If you want a wild, natural-looking garden where flowers largely look after themselves, there are plenty of species that will drop seed and return year after year. Some are annuals that regenerate from seed; others are perennials that both self-seed and survive from their roots.
For a genuinely self-sustaining wild gardenpoppies, cornflowers, oxeye daisies, foxgloves, red campion, wild carrot, viper’s bugloss, teasel, field scabious, knapweed, honesty and forget-me-nots.
The important thing is not to tidy everything up in autumn. Leave the dead flower heads standing until they have dropped their seeds. Then cut them back later and disturb or rake small patches of soil. Annuals such as poppies and cornflowers particularly benefit from exposed soil in which their fallen seeds can germinate.
You can eventually get a lovely cycle where foxgloves and honesty appear in one place one year and somewhere completely different the next, while the perennial wildflowers gradually establish permanent colonies.
One caution: if you’re creating a UK wildflower garden, I’d favour UK-native species and locally appropriate seed rather than simply buying a generic packet labelled “wildflower mix”, as these often contain ornamental or non-native species.
For a UK garden, these are particularly good choices:
| Wildflower | Type | Self-seeding | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common Poppy | Annual | ★★★★★ | Brilliant red flowers; readily reseeds on disturbed soil |
| Cornflower | Annual | ★★★★★ | Blue flowers; very easy to establish |
| Corn Marigold | Annual | ★★★★★ | Bright yellow; excellent cottage/wildflower look |
| Corncockle | Annual | ★★★★☆ | Tall pink-purple flowers; traditional cornfield flower |
| Oxeye Daisy | Perennial | ★★★★★ | Large white daisies; spreads very readily |
| Foxglove | Biennial | ★★★★★ | Excellent for woodland edges and partial shade |
| Red Campion | Perennial | ★★★★★ | Pink flowers; excellent in semi-shade |
| White Campion | Perennial | ★★★★☆ | White evening flowers; readily self-seeds |
| Wild Teasel | Biennial | ★★★★★ | Architectural seed heads; superb for wildlife |
| Greater Knapweed | Perennial | ★★★★☆ | Purple flowers; very attractive to pollinators |
| Common Knapweed | Perennial | ★★★★☆ | One of the best meadow plants for insects |
| Field Scabious | Perennial | ★★★★☆ | Beautiful lilac-blue flowers |
| Devil’s-bit Scabious | Perennial | ★★★☆☆ | Purple flowers; particularly valuable to insects |
| Yarrow | Perennial | ★★★★☆ | Tough and drought tolerant |
| Selfheal | Perennial | ★★★★☆ | Low-growing purple wildflower |
| Bird’s-foot Trefoil | Perennial | ★★★★☆ | Yellow flowers; valuable butterfly plant |
| Wild Carrot | Biennial | ★★★★★ | Lovely white umbels and readily regenerates |
| Viper’s Bugloss | Biennial | ★★★★★ | Tall blue-purple spikes; exceptional bee plant |
| Musk Mallow | Perennial | ★★★★☆ | Pretty pink flowers; good informal garden plant |
| Meadow Cranesbill | Perennial | ★★★☆☆ | Large blue-purple flowers |
| Betony | Perennial | ★★★☆☆ | Purple flower spikes |
| Ragged Robin | Perennial | ★★★★☆ | Delicate pink flowers; likes damper ground |
| Cowslip | Perennial | ★★★☆☆ | Wonderful spring wildflower |
| Primrose | Perennial | ★★★☆☆ | Excellent for shady areas |
| Honesty | Biennial | ★★★★★ | Purple/white flowers followed by silvery seed pods |
| Forget-me-not | Annual/Biennial | ★★★★★ | Once established, it can appear everywhere |
| Feverfew | Perennial | ★★★★★ | Small daisy-like flowers and an enthusiastic self-seeder |
| Red Valerian | Perennial | ★★★★★ | Extremely willing to seed into walls and cracks |
| Verbascum/Mullein | Biennial | ★★★★★ | Tall yellow flower spikes; impressive wild appearance |
| Evening Primrose | Biennial | ★★★★★ | Yellow flowers opening towards evening |
| Purple Toadflax | Perennial | ★★★★★ | Tall purple spikes and a prolific self-seeder |
