Yellow Rattle Plants (Rhinanthus minor)
Yellow or Hay Rattle is an unusual species in that it is a semi-parasitic plant. If it takes, it can weaken the grass that is there as it needs grass to survive. This can really help to open up an existing meadow and allow the wildflower population to thrive.
Generally Yellow Rattle is sown from seed. It needs the winter vernalisation period to break its dormancy, so we recommend that it is planted as seed in the autumn or by the end of January. Each year we produce a quantity of Yellow Rattle plug plants which are available in April. Plant at around 10 per square metre. If budget is a constraint then you can introduce them to just part of the meadow.
