With some areas experiencing droughts, less rain, more expensive water prices, or even increased heat, more and more gardeners are considering wildflower gardening as an alternative to growing the regular plants you might find in a greenhouse. The thinking is that these wildflowers are much more resilient to the type of growing conditions we are increasingly experiencing. Plus, these low-maintenance flowers still look beautiful in the garden, and pollinators absolutely love them!
It is truly a win for everybody!
In this post, you’ll learn about planting wildflowers and where to source them. We’ll also have a little bit of discussion about the difference between a wildflower, a native plant, and their hybridized varieties. Let’s get into it!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase something, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can read more about it in my privacy policy. Thanks for supporting Shifting Roots!
Wildflower vs Native Plant vs Hybrdizied Varieties
These terms float around a lot in the gardening community, but what do they actually mean?
Wildflower is a general catch-all term that, depending on the person who uses it, could mean the plants you see on the side of the road, plants that are native to your area, cut flowers that are commercially grown, or any flowers in your garden that people think of as wildflowers. Some people think of wildflowers as a design aesthetic, and others would consider certain hybridized varieties of native plants to be wildflowers. Still, technically, these varieties are not native plants.
In this post, I’m referring to wildflowers as native plants that are easily accessible to purchase from a seed company online and don’t require too much extra work to germinate. If you are a purist about wildflowers, this is not the post for you!
Not all native wildflowers have the same requirements
While most of the native plants we think about are drought-tolerant, not all of them are, depending on the region where you garden. Some plants need fertile soil, some need dryer or wetter soil, and some are fine with terrible soil. So, you’ll need to look at your seed packet to know if the seeds will be fine in your garden and what conditions you’re working with.
Some seed companies have made this easier by making varieties for specific regions, growing conditions, and gardening goals. For example, both Northern Wildflowers and West Coast Seeds stock different blends suited for the Southern Prairies, the Great Lakes, and the Pacific Northwest. I’ve also seen part-shade mixes, dry and sunny mixes, easy-to-grow mixes, bee garden blends, and more.
how to grow native plants
The biggest thing to remember is that native plants are perennials, and when you throw out a seed packet, those seeds will not produce a fully flowering plant until probably three to five years later. There are some exceptions, of course, but I’ve known many gardeners who put out a packet of wildflowers and were really disappointed the next summer.
Wildflowers are best planted in the fall, so you’ll want to prepare the soil by raking up that area and sprinkling a little extra soil before spreading out our seeds. If you wanted to till, you could till the proposed area first, throw on your seeds, and then you’re done! But there’s no need to be fancy- just spread them out. Ideally, you’ll time this just before snowfall. The best month to scatter wildflower seeds is in October or November, right before the snow.
You could try to grow wildflowers in grass, but temper your expectations. Because the plants would have so much competition, they most likely won’t do as well. You can get an Alternative Lawn Blend from West Coast Seeds if you’re looking for a lower-maintenance alternative to grass.
If you want to landscape with wildflowers and start them from seed, especially if you have a mixed packet and want to separate things, it is best to grow them in a temporary garden bed! This way, while your plants grow and mature, you can move what you like to its final location.
wildflower seed sources
Most mainstream online seed companies have some type of wildflower mix. Sometimes, local people specialize in wildflowers or native plant sales. Many areas also have a native plant society, like the Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan, which might also do occasional seed or plant swaps. The companies below are my go-to online shops for wildflower seeds!
1. Blazing Star Wildflower Seed Company
From Prairie Sage to Smooth Aster, Blazing Star stocks countless varieties for prairie gardeners!
2. Northern Wildflowers
I love the wildflower seed mixes from Northern Wildflowers. In addition to the seeds below, they also stock Anise Hyssop and Goldenrod, which are both found on my list of ten easy-to-find wildflowers in Saskatchewan below.
3. West Coast Seeds
Click on any of the linked names in the list of resilient garden plants below to get seeds from West Coast Seeds! They also stock an impressive number of wildflower mixes.
Ten easy-to-find wildflowers in Saskatchewan
You’re more likely to find some of these wildflower varieties as hybridized versions, and that’s okay! I live on the Canadian prairies, so the plants in this list are most applicable to prairie and midwestern climates.
1. Anise Hyssop
Easy to grow from seed and easy to maintain! Anise Hyssop can grow in full sun or partial shade and isn’t too fussy about soil or moisture levels, so if you have poor soil, this is a good choice!
2. Blanket Flower
There are short and tall varieties, but the taller varieties are more often the hybridized ones. I love the hit of colour blanket flowers add to the garden and to bouquets!
3. Goldenrod
I personally love goldenrod even though others consider it a weed. There are earlier and later flowering varieties, but both are considered wildflowers. The colour can’t be beat! In a world where no one seems to like yellow flowers, goldenrod is the yellow everyone loves! It also dries really well and holds its colour well if you pick it on the earlier side (otherwise it will just poof up).
4. Lemon Bergamot
Apparently, you can make lemon bergamot into a tea that takes a lot like Earl Grey, which I’d love to try. Lemon bergamots are pollinator-friendly flowers, so the bees absolutely love them! In arrangements, I use them both in full bloom and also when the petals are all gone and just the ball shape is left (I think it looks really cool!).
5. Liatris
You can buy little bags of liatris bulbs in almost any garden centre in the spring. They come in white and purple, and bees love them! I usually get my seeds from Sow Right Seeds.
6. Rudbeckia
Stick to the older, established varieties for this one! For example, your Hirta varieties, Black-Eyed Susans or prairie coneflowers, will function more like native plants than your Cherry Brandy or Sahara Rudbeckia. Rudbeckia is extremely long-lasting if you pick it at the correct stage, but it is also a “dirty flower,” so you’ll have to change your water regularly!
7. Sage
I’m thinking of what I know of as Buffalo Sage, but many gardeners use Russian Sage in their gardens, which would also be a good hybridized option (but is not really the same plant at all). I just love the colour of prairie sage varieties–it’s so unique! It also dries well, and I love to use it in Christmas wreaths.
8. Smooth Aster
Unlike the larger, fluffier blooms of a China aster, we’re looking for the small purple ones (pictured here). I also feel like seeing smooth asters in ditches is a happy surprise. We don’t have many of them where I garden, so they are extra special!
9. Wild Blue Flax
The blooms don’t last long, but more blooms will keep coming on the stem, so it all works out. They usually bloom at the same time as peonies and are lovely, delicate-textured flowers. And yes, the seeds really do look like the flax seeds you eat!
Related: The Best Blue Flowers for Your Garden
10. Yarrow
Yarrow is a great native flower to start with because it’s very easy to start from seed, doesn’t require a lot of care, and establishes really quickly. This is another flower some gardeners think of as a weed—it’s even shown up on my lawn! But I like it, so I don’t mind. You can also save your yarrow leaves and use them to help stop nosebleeds!
Do you have any favourite perennial wildflowers you’d add to this list? Let me know in the comments!
If you liked this blog post, follow me on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram for more cold-climate gardening tips, delicious recipes, and cut flower goodness! I also make weekly videos over on my YouTube channel. I hope to see you there!
Want to Create a Perennial Garden that Constantly Blooms from Spring to Fall without Constant Work?
Here’s how! My ebook, Constant Colour Garden, has everything you need to easily create your own perennial garden with constant blooms. You’ll get an easy-to-follow system, along with five templates and five done-for-you plans, plus fun bonuses.
Prefer a physical copy? Get yours today on Amazon!
Join the conversation