Nordiska Ängsfrön: More wildflower meadows, more happiness

By Malin Norman | Photos: Nordiska Ängsfrön

Wildflower meadows are not just beautiful to look at, they play an important role in supporting biodiversity and pollinating insects. Nordiska Ängsfrön provides a range of Nordic wildflower seed mixes – the ultimate feel-good boost, for yourself and nature.

Easy to manage, beautiful and a natural alternative for gardens and parks, wildflower meadows do a great job in underpinning biodiversity. Natural flowers attract bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects, which is crucial for our environment, and you can even plant meadow flowers on your balcony.

“Making a wildflower meadow gives your garden or park a more natural look and attracts pollinating insects,” says Carl-Axel Schauman, CEO of Nordiska Ängsfrön. “Protecting our pollinators and nature’s cycles is close to our hearts. We’re happy to be able to offer products that both strengthen and restore this cycle. If you want to enjoy beautiful floral splendour and help pollinators, sow meadow flowers!”

Nordiska Ängsfrön is a family-run business that produces and sells Nordic meadow-flower seeds, with the goal of spreading knowledge and inspiring others to take concrete steps in preserving biodiversity. The parent company, Suomen Niittysiemen, has been operating for over 25 years in Finland as the market leader in meadow flower seeds. Whilst production is still based in Koski in Finland, Nordiska Ängsfrön is the daughter company in Sweden – a fast-growing market.

Nordiska Ängsfrön: More wildflower meadows, more happiness

Nordic handcraft and tailored seed mixes

Wildflower meadows can be of any size and planted in both spring and autumn. “Annual meadows complete the life cycle in a year, whilst perennial meadows grow back year after year,” explains Kristina Luhtala, daughter in the family, responsible for daily operations. “The ideal time to sow perennial wildflower seeds is in the autumn, until the snow arrives, to give the seeds a cold treatment. Spring is more suitable for annual seeds.”

It’s important to choose the right mix of seeds that work for the type of soil and location. The team has developed specific Nordic-seed mixes, which include meadow flowers that have long existed in Nordic nature.

“Nature’s ecological diversity is something we cherish and promote in our daily work with meadow flower seeds,” says Luhtala. “It’s fantastic to be able to offer meadow seed mixes that are specifically suited to Nordic nature. Flowers that contribute to biodiversity attract pollinators and create beautiful, natural environments.”

Nordiska Ängsfrön has around 200 different types of seeds, a majority of which have been collected in nature with the help of dedicated staff. This most definitely is not mass production – it is Nordic handcraft.

Nordiska Ängsfrön: More wildflower meadows, more happiness

Natural flowers for urban environments

The interest in wildflower meadows has grown exponentially in the past five to ten years. “People are more aware of biodiversity and the role that wildflowers play – there is a greater sense of urgency,” says Schauman. To match the increase in demand, Nordiska Ängsfrön has expanded its offering and diversified the range of mixes, and the company is also providing consultancy services to customers, educational institutions, landscape architects and urban developers.

Urban environments and natural flowers actually go well together, explains Schauman: “Green spaces can reduce health risks by, for example, improving air quality, reducing noise and mitigating the effects of extreme weather events. Other positive effects of green spaces with natural flowers include increased social interaction, community, stress relief and relaxation.”

Nordiska Ängsfrön: More wildflower meadows, more happiness

Project sizes range from ten square metres to several hectares, depending on customer needs, with a wide variety of customers. For example, a meadow planted in between a care home for the elderly and a kindergarten is a great example, resulting in a fascinating interaction between the two. Nordiska Ängströn is also involved in WWF Sweden’s campaign Make Sweden Wilder (Gör Sverige vildare). “We often work with schools as well, where the children are part of the project from start to finish – there is a strength in doing things like this together. Our wildflower seeds are an overall feel-good product!”

Nordiska Ängsfrön: More wildflower meadows, more happiness