How to plant wildflower garden

Guide to Wildflower Gardens

Marie Iannotti

Marie Iannotti is a life-long gardener and a veteran Master Gardener with nearly three decades of experience. She's also an author of three gardening books, a plant photographer, public speaker, and a former Cornell Cooperative Extension Horticulture Educator. Marie's garden writing has been featured in newspapers and magazines nationwide and she has been interviewed for Martha Stewart Radio, National Public Radio, and numerous articles.

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Updated on 07/26/21

Reviewed by

Mary Marlowe Leverette

Reviewed by Mary Marlowe Leverette

Mary Marlowe Leverette is one of the industry's most highly-regarded housekeeping and fabric care experts, sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, laundry, and textile conservation. She is also a Master Gardener with over 40 years' experience; writing for over 20 years.

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The Spruce / Heidi Kolsky

Have you secretly considered turning your high-maintenance mixed border into a wildflower garden? It can be hard to resist when seed companies are out there promoting their instant wildflower gardens in a can, sack, or roll.

Many gardeners naively believe you can simply scatter some seeds, ignore the gardening basics, and wind up with a self-sowing meadow of bluebells and lace caps. In truth, starting a wildflower garden is often more work than putting in a perennial border and it is not necessarily self-perpetuating.

If these plants are truly wild (weeds, to most highway maintenance crews), why must they be coddled and coaxed out of the ground? Well, let's start with what growing a wildflower garden actually means.

What Is a Wildflower Garden?

Wildflowers are species of flowers that have shown themselves to be hardy and self-reproducing, with little attention from the gardener. Although they will grow wild on their own, they are not necessarily native plants. Wildflower gardens are considered a low-cost alternative to high-maintenance gardening. Many wildflowers prefer poor soil and neglect, making them ideal for tough to maintain areas of your property.

The Spruce / Heidi Kolsky

Preparing for a Wildflower Garden

Even a wild look requires some planning and effort. The good news is that most of the effort is in getting it started.

Chose an ideal site. You should find one with full to partial sun. If you want the plants to sustain themselves, they need agreeable conditions.
Weed control is paramount. Weeds are a successful wildflower garden's biggest threat. Of course, only you can determine what a weed or wildflower is, but for the sake of simplicity, you should start your garden with a clean palette and remove all existing vegetation. There are two proven methods of doing this.
Weed or remove sod by hand. If you are starting with a small area or if you are planting where the healthy grass is growing, this may be your best option.
Solarization is a good way to kill all vegetation, including most seeds. Mow the area to be planted as low as your lawnmower will allow. Water the area well, and cover securely with clear plastic sheeting, leaving it there to bake in the sun for six to eight weeks. This method relies on cooperation from the weather, and you will probably still want to remove the dead vegetation before reseeding.
Till the soil shallowly. Aim for a depth of about three inches once the existing vegetation is removed. You don't want to uncover and encourage more weeds.
Rake and level the soil. Leave the grooves left from raking to help hold the seeds and give them contact with the soil.

Planting a Wildflower Garden

Purchase plants or individual plant seeds. While wildflower seed mixes are cheap and easy to find, your best success will come if you purchase either individual plant seed or better still, plants.
Prepare your space. If you prefer to go with a packaged seed mix, it will tell you how large an area it covers. In general, use four pounds of seed per acre or four ounces per 2,500 square foot.
Mix sand with the seed mixture. Most wildflower seeds are very small. Mixing some sand in with the seed mixture will make it easier to spread evenly. Broadcast evenly throughout the area to be planted.
Rake lightly. You raked the ground to get ready for seeding. Do it again after spreading the seed.
Water the whole area. You need to keep the seeds moist until they are a few inches tall. Lightly mulching with straw, peat, or compost will help retain moisture and keep the birds from eating the meadow. It’s much like starting grass seed.
Germination should occur in 10 to 21 days. Your first blooms should reward you five to six weeks later.

Maintaining Control

Can a wildflower garden become established and continue to self-sow, without becoming too invasive? Actually, the perennials won't bloom the first year and if you are hoping to enjoy the garden for years to come, an occasional overseeding will help to maintain the balance of plants. This can be done every couple of years or whenever you notice an imbalance, perhaps due to unfavorable weather conditions.

