A COLOURFUL array of wild flowers planted to show environmentally-friendly gardening techniques is now in bloom.

Staff at Oxford University’s Botanic Garden in Rose Lane planted the border in 2011 using seedlings with the aim of having minimal long-term environmental impact.

Plants were selected from seasonally dry grassland areas such as the Great Plains, in the United States, East South Africa, and Southern Europe, for their ability to withstand draughts.

This meant little water has been needed for the border, while using seeds cut down on transportation costs resulting in a low carbon footprint.

The border is split into the North American, Mediterranean and South African sections.

Virginia Vargo, 33, a trainee horticulturalist at the garden, said: “It was a way of showing a sustainable way of gardening and creating something very beautiful. It’s very colourful at the moment.”