National Trust- Wild Flower Packs

[Wishful Thinker]

At Balmoral last week, stopped in at their stall and got a wee sachet of wild flower seeds, thought it was a great idea.
Went to throw them out over a bare patch of soil between edge of garden and field. Was having a read all that was in it as was walking across lawn. Last on the list was St. John’s wort. Not exactly what you would want near grazing ground so be aware.

 

[primmiemoo]

Is there a risk with the plant, then?

Generally, I find that stock either nibble a little, or ignore native St John's Wort. I'm not sure what it might do to them, other than lift their spirits, briefly.

 

[Wishful Thinker]

Is there a risk with the plant, then?

Generally, I find that stock either nibble a little, or ignore native St John's Wort. I'm not sure what it might do to them, other than lift their spirits, briefly.

It always got the blame if a cow took photosensitive reaction here.

 

[Princess Pooper]

We have some varieties of St John's Wort along the river and have never had cattle or sheep eating it, never seen any photosensitivity. I would have thought as long as it is not in hay or stock aren't grazed so tight they are starving that they wouldn't usually eat much of it.

 

[Lili]

I think it can be a cause of yellows in lambs where their face and ears swell up. To do with sunlight reaction?

 

[matthew]

Several years ago a friend’s wife bought a similar pack. Thinking ‘pretty flowers’, bees and all thing au naturale.

The bulk of the seeds by weight, were cleavers / granny jump out of bed / bindweed.
Friend had spent a lot of cash on sprays to keep his arable crops clear of the stuff.
He was not amused.

 

[primmiemoo]

It always got the blame if a cow took photosensitive reaction here.

That's interesting. Bog asphodel is blamed if anything gets that here. There's a field with both, and a run of fields with only a handful of St John's Wort plants. Touch wood, the only cases of photosensitivity have come from the one with bog asphodel.