If you are planting a large area and are going for a meadow look, you should consider including some turf grasses in your mixture to fill in thin spots and discourage weeds. Hardy fescues are a good choice in Northern zones. In warmer climates, Kentucky 31 or tall fescue are preferred. Ryegrass and bluegrass tend to be too competitive with flowers and are not good choices. About 25 pounds of grass seed per acre would do.

Once the plants are established they require very little care.

Watering during dry spells will keep things looking their best and won't spoil the plants, making them dependent on your care.
Weeds will try and invade, but wildflowers grow densely and initial weeding should be very minimal, becoming less and less as the garden fills in.
"Mowing" is the major maintenance chore. In the late fall, after the annuals have gone to seed and the perennials are dormant, the whole area should be mowed down to a height of about four to six inches. If your area is too large to even consider chopping by hand, mow at the highest setting your lawnmower has. What you are doing is ensuring the seed heads drop while tidying the appearance of the garden and discouraging the growth of any woody perennials that might take over.

Growing Tips

Build your beds the fall before you intend to plant. You won't have to fight all the annual weeds sprouting in the spring, and you won't get impatient and be tempted to skip steps in your preparation.
The best time to plant wildflowers is in the spring, to give them a good long season to get established and set seed. If you are starting later in the summer, be sure you have at least eight to 10 weeks before frost if you want them to self-sow.
"Frost seeding" is possible in Zones 6 and up. Wait until the ground begins to freeze, and then broadcast the seeds. Or you can put it off until very early spring when the ground is just starting to thaw. The seeds will get adequate moisture from the snow and good contact with the soil through heaving (periods of thawing and refreezing). Of course, this also requires that you prepare the bed the preceding fall.
Consider building walkways in your meadow, so that you can get out there and enjoy the view.

A bonus of a wildflower garden is the wildlife it attracts, including butterflies, hummingbirds, and beneficial insects.

Plant Suggestions

To Attract Butterflies

Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Cleome (Cleome hasslerana)
Cornflower (Cetaurea cyanus)
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Zinnia (Zinnia elegans)
Golden Alexander (Zizia aurea)

To Feed Hummingbirds

Cleome (Cleome hasslerana)
Garden Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris)
Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)
Zinnia (Zinnia elegans)

To Lure Beneficial Insects

Bishop's Weed (Amni majus): Minute pirate bugs, big-eyed bugs, assassin bugs, and lacewings.
Globe Candytuft (Iberis umbellata): Syrphid flies.
White Dutch Clover (Trifolium repens): Parasitic wasps of aphids, scales, and whitefiles.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium): Ladybugs.
Fennel and bill: Braconid and sand wasps, syrphid, and tachinid flies.
American vervain, blue vervain (Verbena hastata): Bees.
Aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium): Bees.
Joe-Pye weed (Eupatorium fistulosum): Bees.
Missouri ironweed (Vernonia missurica): Bees.

Watch Now: 19 Timelapses Perfect for Plant Lovers

Article Sources

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Backyard Wildflower Gardens. University of Vermont Extension Website

How Much Seed Do I Need?

How to Calculate Square Footage And Purchase the Right Amount of Wildflower Seed In 3 Easy Steps

Before purchasing wildflower seeds to plant your meadow, calculate the square footage of your meadow or garden bed. This guide will walk you through the 3 easy steps, so that you'll know how much seed you need!

1. Measure

For Squares or Rectangles: measure the length and width of the space where you want to plant.

For Circles: find the radius - measure the widest part of your planting space and divide by 2.

2. Calculate Square Footage

For Squares or Rectangles: length (in feet) x width (in feet) = square feet

For example, a garden that measures 50 feet x 30 feet = 1500 sq. ft.

For Circles: radius (in feet) x radius x 3.14 = square feet

For example, a circular garden that is 20 feet across has a radius of 10 feet. 10 x 10 x 3.14 = 314 sq. ft.

(The mathematical formula for the area of a circle is Π · r² - the Π symbol is pronounced Pi and represents approximately 3.142, and r² stands for radius squared.)

