What are wild seeds and seedlings?

Wild plants are defined as all naturally growing non-domesticated plant species in our environment, which have a long and dated presence in the region, and which are untamed and unaltered by human cultivation.

Wild seeds are the seeds of local wild plants, reared to seedlings, which later go on to form the stock of plants to be used and planted.

When are wild plants VWW Regiosaaten®?

From an environmental perspective, the origin of the initial seeds and the area of application should be both as close to one another and as similar to one another as possible. The seed is then “regionally indigenous” and is well adapted to the local conditions.

Regions of origin and production areas

To use the term “regionally indigenous” transparently, a system of associated areas defined by specific physiographic features had to be established. The areas used by the VWW were developed in a DBU research project in co-operation with the University of Hanover (DBU 2010: Development and practical realization of minimum requirements on nature conservation on a proof of origin for regional wild seeds of herbage plants, final report, Univ. Hannover, file number DBU: 23931).

Presently the sales volumes within the 22 regions of origin are not sufficient for an economical production. Therefore these regions have been consolidated into 8 production areas.

Interim map of 22 regions and 8 production areas:

dark lines: regions of origin and production areas bright lines: federal states

Production areas

NW: Nordwestdeutsches Tiefland
NO: Nordostdeutsches Tiefland
MD: Mitteldeutsches Flach- und Hügelland
WB: Westdeutsches Berg- und Hügelland
SO: Südost- und ostdeutsches Bergland
SW: Südwestdeutsches Berg- und Hügelland mit Oberrheingraben
SD: Süddeutsches Berg- und Hügelland
AV: Alpen- und Alpenvorland

Regions of origin

1 = Nordwestdeutsches Tiefland
2 = Westdeutsches Tiefland mit Unterem Weserbergland
3 = Nordostdeutsches Tiefland
4 = Ostdeutsches Tiefland
5 = Mitteldeutsches Tief- und Hügelland
6 = Oberes Weser- und Leinebergland mit Harz
7 = Rheinisches Bergland
8 = Erz- und Elbsandsteingebirge
9 = Oberrheingraben mit Saarpfälzer Bergland
10 = Schwarzwald
11 = Südwestdeutsches Bergland
12 = Fränkisches Hügelland
13 = Schwäbische Alb
14 = Fränkische Alb
15 = Thüringer Wald, Fichtelgebirge und Vogtland
16 = Unterbayerische Hügel- und Plattenregion
17 = Südliches Alpenvorland
18 = Alpen
19 = Bayerischer und Oberpfälzer Wald
20 = Sächsisches Löß- und Hügelland
21 = Hessisches Bergland
22 = Uckermark mit Odertal

Plants collected and sown again within these areas, can be regarded as regionally indigenous. Seeds certified to our standards we call VWW Regiosaaten®.

Certificate

VWW-Regiosaaten are produced regionally and in accordance to our rules & regulations.

In the case of regionally indigenous seeds not currently being available for every region, the use of certified wild seeds from a different region of origin remains the preferred alternative to sowing a cultivated species. Additionally, using seeds of foreign origin is to be particularly discouraged, as not only are there stark genetic differences, but they can pose further risks.

Against cultivated species and neophytes

In Germany, vast amounts of cultivated grasses and fodder-crops are used in environmental landscaping projects in the open countryside each year.

These cultivated species can survive in the countryside and become a serious competitor in their ecosystem. They can account for the disappearance of wild plants or negatively influence ‘wild’ native plants of the same species by crossbreeding.

Through contaminated seeds from other countries, alien plants are introduced into Germany and supplant local species when they develop better than those in specific locations. These so-called “invasive neophytes” are not used for seed production in our facilities (see also the website of the federal agency for nature conservation)

Our production process – from nature for nature

Anbau auf Bändchengewebe, Wetzlar (Foto: A. Guth, 2004)

Saatgut, Drusch und Reinigung (Foto: J. Rieger, 2006)

There are currently around 100 agricultural companies in Germany producing seeds and seedlings of herbaceous wild plants.

The initial seeds are collected locally by-hand from mature wild plants in their natural environment without adversely affecting the local plant population.

With this harvest, a propagation culture, and potentially large-scale field cultivation, can be established. The propagation process is carried out either by modern agricultural or manually intensive horticultural methods. A number of production facilities operate according to the regulations of organic cultivation.

In order to minimize genetic reduction in the cultivation, the reproduction is limited to a few generations.

After the harvest, the seeds are cleaned, cooled, and stored at a suitable temperature until they are sowed.

Uses of wild plant material

Wild plants and seeds are employed throughout the countryside and also in urbanized areas.

Their main form of application is in the countryside in the environmental landscaping of newly created areas (e.g. roadside tracks, former rubbish heaps, reclamation of land) and in the landscaping of the environment for ecological purposes as a means of offsetting environmentally detrimental development.

As for urban areas, the planting of species-rich shrubs and landscaping of green areas with exceptionally lush local species is possible in gardens, around traffic areas, or in well maintained parks.

Species-rich stocks improve the recreational value of a landscape through their changing blossoming patterns and support the diversity of the local fauna.