY SEPT
3 COW PARSLEY ANTHRISCUS SYLVESTRIS 40-150 WHITE APRIL JUNE
4 GREATER KNAPWEED CENTAUREA SCABIOSA 50-90 PURPLE JULY AUG
10 HEDGE BEDSTRAW GALIUM MOLLUGO 30-160 WHITE JUNE SEPT
5 LESSER BURDOCK ARCTIUM MINUS 50-150 PURPLE JULY SEPT
0.5 MEADOW CRANESBILL GERANIUM PRATENSE 30-60 BLUE JUNE SEPT
3 MUSK MALLOW MALVA MOSCHATA 20-80 PINK MAY AUG
6 OX-EYE DAISY LEUCANTHEMUM  VULGARE 20-100 WHITE MAY OCT
5 RIBWORT PLANTAIN PLANTAGO LANCEOLATA 5-50 BROWN MAY SEPT
12 RED CAMPION SILENE DIOICA 30-100 RED MAY SEPT
8 SALAD BURNET SANGUISORBA MINOR 30-90 YELLOW MAY AUG
10 SELF HEAL PRUNELLA VULGARIS 5-20 PURPLE JUNE SEPT
6.5 TEASEL DIPSACUS FULLONUM 50-200 PALE PURPLE JUL SEPT
5 WILD CARROT DAUCUS CAROTA 30-100 WHITE JUNE SEPT
5 YARROW ACHILLEA MILLIFOLIUM 20-45 WHITE JUNE OCT
100          
  80% GRASSES        
12 COCKSFOOT DACTYLIS GLOMERATA 15-140 - -
25 CRESTED DOGS TAIL CYNOSURUS CRISTATUS 5-75 - -
10 MEADOW FESCUE FESTUCA PRATENSIS 30-120 - -
3 MEADOW FOXTAIL ALOPECURUS PRATENSIS 30-120 - -
10 SHEEPS FESCUE FESTUCA OVINA 5-60 - -
14 RED FESCUE FESTUCA RUBRA  15-90 - -
8 TALL FESCUE FESTUCA ARUNDINACEA 45-200 - -
5 TALL OAT GRASS ARRHENATHERUM ELATIUS 50-150 - -
10 TIMOTHY PHLEUM PRATENSE 40-150 - -
3 YORKSHIRE FOG HOLCUS LANATUS 20-100 - -
100