Rhinanthus minor - Yellow Rattle 10g

Yellow Rattle: N, P, B/S/H, May-July

NATIVE ANNUAL WILDFLOWER growing to 0.5m (20inches). Hardy to zone 6, flowering during June, it prefers grassland without aggressive or tussocky grasses (such as rye, oat-grass, couch) – and which is grazed or cut sometimes. Wildflower meadow mix (with its finer grasses) is most suitable for sowing this into, as is finer lawn grass. If you wish to use Yellow Rattle for its well-known parasitizing of the roots of other meadow plants, especially grasses and legumes, it will in time over a couple of years or more, kill off many grasses, and die off itself in winter, making way for other wildflowers. In farming, it was considered a serious pest as it could reduce a hay meadow by as much as 50%. However, it has much charm and usefulness, becoming known for semi-clearing of lawns to make way for sowing wildflowers into; this is a long-winded way to create a wildflower meadow, but makes it possible without any machinery (if the lawn grass in not aggressive). Pollinated by bees. Produces POLLEN & NECTAR. SEEDS 10g/£4.05
Must be sown between August and December as the seed needs winter chilling to break its dormancy. Will germinate the following February. Sowing rate: 1g/1 m2.
 

Photo: Emorsgate