09/06/2026
Ever wondered what’s coming up in your wildflower meadow before it flowers?
One of the trickiest parts of growing a meadow is identifying what’s actually there when everything is still green. Whilst it’s tempting to think you’ll have to wait until the blooms appear, many wildflowers can be identified much earlier by their leaves.
Poppies, for example, have distinctive jagged, spiky-looking foliage, whilst corn chamomile has soft, feathery leaves that almost resemble a fern. Harebell is an interesting one to spot because it produces two different leaf shapes on the same plant - a basal leaf close to the ground and a different leaf higher up the stem. Yarrow can also be recognised early thanks to its finely divided, dark green foliage.
Learning to identify species at this stage can help you understand how your meadow is developing, what is thriving, and give you plenty to get excited about before the flowers arrive.
Stay tuned for Part 2, where we’ll be sharing even more wildflowers and how to recognise them before they bloom.
Has this helped? We’d love to know what you’ve spotted emerging in your meadow this year - let us know in the comments below. 👇 🥰🌿
