Description
Bees need our help! They are suffering from loss of habitat, loss of wildflower forage, pesticide use and disease. Anything we can do to help them is vital. This seed packet of wildflower seeds for bees has been designed so that it is suitable for any occasion – wedding, promotional event, charity, kid’s party, teacher gift, funeral: unlimited uses. We can also add a company logo if you wish!
Each seed packet is completely recycled and measures 9 x 12 cm. The reverse of the packet details the seeds inside and the sowing instructions. The seeds inside are perfect for bees (and other insects too!) – Lesser Knapweed, Ox-eye Daisy, White Campion and Selfheal. They are also grown in the UK and are native UK species. The seeds are inside in a paper sachet in the packet, no plastic involved in this seed packet at all! Even the glue in the making of the packet is plant-based. There is a choice of recycled manilla or recycled white – please make your selection above.
The seeds are viable for a few years so if you are not using them straightaway they will be OK if stored somewhere cool and dry out of direct sunlight.
By giving these seed packets as gifts, you are helping the environment and our declining bee and butterfly populations – grow the love of Nature and Nature will love you back!
About the Seeds
White Campion
This pretty wildflower is found open wasteground, hedgerows and meadows. It produces a proliferation of white flowers from May to September – great value for money!
Latin name – silene latifolia
Height – 90 cm
Habitat – semi-shade or sun
Perennial
Flowering time – May to October
White Campion is also a popular moth plant, attracting Marbled Coronet, Marbled Clover and Sandy Carpet moths.
Selfheal
Selfheal is low-growing, often found in lawns and grassland, meadows and road verges in the wild, growing in patches of purple. In folk medicine it was thought that Selfheal was good for treating sore throats because its flower head resembles a throat. Also known as All-heal and Carpenter Herb, among many others.
Latin name – prunella vulgaris
Height – 20 – 30 cm
Flowering time – June to October
Perennial
Habitat – sunny
Particular bees that love Selfheal – bumblebees and honeybees.
Lesser Knapweed
Hardy perennial and member of the Daisy family, found on cliffs and grassland. It has deep-pink, many-petalled flowers opening out from a hard bud. Grows to 65 cm (25.5 in). It is tolerant of coastal conditions and fairly drought-resistant. Flowers all summer.
Bees are very attracted to Lesser Knapweed! The plant attracts butterflies – particularly Tortoiseshell and Painted Ladies, Satyr Pug, Silver Y and Lime Speck Pug moths, and birds like the seeds. Other butterflies – Comma, Silver Washed fritillary, Marbled White, Meadow brown, Ringlet, Small Skipper, Essex Skipper, Silver Spotted Skipper, Chalkhill Blue, Adonis, Brimstone.So, all in all, a very useful plant for pollinators!
In folklore it is claimed that if a maiden picks a flower, removes the expanded florets and places the flowerhead inside her blouse for an hour, if the unexpanded florets have blossomed when the plant is removed then she will soon see the man she is to marry.
Was used in medieval times to treat vaginal bleeding and cancer. Lesser Knapweed root can be made into an ointment to treat cuts and bruises. Please note – this is for info only, always consult a qualified herbal practitioner before using!
Latin name – centaurea nigra
Height – 65 cm
Perennial
Habitat – sunny
Flowering time – May to September
Ox-eye Daisy
As the name suggests, this wildflower has yellow and white daisy flowers – but these are bigger than your common lawn daisy! Very common on roadside verges, meadows and grassland. Another prolific self-seeder, if you leave the flowerheads on after flowering is over, you will have Ox-eye Daisies everywhere the following year! Hoverflies and beetles also particularly love Ox-eye Daisies!
Latin name – leucanthemum vulgare
Height – 60 cm
Perennial
Habitat – sunny
Flowering time – May to September
Particular bees that like Ox-eye Daisy – short-tongued bumblebees, solitary bees (such as mining bees – Andrena, Colletes and Halictus species) and some small black stem-nesting bees, such as Hylaeus species
