Kent Wildflower Seeds are redefining the role of wildflowers in modern gardens
Photograph by: Ollie Dixon
Winning a Silver-Gilt medal at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show with their highly ornamental wildflower display, the seed producers (who were first-time RHS exhibitors and the first wildflower nursery to exhibit in the Great Pavilion) set out to share their passion and expertise with a wider audience and illustrate that wildflowers are not only beautiful but can be a productive element of any sized or styled garden.
“Wildflowers can complement even the most formal garden settings, bringing a touch of untamed beauty to a traditional border, vegetable patch, or prairie garden, while providing crucial benefits for wildlife and soil health”, explains Charlotte Denne of Kent Wildflower Seeds. “We felt that it was so important to inspire people by putting beauty and ecology at the forefront of the display and not prioritising one over the other but showing how they can work in tandem to create spaces that work for people and planet.”
Photographs by: Eva Nemeth
Collaborating with garden designer Tabi Jackson Gee to create their RHS display it proved to captivate visitors’ imaginations and echo their message that ecologically focused planting benefits more than just the natural world. “I instantly loved their proposition,” said Jackson Gee, “that wildflowers can and should be treated like any other garden plant. Whether it’s in a kitchen garden where lots of native plants can be used for their nutritional benefits, or in a big extravagant pot showcasing one specimen plant and its sculptural beauty – Charlotte has allowed me the creative space to experiment with a planting palette which is often overlooked in favour of introduced, cultivated and highly bred species.”
Taking inspiration from the firm’s 140-year heritage as agricultural seed merchants Charlotte Denne, who is the 5th generation of the Denne family to enter the business, has created a brand identity that hints to the business’ rich history. Setting a new standard in seed packaging design their product line is crafted from fully-recyclable, recycled and undyed card stocks with a natural finish which embody the family’s commitment to sustainability and passion for native British flowers.
Offering a range of wildflower seed mixtures and single species chosen to help gardeners support biodiversity in their borders and patio pots whilst working in synergy with their existing schemes, the full collection can be found on their website kentwildflowerseeds.co.uk. Follow them on Instagram to see their upcoming installation at RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Festival in July.
