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Wildflowers

Perennial wildflowers live for more than 2 years. They offer something for everyone and are relatively easy to maintain.

See the Table of Wildflowers for Native Landscapes for specific flower species and their characteristics.

Seeding

Wildflower seeds are often very small, fluffy, or irregular-shaped, making it difficult to control the total amount dispersed. For example, aster and yarrow are better interplanted as small plugs, that way there is less chance of overseeding and crowding out other species in the garden.

Potted Plants

Containerized material should be healthy--leaf and stem colors appear normal with little or no yellowing or discoloration. Smaller containers are less expensive but greater numbers are required to fill an area. Larger material will be readily noticeable but cost more to install.

Planting

Prepare the soil well ahead of planting. Avoid planting during the hot, dry months of summer. Keep potted plants watered prior to and after transplanting. Follow potted plant spacing recommendations. Sow seed into a firm, moist seedbed, mulch lightly, and apply frequent, light sprinkler irrigation. Monitor and inspect for insect pests and control weeds as they appear.

Maintenance

To extend the flowering period and promote re-bloom, “deadhead” the flower after it dies: use sharp pruning shears to cut and remove the dead blossom. When plants reach maturity, divide the crown into smaller portions and transplant into another area, recycle to a like-minded gardener, or add to the compost pile. In late fall or early spring cut back all dead plant parts. By removing debris, pest and disease problems are reduced and interference with new growth is minimized.

Poisonous Plants

It’s wise to inquire about a plant’s potential toxicity before placing it in a landscape. The foliage of some plants is known to be poisonous to people, pets, and domestic livestock. A few of the more common ones include bleeding heart, buttercup, clematis, foxglove, goldenrod, horse chestnut, larkspur, locoweed, lupine, milkweed, monkshood, oak, poppy, and water hemlock. Visit your local bookstore or library, or the website provided in the reference section.

Landscape Uses

Wildflower use in the landscape is unlimited, as plants are available in many sizes, shapes and colors. The development of a landscape plan is recommended and landscape design professionals can be consulted for assistance. Locate and group plants together that have similar water and light requirements.

Specimens

Specimens are separate, individual plants that attract attention to their ornamental beauty. They are generally selected for large size and stature, or for unusual shape, color or texture. Specimens function as solitary elements for viewing from all sides or as a dominant feature in a mass planting. They should be used sparingly to avoid attracting attention to many different points.

Mass Plantings

Massing similar plants in a group mimics nature and creates a sense of unity in the design. Natural environments have clusters of vegetation that slowly shift in composition with altering conditions. Mass plantings act as an orderly connection among other planting groups.

Borders

Border plants are used along the edge of a structure, hard surface, or lawn area. They function as hedges, screens, traffic guides, and foundation plantings. Open and semi-open space can be defined with the use of borders. Avoid visual chaos by limiting the number of plant types.

Ground Covers

Spreading and low-growing plants work well to cover areas that are impractical to maintain as a lawn. They are used on slopes, along pathways, under shade or tree canopies, and between plants in flower beds. Consider converting lawn space to a ground cover for reduced water consumption.

Blanket flower.
Blanket flower used as  specimen plant.

Senecio.
Mass planting of Senecio.

Wildflowers as walk border.
Wildflowers create a border for a walkway. (Photo by Linda Iverson.)

Creeping phlox.
Creeping phlox planted as ground cover.

If you encounter any problems with the file provided on this page, please contact Technical Resources at 406-587-6822.

This information is also available for downloading as Chapter 9 of the publication, Creating Native Landscapes in the Northern Great Plains and Rocky Mountains. This document requires Adobe Reader.

Wildflowers (PDF; 2 MB)

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