For the best results in planting wildflowers, please read our Wildflower Seed Planting Instructions. This step-by-step guide will outline everything you need to grow a successful wildflower meadow.

3. Find How Much Seed You Need

The amount of seed you should plant depends on the flower display you want. We typically recommend planting on the higher side for a lush meadow. Plant on the lower side for a more scattered look.

For Individual Species: The recommended rates vary greatly from species to species. Check the product page, or contact us with questions.

For Wildflower Mixes: Reference the table below.

This Much Seed Covers...	This Much Square Footage
1/4 lb	250 - 500 sq. ft.
1/2 lb	500 - 1,000 sq. ft.
1 lb	1,000 - 2,000 sq. ft.
5 lbs	5,000 - 10,000 sq. ft.
10 lbs	10,000 - 25,000 sq. ft.

Acreage

1 Acre = 43,000 sq.ft.
1/2 Acre = 21,500 sq. ft.
1/4 Acre = 10,750 sq.ft.
1/10 Acre = 4,300 sq. ft.

Tips For Larger Plantings: If you have a large site, from 1/2 acre to several acres, your planting rate may be affected by land conditions. If you have heavy weeds on the site now, some erosion, generally poor soil, or other land problems, additional seed is usually the most economical solution, since installation of a large planting usually costs more than the seed itself. If your site does have these problems and you want full coverage, use 1 pound per 1000 sq. ft.

7 beautiful wild flowers for your garden that do not need special care

Wild and meadow flowers in the garden will create an atmosphere of naturalness, naturalness. Now it is one of the most relevant landscape techniques. In addition, they require little or no care, and the seeds can be collected right in the field.

No time to read? Watch the video!

1 Bluebells

The most widespread meadow species is the spreading bluebell. It has a thin stem and purple flowers. In the forest, it is easier to meet the Sredny and Portenschlag varieties. Grassland varieties should be planted in an open and sunny space. And forest ones - in partial shade, for example, under garden trees. You can collect the seeds in faded bluebells and plant them in the spring. Water the plant during severe drought and cut dead flowers to prolong flowering. nine0003

2 Tansy

Tansy is an unpretentious wild plant with small bright yellow flowers. It has a strong spicy aroma and repels parasites. Almost does not require watering, takes root well and tolerates frosts. You can wait for the end of flowering and collect the seeds. They are planted in the ground at the end of April or in May.

Pixabay

3 Periwinkle

Periwinkle is a creeping unpretentious plant that will help out if you need to fill in a garden area where nothing grows. It takes root on any soil, is not afraid of shade and drought. It blooms with small flowers of pink, lilac and purple tones. Seeds are sown at the beginning of summer.

Pixabay

4 Spring primrose

Primrose is a hardy plant with yellow flowers that blooms throughout the spring. It does not have to be watered - enough melted snow and spring rains. After flowering, you can collect the seeds and store them in a dark, dry and cool place for the next year. Plant the primrose whenever possible in well-lit areas. nine0003

5 Horned Violet

Violet grows like a carpet, gradually covering an ever larger area. It is convenient to use it to decorate the lawn or the space in front of the fence. It is not demanding on the composition of the soil, it tolerates frosts well. Blooms from April to late July. You can collect seeds and plant them in the ground in the fall.

nine0002 Instagram: @brri_olya

Instagram: @smolinatamara2311

6 Marshmallow officinalis

Marshmallow officinalis reaches up to half a meter in height and blooms with pink and lilac flowers. It is often used in medicine, for example, they make decoctions for digestive problems and ointments for joints. The seeds collected in the meadow should be soaked in warm water for a day and then dried, this will increase their germination. They are planted shallowly, to a depth of 1-1.5 cm and watered once. It is not necessary to tamp the earth. Sprouts appear in about a week, but sometimes you have to wait up to three weeks. nine0003

Instagram: @aleksey_senkov

Instagram: @arin.a3856

7 Chamomile

Daisies are well suited for poor soil or quick planting of bare ground in the garden. Chamomile seeds are sown outdoors in May or August, when there is no threat of frost. In the field next to the cottage, you can most often find pharmacy and field chamomile. The pharmacy has small flowers and thin leaves, and it grows in bushes. The field grows in separate flowers, and they are larger in it. The seeds of all chamomiles are small, so put them in the ground quite thickly and do not dig too much so that they can sprout. nine0003

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Prepared by

Maria Revina

Dacha Plants

Garden of wild flowers - planting, care, photo, how to grow and harvest

Summer in full swing … The garden is full of bright colors, gardeners are proud of the well-groomed mowed lawns and flower borders . But such a garden creates an atmosphere of peace and austerity.

