Grow the brightest NATIVE WILDFLOWERS

WHEN IT COMES to adding colour in flower form, many of our own native wildflowers are a complete delight. If the term ‘wildflower’ makes you think of rather small and weedy or difficult plants that aren’t really garden worthy, think again: these plants are all thoroughly deserving of their place in borders, lawns and ponds.

FRITILLARIA MELEAGRIS

The snake’s-head fritillary is well worth establishing in a lawn. Now a rare plant in the wild, its chequerboard flowers in pinks, whites and purples naturalise if allowed to bloom and set seed in spring. H30cm (12in) S8cm (3in)

HYACINTHOIDES NON-SCRIPTA

Compared to the rather washed-out Spanish bluebell often found in gardens (which is threatening to overtake our native species), English bluebells are an ethereal deep blue. Buy from reputable UK wildflower suppliers. H40cm (16in) S8cm (3in)

MECONOPSIS CAMBRICA

For a splash of the purest yellow in a shady border, the Welsh poppy is unbeatable, and is a favourite with bumblebees. Team with red campion (Silene dioica) – typically deep pink rather than red – which self-seeds around. H30cm (12in) S45cm (18in)

AQUILEGIA VULGARIS

The exotic-looking columbine has perfectly exquisite deep blue-purple nodding flowers. It’s so much more refined in its simplicity than the cultivars, and deserves a place in any semi-shady border, where bees will clamour to visit. H1m (3ft 3in) S45cm (18in)

CALTHA PALUSTRIS

In a pond, marsh marigolds are covered with the most brazen large buttercup flowers in spring. Suitable for even the smallest ponds, this cheerful plant is also great for early solitary bees. It dies right back in autumn. H40cm (16in) S45cm (18in)