Growing wildflowers can be so rewarding and fun for any home gardener. Along with attracting pollinator friends, wildflowers add gorgeous color to your outdoor space and benefit the environment in so many other ways.
If you’re intimidated by the idea of growing wildflowers from seed, our guide will help. We’ll walk you through every step of the process, from finding the right types of flowers for your garden to planting and caring for your flowers.
Types of Wildflowers
The U.S. is home to around 150 species of wildflowers, and many of them can be grown in most USDA Plant Hardiness Zones. Some varieties of wildflowers have really specific growing conditions, while others are more commonly found in backyard flower beds.
Coneflowers, zinnias, marigolds and black-eyed Susans are just a few of the types of wildflowers that you can plant in your home garden.
The Easiest Wildflowers to Grow
Native wildflowers are the easiest to grow because they’re found naturally in your area. They thrive in whatever soil and environmental conditions are common in your region, which means these varieties of plants are low maintenance. Just keep them watered and feed the soil when – or if – needed.
But what if you want to plant non-native species of wildflowers? Planting flowers that are easy to grow and care for will be your best chance of success.
Some of the easiest wildflowers to grow include ox-eye daisies, morning glories, blue flax and more.
Now that you know what types of wildflowers are easy to grow, you can create a list of the wildflowers that you want to grow in your garden this year and move on to the next step.
Buying Wildflower Seeds
Planning your wildflower garden is the fun part. Knowing where and how to buy seeds is a little more complicated.
Sure, you can walk into just about any garden center and find packets of seeds. You can even find convenient wildflower mixes. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that your flowers are going to grow.
It is crucial to buy your seeds from reputable suppliers and to do your homework to make sure you’re buying varieties of plants that will thrive in your area.
How to Plant Wildflowers
Now that you have an idea of which wildflowers are the easiest to grow and how to buy them, it’s time to start planting.
First, make sure that all of the flowers on your list are suitable for your Zone. Next, make note of the soil conditions each plant needs to grow and thrive. You’ll need to recreate these conditions in your garden bed.
Most varieties of wildflowers need little more than sun and well-draining soil that’s rich in organic matter.
But getting your plants to go from seed to bloom is a little more complicated than you think. You’ll need to understand when to plant seeds, which soil temperatures are ideal and more.
How to Grow Wildflowers Indoors
What if you don’t have a backyard? What if you want to bring the beauty of wildflowers inside of your home? Here’s the great news – you can still grow wildflowers indoors.
With the right soil and setup, you can grow many varieties of wildflowers indoors.
How to Cut Wildflowers
One rewarding aspect of growing wildflowers is being able to cut them to use in bouquets. A vase of freshly cut wildflowers will add beautiful color and scent to your home. But it’s important to understand how to cut your flowers properly so that you don’t damage the plant.
And remember that you don’t have to cut your flowers. You can leave them to bloom and feed the local wildlife. But once the season is over, you may want to cut back your plants. A good pruning can help make next year’s growth even more impressive.
Knowing how to cut back wildflowers can also help keep growth under control if you have a species with a rapid spreading habit.
The Environmental Benefits of Planting Wildflowers
Why go through all of the trouble of planting wildflowers anyway? Along with adding color and beauty to your garden, wildflowers also benefit the environment.
They attract and feed pollinators and beneficial insects. They’re even a source of food for some wildlife, and they can prevent erosion.
The benefits of wildflowers are endless, making them worth every second of care that you give them each year.