In the summer we often admire the forest edges, field paths along which bright poppies grow, meadows with blooming daisies . Looking at such a kaleidoscope, many gardeners think: "why not create something similar for your garden." Then we advise you to create wildflower garden . No, this does not mean that you should give up your favorite roses and peonies. You can take a small sunny corner under a flowering field lawn. Or you can plant varietal daisies, poppies and bluebells in discounts. Bright flowering meadow will attract many bees, birds, butterflies to the garden, which will make it even more attractive.

Or you can simply purchase a mixture of herbs and flowers and create Moorish Lawn . Today, Moorish lawn is at the peak of popularity. It is increasingly used in landscape design. Blooming lawn is an excellent honey plant, very attractive to butterflies, bees, bumblebees. Mauritanian lawn consists of a mixture of grasses and wildflowers. And in order for the lawn to please you with its diversity throughout the season, select plants with different flowering periods. nine0003

Main flowers used in Mauritanian lawns: meadow chamomile, flax, cornflower, oriental poppy, nemesia . Islands of wild flowers and wildflowers create comfort in the garden, make it natural and unique.

Bluebells or campanula blooms brightly and for a long time, therefore it is very popular in landscape design. These unpretentious plants adapt well to different conditions. Flowers blue, purple, white, pink. They are collected in loose or dense inflorescences, racemose or paniculate. Tall varieties are excellent in mixborders. And dwarf bells are ideal in rock gardens, rockeries, for decorating a border. nine0003

Beautiful flowering campanula 'Superba'. Mature plant reaches approx. 50-60 cm in height. The flowers are small, dark purple, collected in an inflorescence-brush. The leaves are long-petiolate, dark green. It prefers to grow on well loosened, fertile and moderately moist soil, in the sun, but it also tolerates partial shade well. Fairly frost-resistant plant and very rarely gets sick.

Campanula Stella - Excellent groundcover. A highly decorative, inexpensive Pozharsky bell will delight you with lush flowering. It's impossible not to fall in love with him. He is handsome and gentle at the same time! One of the most popular. The species was honored to bear the name of the German gardener, botanist and plant collector Gustav Adolf Posharsky (Pozharsky). nine0003

Pozharsky's Kamapanula is an evergreen perennial plant that grows up to 10–30 cm high and 15–45 cm wide. Growing at a fast pace. Blooms from July to September. The flowers are numerous, star-shaped, of a delicate blue-violet color, up to 2-3 cm in diameter. They are bisexual (there are both male and female organs) and are pollinated by bees and other insects. There are so many flowers that the leaves are almost invisible. Leaves are small and green.

Campanula Takion Blue - Peach-leaved Campanula is a beautiful low growth variety with cup-shaped flowers of light violet-blue color with a paler center. One of the most noticeable traits of 'Takion Blue' is that its flowers point upward and outward - while the flowers of many cultivars droop or face down. This is a perennial, herbaceous plant, forming oblong (5-8 cm long), spear-shaped evergreen leaves. Like other peach-leaved bluebell cultivars, this cultivar has peach tree-like foliage (hence the species name). Basal leaves will produce a low clump. Medium-tall upright stems appear in early summer. They are tough and strong, crowned with flowers up to 5 cm in diameter. The flowers sprout along and on the top of the peduncle. This variety belongs to the early-flowering bluebells: it will delight its blooms in late spring and early summer. Effective cut plant. After pruning, re-flowering is observed. This cultivar reaches about half the height of many peach bellflower cultivars at flowering time and does not usually require growth control strategies. Plant height: 40-50 cm, and its width - 30-40 cm.

