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 Perfect for pollinators RHS Perfect for Pollinators. The RHS Perfect for Pollinators mark is only given to plants that support pollinating insects in gardens. Bees, butterflies, moths, hoverflies and many others visit flowers to feed on nectar and pollen; while doing so they transfer pollen and increase seed set and fruit development. Find out more at: rhs.org.uk/plants To discover further wildflowers for Bees and other insects, simply enter the word "pollinators" into the search box above. Tufted Vetch- Vicia cracca is one of the most showy of all wild meadow plants. The curled flowers appear relatively late in the season and form eye catching patches of purple-blue in hedgerows and meadow grass from the end of June. In the wild, Tufted Vetch is usually found rambling through meadow grass or climbing up a hedgerow. The climbing nature of this plant can be exploited in the wildflower garden to cover unsightly walls or fences and it is particularly well suited to cottage gardens. Tufted Vetch grows well on moist soils and will tolerate full sun or semi- shade. Its seeds are contained in pods that turn black and curl open after ripening, in late summer. Tufted Vetch plants look best grown alongside other summer flowering wildflowers such as Oxeye daisy, Black Knapweed, Greater Knapweed, Small Scabious, and Field Scabious and Birdsfoot trefoil. How to grow Tufted Vetch plants: Tufted Vetch plants can be introduced to their permanent planting positions from late spring through to October. Initially they should be kept well watered, and left to develop for several months. When planting into established grass it is advisable to first cut the areas where the wildflower plants are to be introduced and create a small bare area up to several inches around each planting position, which will reduce initial competition. The foliage will die back and disappear in autumn but quickly reappear the following spring. Given the right conditions Tufted Vetch will develop quickly into flowering sized plants. A few Yellow rattle seeds sown around each plug may also be of benefit in the long term by reducing competition from grasses. Summary: type - perennial, colour - Purple, height - 175 to 200cms, flowers June, July, August, habitat - Semi-Shade (Orchards, Hedgerow, Banks, Open Woodland), Very Acidic Soil (Peats, Heaths), Caterpillar Food Plant, Attracts Butterflies | ||
Printed 23/09/2017 04:56:12
ip5_1 type perennial colour purple height 175 to 200cms flowers june july august habitat semi shade orchards hedgerow banks open woodland very acidic soil peats heaths caterpillar food plant attracts butterflies rhs perfect for pollinators pollinating insects bees butterflies moths hoverflies
