How We Harvest Native Irish Wildflower Seeds

We are deep in the heart of the harvest here at Connecting to Nature. Every day, Patrick and Thomas take to the the fields, watching closely as our native Irish wildflowers reach their peak. A few fleeting days of sunshine gave us ideal conditions to begin seed collection, but now it’s a battle against the weather. Timing is everything — wait too long and delicate seed heads can be lost to wind and wet, reducing yields. The team is constantly calculating, making the most of every break in the weather to bring the harvest in. It’s a careful, high-stakes process — but also a hopeful one, as every seed gathered is a promise of more wild beauty to come.

Among the first to be brought in by hand are Sorrel, Red Campion, and Rough Hawksbit. Meanwhile, our faithful 50-year-old combine has just gathered in this year’s crop of Plantain. Each of these plants carries not just ecological value, but a rich cultural and healing history too – especially within Celtic herbalism and Irish folklore.

Sorrel (Rumex acetosa)
With its bright green, arrow-shaped leaves and sharp, lemony taste, sorrel has long been cherished in Irish cooking and folk medicine. In Celtic tradition, it was seen as a cleansing herb – used in spring tonics to purify the blood and awaken the body after winter. It’s also a valuable plant for pollinators and a natural part of many traditional meadow ecosystems.

Red Campion (Silene dioica)
Vibrant pink-red and often found in the dappled edges of ancient woodlands and meadows, Red Campion is a favourite of bees and moths. In Irish folklore, the flower was believed to protect the fae and guard sacred spaces. Its seeds and roots were sometimes used in traditional herbal remedies as a gentle cleanser, although it was more often valued for its spiritual than medicinal uses.

Rough Hawksbit (Leontodon hispidus)
A cheerful yellow wildflower that resembles a smaller, wilder dandelion, rough hawksbit was said to give strength to those who walked long journeys. In herbal tradition, it was sometimes used for digestive complaints. Ecologically, it’s a nectar-rich plant that plays an important role in supporting pollinators, especially in late summer.

Plantain (Plantago lanceolata)
One of the most powerful and resilient native herbs, ribwort plantain was once called “Slánlus” in Irish – meaning ‘healing herb’. Used widely in traditional herbal medicine to treat wounds, bites, and infections, it’s a plant of endurance and quiet strength. In folklore, it was said to grow wherever footsteps fell – a symbol of both protection and perseverance.

Looking Ahead

And there’s more to come. Over the coming weeks, we’ll begin harvesting Ox-eye Daisy, Wild Carrot, Yarrow, and other native wildflowers. Each crop is carefully monitored to ensure we collect the seed at just the right moment – when the plants have fully matured and the seeds are ready to drop. 

Once the seed is harvested from the meadow, it’s carefully transported to our seed sheds at HQ. There, it goes through an initial clean to remove any loose chaff or debris before being set to dry. Drying is a crucial step – allowing the seed to settle and ensuring it stores safely. Once fully dried, it’s cleaned again to ensure purity, then weighed and bagged, ready for use in wildflower mixes or to be packaged for individual sale.

Our approach remains rooted in the land, the weather, and the knowledge passed down through generations. It’s both modern and ancient – part science, part intuition. And there’s nothing more satisfying than seeing the year’s careful planning and hard work come to fruition.

Every harvest season reminds us of the patient partnership we share with nature. A seed sown months ago now offers its return – a quiet reward for care, timing, and trust. And soon, these seeds will begin the journey again in gardens, schools, community spaces, and wild corners across Ireland and beyond.