Campanula Emerald Long-lived and hardy, it will be a favorite in a sunny garden for many years. Huge inflorescences (up to 10 cm in diameter) of sky blue color with dark blue-violet edges adorn dark thick stems. The flowers contrast spectacularly with the beautiful emerald foliage. They are very attractive to butterflies. The stems are erect, strong, do not need support. Stems and leaves are pubescent. The flowers are large, up to 2 cm in diameter. They are collected in apical and axillary capitate inflorescences (up to 20 pieces in each inflorescence). Flowering time: June-July. Flowering time is 30-35 days. This plant is great for cutting. The bush is neat, compact. Grows like a carpet. Plant height and width: 50 cm.

Campanula Elizabeth or Korean bluebell is a showy perennial plant. It grows wild along the banks of rivers, streams, and also in shady ravines. The bush is quite spreading. It grows in height up to 45-70 cm, and in width - up to 60-75 cm. The flowers are large, graceful, drooping, elongated, goblet-shaped, with slight pubescence. They are collected in numerous inflorescences-brushes. Flowers are up to 7 cm long. Their color is raspberry-pink and light pink, with stripes and specks (inside the flowers are covered with burgundy specks). The leaves are heart-shaped, with sinuous edges, light green in color. Growth scheme - this plant grows in a "rug", curly stems. Growth rates are fast. This plant blooms several times per season. Flowering period: 6-8 weeks. nine0003

Garden chamomile or Nivyanik is a beautiful plant with large snow-white flowers. Basket inflorescences solitary up to 7 cm in diameter, simple or double. The center of the flower is yellow, the petals are snow-white-white, arranged in two or three rows. Nivyanik blooms from early summer to August. A village garden is unthinkable without white daisies. In a joint planting with bluebells, poppies, cornflowers, calendula, gypsophila, this flower creates a cozy atmosphere in the garden. When creating a Moorish lawn, do not forget about chamomile! nine0003

Old Court is a bush about 75 cm high and up to 45 cm wide. This beautiful plant has large, semi-double, shaggy flowers, which are painted white with a yellow center. The petals on the flowers are needle-like.

Leaves are green, elongated basal. Prefers to grow on fertile, well loosened and moderately moist soil. In the sun or in partial shade. Used for growing in containers or flowerpots. Very frost and disease resistant plant. nine0003

Aglaia leucanthemum (Aglaia) or garden chamomile (Leucanthemum ‘Aglaia’) is a member of the Compositae family. The cornflower bush reaches 40-60 cm in height. The plant has white large flowers (6-12 cm in diameter) with a yellow center. The flowering period is June-July. Prefers to grow in fertile, well-drained soil, on the sunny side. During the summer, fading flowers should be removed, and for the winter the stem is cut off at the root and covered. A very hardy plant and disease resistant. nine0003

Poppy is a beautiful perennial with huge and bright flowers. The color, depending on the variety, is red, white, orange, pink, burgundy and almost black. The flowers are simple and double. Each flower blooms for a day - two, and the whole bush as a whole - a month (from May to June). Therefore, to create an impressive effect, you need to plant plants in groups of several pieces each. For oriental poppy, allocate quite a lot of space, as the bushes grow quickly, and in one place they can grow for many years. Poppies are beautiful in country style gardens, combined with daisies, delphiniums, irises. nine0003

Beauty of Livermere poppy is a perennial herbaceous plant with showy flowers. The height of the bush is 90-120 cm. The erect stems are crowned with cup-shaped, wide-open, large flowers - up to 20 cm in diameter. The flowers are blood red with four large black spots, black stamens. Blooms in mid-May - mid-June, for 30 days.

