Here are 12 wildflowers to consider for your garden.
USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8Color Varieties: Purple, pink, or white rays with yellow centersSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Well-drained soil amended with compostWater Needs: Prefers moist soil, but can tolerate some drought when established
USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 10Color Varieties: Various shades of red, yellow, orange, or peachSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Well-draining soil, avoid clay soilWater Needs: Tolerates dry conditions
The plant has a deep tap root and spreads aggressively in a garden. It’s best to wear gloves when handling the plant extensively.
USDA Growing Zones: 3a to 11aColor Varieties: White with red or black centerSun Exposure: Sun to partial shadeSoil Needs: Neutral to mildly alkalineWater Needs: Prefers evenly moist soil, will tolerate drought
These flowers are prized as one of the true-blue wildflowers. There are two varieties: the annual known to botanists as Centaurea cyanus (pictured) and perennial bachelor buttons, Centaurea montana.
USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 11Color Varieties: Pale blues, purples, pinks, and redsSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Average, well-drained soilWater Needs: Prefers moist soil but tolerates drought
USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 11Color Varieties: Yellow petals with a reddish-brown center diskSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Clay, dry, or shallow-rocky soilWater Needs: Extremely drought-tolerant
USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8Color Varieties: Purple, mauve, rose-pinkSun Exposure: Full to partialSoil Needs: Any soil amended with fertilizerWater Needs: Prefers moist soil
USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9Color Varieties: Scarlet red, white or roseSun Exposure: Full to partialSoil Needs: Rich, medium to wet soilsWater Needs: Does not tolerate drought
USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8Color Varieties: Gold to orange petals with brown centerSun Exposure: FullSoil Needs: Average, well-drained soilWater Needs: Prefers moist soil but will tolerate drought
A similar yet different plant (widely found in New England ponds) is Nuphar luteum, commonly known as the “yellow pond lily.” It is similar in the sense that it shares the same natural habitat and sports those iconic lily pads, but it is distinct both botanically (different genus) and color.
USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 11 (depending on variety)Color Varieties: White, pink, or yellowSun Exposure: Full to partialSoil Needs: Wet, poor, sandy soilWater Needs: Does not tolerate drought
USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 11Color Varieties: Golden yellow, white, pink, magenta, orange, yellow, red, chocolateSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Well-draining soil (not too rich)Water Needs: Tolerates drought well
USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8Color Varieties: Blue; occasionally white or pinkSun Exposure: FullSoil Needs: Medium moisture, well-drained, neutral to alkalineWater Needs: Tolerates drought
Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum) is not a wildflower but a hybrid variety developed by Luther Burbank that bears a resemblance to the well-known wildflowers that were originally called “day’s eye”. Among the most popular perennial garden plants in North America. ‘Becky’ is a cultivated shasta daisy.
USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9Color Varieties: White or yellow with yellow centerSun Exposure: Full to partialSoil Needs: Rich, moist, well-drained soilWater Needs: Minimally drought-tolerant
