While much of our focus here at Wildflower Turf Ltd tends to be a little closer to home, there are many amazing wildflower experiences to be had much further afield. Join us on a globe-hopping, quick-stop tour of the best places in the world to get your wildflower fix.
Kyrgyzstan
We’ll begin our whistlestop tour in the unlikely central Asian country of Kyrgyzstan, which has an incredibly rich flora, scattered across a very wide range of habitats. The climate is harsh and continental and everything in a particular place tends to flower at once. The best time to visit is in July and August and there are plenty of breathtaking wildflower walking trails to keep you occupied and enthralled.
Western Cape, South Africa
South Africa’s Western Cape spoils us with its extraordinary flora and the specific geographical conditions mean that many plants are unique to the area. As well as numerous national parks there are also scenic drives known as “flower routes” where you can enjoy the scenery from the comfort of your car. The best time to visit is mid-August to late September.
Western Australia
Staying in the southern hemisphere, our next stop is Western Australia, famed for its desert ephemerals and impressive heathlands. With incredible species diversity, local wildflowers include Orange Banksia, multi-hued Verticordia, violet and silver Dampiera. Head either south or north of Perth, between September and the end of November. Or take a visit to Kings Park and Botanic Garden in Perth itself to get a feel for the over-the-top species that thrive down-under.
Mexico
Mexico’s topography and climatic conditions vary enormously and, as a consequence, you can find a huge diversity of species. In November, after summer rain and autumn sunshine, the roadsides are ablaze with billowing masses of wildflowers.
Transylvania, Romania
The incredible biodiversity of this region’s landscapes has been celebrated by King Charles’s recreation of Transylvanian hay meadows at Highgrove. In Transylvania, you will encounter traditional meadows, forest margins and woodland flora.
Unsurprisingly (and quite sadly), the UK doesn’t make the A-List, with 97% of our wildflower meadows lost since the 1930’s. However, there ARE some great places to visit within our own country – no visa or passport required!
The Guardian published an excellent guide in May of this year, outlining some of the best meadows and gardens to visit here on our home turf. You can view the article here, and it’s a good one to keep on file. In particular, we have a soft spot for RHS Wisley, notably as Wisley’s award-winning wildlife garden (designed by Ann-Marie Powell) was supplied by us!
FURTHER READING: Wildfl ower Wonders by Bob Gibbons (Bloomsbury, 2014) is a great starting point if you want to discover more about the best places in the world to see plants growing in the wild.