The leaves are large, pinnately dissected, ornamental, rigidly pubescent, green with silvery hairs, collected in a basal rosette. The aerial part dies off completely after flowering, new shoots appear in September. nine0003

‘Harvest Moon’ poppy is a delightful variety of Oriental poppy. This variety is admired by everyone without exception. It will refresh the landscape of any garden. Oriental poppy with many huge flowers. They are solitary, facing upwards, with huge satin petals. The color of the petals is bright orange with light highlights and a dark center. The size of the flowers is up to 15 cm in diameter! The buds are drooping, and when blooming, they straighten up. The leaves are pinnately dissected, densely pubescent, collected in a basal rosette. Their color is dark green. Blooms for 2-3 weeks. Stems are upright and very strong. nine0003

Garden Glory poppy - this variety is admired by everyone without exception! It will refresh the landscape of any garden. Poppy oriental or oriental is a spectacular herbaceous perennial with many huge flowers. They are single, terry-shaped, rounded, facing upwards, with velvety fringes and frills of satin petals. The edges of the petals are ruffled, very similar to bird feathers. The color of the petals is coral-orange with burgundy "eyes" at the base of the petals and a dark center. Flowers bloom from early to mid-summer. They are great for cutting. The size of the flowers is up to 15 cm in diameter! The buds are drooping, and when blooming, they straighten up. The leaves are pinnately dissected, densely pubescent, collected in a basal rosette. Their color is dark green. ‘Garden Glory’ blooms for 2-3 weeks. Stems are upright and very strong. The flowering of this poppy is a truly spectacular sight. nine0003

Yarrow. Many have heard about the healing properties of yarrow. Nevertheless, the decorative qualities of some species are not inferior to medicinal ones. Distinctive characteristics of yarrow - decorative throughout the season and a fairly long flowering. Yarrow belongs to the group of the most unpretentious perennials. It can grow even where other flowers cannot take root. Perfect in group plantings, in rock gardens, for decorating borders, and also in cutting. nine0003

Yarrow Colorado is a perennial with beautiful bright umbel inflorescences. The height of the bushes during flowering is 60-120 cm.

The flowers are small baskets, collected in dense corymbose inflorescences, light pink, white or yellow, up to 15 cm in diameter. Flowering time June-September. Yarrow leaves are especially decorative. The leaves are dark green, openwork, pinnatipartite.

Yarrow Monshine is an unpretentious perennial herbaceous plant. The height of an adult plant can reach 60 cm. The stems are thin, strong, gray-green in color. On the stems are small, densely dissected, gray-green leaves, which are collected in basal rosettes. The flowers are very small (up to 0.5 cm in diameter), simple, bright yellow, collected in large shield-like inflorescences (about 10 cm). Flowering occurs from July and continues until August. Flowers have a specific smell. nine0003

Yarrow "Red Velvet" - mainly refers to perennial herbaceous plants. This rhizomatous plant (75 cm tall) has numerous, erect and slightly curved below, well leafy stems. Leaves twice, thrice pinnately dissected, with a characteristic odor. The flowers are small. Red-pink in color, collected in baskets of 0.7 cm in diameter. Completely undemanding to the soil variety. Loves the sun. Flowering occurs in July-August. nine0003

The most beautiful lush plant Goldstarm Rudbeckia belongs to the well-known and numerous Asteraceae family. This plant is native to North America. A rudbeckia bush grows up to 80 cm in height and 50-60 cm in width. This plant has branched shoots that end in large (up to 12 cm in diameter) golden yellow flowers with a blackish brown center. Inflorescences are large, yellow. The variety has a long flowering period - August-October. nine0003

Ornamental Grass is a diverse group of plants that vary greatly in appearance. They are unpretentious and fast-growing, retain an attractive appearance at any time of the year. They are able to give the garden a natural look, and space - volume and texture. They go well with other plants.

Panicum Prairie Sky or switchgrass is a perennial ornamental grass. Plant height 110-150 cm. The leaves are linear, narrow, bluish in summer and ocher in autumn. Tiny inflorescences are collected in wide aerial panicles, which, when opened, often have a pink or reddish color. Flowering time August-September. The bushes are loose, slightly falling apart. All parts of the plant are strong, preserved even in winter, until they fall asleep and break with snow. Millet is a long-lived herb. Likes warmth. It begins to grow in late spring, sometimes even in early summer. If the summer is warm, it grows quickly and powerfully. nine0003

Festuca Glauca or Gray fescue is a spectacular ornamental grass that will not leave anyone indifferent.