The Importance of Native Seeds

Cruydt-Hoeck reinforces the use of native seeds and proper management of wildflower areas

Jojanneke Bijkerk & Cynthya Russchen, Cruydt-Hoeck

Insects have a hard time these recent decades, through loss of habitat, use of pesticides and climate change. Fortunately, there’s an increasing awareness for the role insects play in ecosystems as well as a growing understanding of the importance of biodiversity for a healthy production and living environment. That’s why native seed mixtures are growing in popularity, also by agriculturists. There are a lot of mixtures on the market, but not every seed mix has the desired effect to help restore biodiversity.

There is a large offer of seed mixtures to be found online. A large part of these mixtures consists of non-native seeds: non-native to Europe, often also non-native to your own region or so called “native seeds” but in fact originated from Eastern Europe or much farther away. These non-native mixtures are often cheaper, but colourful. Less critical insects such as some common species of bumblebees and butterflies find nectar and pollen in these plants.

But a very large group of more critical insects are specifically dependent on many different species of native plants of local origin. So, to help restore biodiversity we need a multi-species native plant environment.

Local native plants and insects depend on each other

Native plants and native insects are sharing a history of many thousands of years. In this time, they co-evolved and are often interdependent on each other. Many insects are dependent on one specific plant or a group of plants for survival. For example, the caterpillars of the small copper live only on sheep’s sorrel and common sorrel. These plants are essential for their survival. Some wild bees are real specialists and feed their young pollen from one specific plant or a selected group of plants. For this reason it is important that native plants are growing and blooming in their territory. Also, think of the many hundreds of species of moths that need all these many species of native plants as hosts. Birds and other predators are dependent on the abundance of insects like moths and their caterpillars to feed their offspring. In this respect it is also of value that the native seeds are from your own region and not from far away and from different climate zones.

The role of insects in agriculture

Pollinators are essential for our own communities. One of the most important role of insects in nature is the pollination of plants. A lot of the crops we eat are pollinated by insects like wild bees. So, insects do agriculturists a great favour. With a native flower meadow or strip (preferably wide), these useful insects can be attracted and supported, so that they can pollinate the crops. Remember, insects require bed and breakfast, so besides lots of plants they need a place to live as well. But this is not the only help insects provide to agriculture. Insects that are attracted by the native flowers are also useful as a natural pest control, therefore native flowers can also be financially interesting. Farmers from the Waadrâne area (the Netherlands), who participated in the BEESPOKE project, experienced much less infestation of aphids when a flower strip was present.

The right choice of flowers

There are several native seeds mixtures on the market. Please ask for advice on the best mix for your location from your local native seed producer. If you wish a permanent flower meadow/strip, please choose a seed mix with perennial species. The advantage of a permanent meadow is that you don’t have to sow every year and that there is a continuous source of nectar and pollen and shelter that benefit pollinators.

Please pay attention to the soil type and quality as this has a big impact on the quality and durability of a meadow or flower strip. Several native plant species are specialized on relatively nutrient-poor soil, while other species can grow on a disturbed ground (annuals and bi-annuals mostly). Apart from soil type and quality other factors may also have great influence on the establishment, development and endurance of a flower mix. The amount of sunlight, the acidity and the moist content are of great influence. Most flowers that are particular for meadows require lots of sunlight. The acidity may be particular in a specific region. So, make sure the flowers are from this region as well. Some plants may grow very well on very dry soils, like viper’s bugloss, while others prefer a moist or wet soil, usually tall species like meadowsweet and hemp agrimony. When soils are very wet, they are usually less useful for arable crops. So most arable soils are sort of dry and better suitable for knapweed, meadow cranesbill, oxeye daisy and common bird’s-foot-trefoil. Always try to select plant species for your mix that suit your area.

Proper management is crucial for long-term success

Without mowing the meadow will change into forest. It is dependent on your soil how much mowing you have to do. If you have an nutrientrich soil than you have to mow two or three times in a year. If you have an nutrient-poor soil than one mowing in September or October is enough. A native seeds nursery in your country can advise you about mowing policy.

Biodiversity restoration is necessary and agriculture plays a huge role in it. But if you invest in biodiversity you will contribute to our society and it also will benefit your farming business.