"Rupert (W.Yorkshire)" wrote
"K" wrote
Not everyone reading this thread is familiar with the wild flora,
and they might be a bit narked, if they want wild as in UK native, to
find that some of the plants they have planted aren't actually UK
natives. If they're just after the wild look, then, eg, V bonariensis
fits the bill.

(1) Vervain is Verbena officinalis

I too was wondering what on the list was native. I have never seen
fields of V.bonariensis but it would be a spectacular sight :-)

If I didn't weed out all the seedlings it produces in the gravely,
sandy stuff that passes itself off as soil in my front garden I *would*
have a field of it! With the recent mild winters V.b. surprised me by
turning into a bit of a nuisance there, but I still forgive it once it
flowers and attracts passing butterflies.

Re natives for wild areas, blue Meadow Cranesbill (Geranium pratense)
and tall, yellow Dark Mullein (Verbascum nigrum) make a colourful
addition in sunnier areas, together with Toadflax (Linaria vulgaris)
which is good for it's later flowering.

In a shadier place I'd also try Helleborus foetidus as I like the
greenish flowers and distinctive foliage, and native foxgloves
practically go without saying. Snowdrops I believe are thought not to be
genuine original Brits but they do look the part and are so widely
naturalised that I've put those in for the Spring under the shade of our
birch trees.

--
Sue