Pictorial Meadows

The Pictorial Meadows mixtures are carefully blended seed mixes of native and non-native hardy annuals designed to provide high quality and cost-effective flowering displays. They have been developed following several years of intensive trials by Dr Nigel Dunnett at the University of Sheffield. Unlike other mixes that are available, Pictorial Meadows will flower and provide visual interest over an extremely long period of time (from summer through to late autumn).

They overcome many of the problems that are often associated with creating meadows from seed, such as unreliable germination, short flowering season, untidy appearance and the need to sow on low-fertility soils.

Pictorial Meadows create sumptuous visual effects; they are formulated primarily for their harmonious and impressionistic colour associations rather than attempting to copy the species compositions of meadows that might be found in the wild. They inject drama into large-scale commercial landscapes and create sparkling, complex and intricate pictures at the very smallest of scales. Providing a colourful, wildlife-friendly replacement for mown grass, or more formally in planting beds, or to provide colour between planted shrubs, trees and perennials. The mixtures have been used successfully in urban parks, private gardens, school grounds, play areas, urban highways, verges and roundabouts.

The seed mixtures contain native wild flowers and non-native garden plants, and are a product of more than one country. They are therefore not suitable for conservation mixes for use in rural areas outside garden boundaries.