Lilly Spring Onion Seeds
£2.99 - £4.99
🌱 Wild Rattle (Seeds) - UH-C0827
£1.99 - £2.5
A key wildflower for creating natural meadows, Wild Rattle (Yellow Rattle) helps reduce grass vigour, allowing wildflowers to thrive. A must-have for biodiversity gardens and naturalistic planting.
Seed Quantity:
Seed Information
- Plant Type Wildflower / Annual
- Organic No
- Growing Difficulty Moderate (needs specific conditions for germination)
- Germination Time 4–8 weeks (requires cold stratification over winter)
- Best Season To Grow Sow in Autumn (requires winter chill to germinate)
- SunLight Needs Full Sun to Light Shade
- Water Requirements Low to Medium
- Height Of Maturity 25–50 CM
- None GMO Yes
- UK Native Yes (native wildflower)
- Bloom Time Late Spring to Mid Summer
Wild Rattle, also known as Yellow Rattle (Rhinanthus minor), is a semi-parasitic wildflower that plays an important role in establishing and maintaining species-rich wildflower meadows. By gently suppressing the growth of coarse grasses, it creates space and light for other wildflowers to flourish.
With cheerful yellow, bell-shaped flowers and attractive seed pods that rattle in the wind (giving the plant its name), it’s both functional and beautiful. It is an annual that must be sown in autumn or early winter as the seeds require cold stratification to germinate in spring.
Ideal for sowing into existing grassland or prepared meadow areas, Wild Rattle encourages biodiversity by supporting a wide range of pollinators and beneficial insects.
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Type: Hardy annual wildflower
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Flower Colour: Bright yellow
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Height: 20–50 cm
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Sowing Time: August–December (requires cold period)
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Flowering Time: May–July
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Spacing: Scatter sow into grass or meadow areas
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Best For: Meadows, biodiversity gardens, wildlife-friendly planting
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Pollinator Friendly: Yes
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Additional Benefit: Suppresses grass to improve wildflower diversity
Wild Rattle is an essential component of any wildflower meadow mix—perfect for gardeners, conservation projects, and rewilding enthusiasts aiming to create spaces rich in colour and life.
🌿 Growing & Care Guide
🌱 Wild Rattle / Yellow Rattle (Rhinanthus minor) Seeds – Grow & Care Guide
A Valuable Wildflower for Natural Meadows & Biodiversity
Yellow Rattle is an annual wildflower and natural meadow manager — it suppresses grass growth by semi-parasitising grass roots, creating space for wildflowers to thrive. Its distinctive yellow blooms and papery seed pods "rattle" in the wind — a sure sign of a healthy, diverse wildflower patch.
🛒 What You’ll Need:
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Yellow Rattle (Rhinanthus minor) seeds
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Existing grassland, meadow, or prepared wildflower area
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Rake or scarifier
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Watering can (optional if dry autumn)
🌿 Growing & Care Instructions
1. Key Tip
Yellow Rattle seeds require cold (vernalisation) to germinate — best sown in autumn (Aug–Nov) so they overwinter naturally.
2. Site Preparation
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Choose an existing grassland or wildflower area.
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Mow very short (<5cm) and remove clippings.
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Scarify/rake patches of bare soil so seed can contact earth.
3. Sowing (Aug–Nov)
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Scatter seeds onto soil surface — do not cover.
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Firm lightly (walk over or pat gently) to ensure contact.
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No watering required unless very dry — nature will provide winter cold.
4. Germination
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Seeds germinate in early spring after natural chilling.
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Young plants flower May–July in their first year.
5. Growing On
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Mow meadow in late July/August once plants have seeded and dried.
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Leave cuttings for a few days so seeds fall, then remove.
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Repeat annually to establish self-seeding Yellow Rattle in your meadow.
6. Notes
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Annual — must be allowed to seed each year to maintain population.
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Weakens grass and promotes wildflower diversity over time.
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Safe for bees, butterflies, and meadow insects.
The key to unlocking a rich wildflower meadow — Yellow Rattle is the meadow-maker’s best friend!
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