Planting Native Wildflowers
Most annual flower seeds can be planted directly into the spots you plan to grow them all season. They will reliably bloom the same year and die at the end of the growing season, completing their life cycle.
Perennial seeds can be planted in a seed bed and then, after a full growing season or two, can be transplanted into permanent locations. Seedlings of perennials generally do not bloom their first year of growth, and some take as long as three years, depending on the variety and growing conditions.
Biennial plants grow for one year before flowering their second year and die after producing seeds. Many varieties of wild flowers are easy to grow and do not need much coddling to do well, once they are well established.
Too wet - too cold - too warm - too dry - yes, some seeds can be fussy! Most seeds will not germinate until soil conditions are “just right” for that particular plant, so be patient, as soil temperature and moisture are critical factors in the success rate of growing plants from seed, as well as the nature of the plant variety itself. Some plants like cool weather and some prefer warmer conditions to start their life cycles. Investing in a special soil thermometer is a good idea if you plan to do lots of seed starting. Note that the date of average last frost for the Twin Cities is historically April 30.
Before planting your seeds, be sure the space you plan to grow them is properly prepared. Remove any weeds or other plant debris and get rid of any rocks or other items that would present problems in tending to the seedlings. The seed bed should be level, tilled to remove large clumps of soil, and raked smooth before marking out where the seeds will be planted. Mark their locations with the plant name and date of planting. Spread out the seeds to give them enough room to grow and cover lightly with fine-textured soil, before carefully watering. Monitor the moisture of the bed and do not let it become bone dry.
Most seeds need to have consistent soil moisture in order to sprout. When the seedlings have emerged, which can take several days or even a couple of weeks depending on all those factors mentioned above, keep an eye out for weeds and thin the seedlings to give them enough room to grow. This may need to be done several times during the growing season, so again, be patient. Transplanting should usually wait until the second year of growth, depending on the degree of vigor of the individual plants.
In addition to providing much-needed food for pollinators, wildflowers also help provide shelter for wood- and stem-nesting bees all year round - even in the winter!
Soon, you may learn how much fun it can be to care for your own native wildflower garden. Happy planting!
Allium 'Millenium'; Ornamental Onion
Bulbous purple flowers and onion-scented greens - 1-2 ft tall - Full sun - Perennial
Attracts butterflies
Andropogon Gerardii; Big Bluestem, Turkey Foot, Tall Bluestem
Native ornamental bunchgrass - 3-7 ft tall - Full sun/part shade - Perennial
Attracts birds and butterflies, provides nesting material for native bees. Aides in erosion control.
Direct sow 1/4" deep in spring or fall. Cut to ground in late winter. Harvest seeds in October from turkey foot-shaped top of grass. Direct sow after collection or store in a cool, dry place for planting in spring.
Asclepias Incarnata; Swamp Milkweed, Ice Ballet
Clumps of small white flowers - 3-4 ft tall - Full sun - Perennial
Attracts monarch and swallowtail butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. Main food source for monarch caterpillars.
Direct sow 1/4" deep in spring or fall. Cut tall stems to a few inches above ground in later winter or early spring. Leave pods on plant until just beginning to split. Direct sow after collection or store in a cool, dry place for planting in spring.
Asclepias Syriaca; Common Milkweed
Clumps of small pink flowers - 3-4 ft tall - Full sun - Perennial
Attracts monarch and swallowtail butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. Main food source for monarch caterpillars.
Direct sow 1/4" deep in spring or fall. Cut tall stems to a few inches above ground in later winter or early spring. Leave pods on plant until just beginning to split. Direct sow after collection or store in a cool, dry place for planting in spring.
Echinacea Purpurea; Purple Coneflower
Purple daisy-like flowers - 2-4 ft tall - Full sun/part shade - Perennial
Attracts birds (goldfinches) and butterflies.
Direct sow 1/4" deep in spring. Remove dead flower heads to collect seeds or leave to self-seed or as winter food for goldfinches. Direct sow seeds after collection or store in a cool, dry place for planting in spring.
Lablab Purpureus; Hyacinth Bean
Special note - these are tropical plants and do not germinate until the soil has warmed. Best results occur if you soak the seeds in warm water overnight before planting outdoors about the 3rd week of May. Discard any seeds that are floating after this soaking period as they will not germinate. To get a head start on growing this vine, seeds can be planted indoors in 4” peat pots, 2 - 3 per pot, which can then be planted directly in the ground when plants have put out a 3rd set of leaves.
Liatris Spicata; Gayfeather, Blazing Star
6"-12" spikes of purple flowers - 2-4 ft tall - Full sun - Perennial
Attracts birds and butterflies
Linum Perenne; Blue Flax
Small blue flowers - 1-2 ft tall - Full sun - Perennial
Attracts bees and butterflies.
Direct sow 1/8" deep in spring. Cut stems back by 1/2 late May/early June to encourage more flowers. Cut back to 3 inches above ground at the end of summer blooming season.
Lupinus Perennis; Wild Lupine, Sundial Lupine
Blue/purple pea-like flowers - 1-3 ft tall - Full sun/part shade - Perennial
Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.
Lychnis Viscaria; Catchfly, Clammy Campion
Small purple flowers - 1-2 ft tall - Full sun - Perennial
Attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Monarda; Bee Balm
Red/purple flowers - 2-4 ft tall - Full sun - Perennial
Attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Remove dead flower heads to encourage new bloom, cut to a few inches above ground in late fall or early spring.
Rudbeckia; Black Eyed Susan, Brown Eyed Susan
Yellow daisy-like flowers with black or brown center - Full sun - Perennial
Varying heights - some are large flowered, some are tall growers and flower late in season, some have rather tiny flowers on well branched plants.
Attracts bees and butterflies.
Verbascum Thapsus; Common Mullein, Great Mullein
Tall yellow flowers appear second year of growth -2-6 ft tall - Full sun/part shade - Biennial
Attracts goldfinches, bees, and butterflies.
Verbena Bonariensis; Tall Verbena, Brazilian Vervain
Small globular flowers - 2-4 ft tall - Full sun - Perennial in zones 7-10, annual in zone 4
Attracts butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.
Verbena Stricta; Hoary Vervain
Blue/purple flowers - 2-4 ft tall - Full sun - Perennial
Attracts butterflies
Self-seeding
Check out these additional resources to learn more!
Minnesota Wildflowers - A field guide to the flora of Minnesota.
Wild Ones Twin Cities - Local chapter of Wild Ones, a national nonprofit education on the benefits of native wildflowers.
Minnesota Native Plant Society - Dedicated to the conservation and appreciation of Minnesota’s native plants and plant communities.
Show your support for Wild Paws' mission of rescuing and providing a safe habitat for wild animals using sustainable resources, promoting coexistence between humans and wildlife, and educating the public about the preservation of wild animals and their ecosystems.