Wildflower gardens are a joy to the gardener and everyone else who pays a visit. These gardens are typically full of easy-to-grow, low-maintenance plants that attract plenty of pollinators and wildlife with their abundance.
Building a wildflower garden is as joyful a task as it is enjoying the fruits of your labor. Creating a space that is brimming with color, texture, and movement invokes the artist in all of us. Before you get started on your own wildflower garden, take a look at these 27 easy-to-grow plants that create beauty in any garden space.
Seeds Featured In This Article
Indian Blanket Flower
This is a resilient, low-maintenance plant native to the United States.
| botanical name Gaillardia pulchella | |
 | sun requirements Full sun |
 | height 24”-30” |
 | hardiness zones 3-10 |
Blanket flower is an incredibly resilient and low-maintenance plant that produces a large quantity of long-lasting flowers. It’s native to most of the United States, and although it is considered an annual or short-lived perennial, it reseeds itself readily. Plant these seeds in full sun and well-drained soil.
This drought and heat-tolerant wildflower blooms from spring through fall, producing daisy-like flowers with dark center disk and red petals tipped with yellow. When in bloom, the flowers attract a bounty of pollinators to the garden, and the dried seed heads are popular among songbirds. They tolerate poor and sandy soil types and are great for coastal areas, too.
Queen Anne’s Lace
Named after a lace-making queen, Queen Anne’s Lace has delicate flowers with a central purple floret.
 | botanical name Daucus carota |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 1’-4’ |
| | hardiness zones 3-9 |
One of my favorite wildflowers for floral arrangements, Queen Anne’s lace has a wonderful, delicate appearance. The plant is named for the queen, who was an avid lacemaker. The lacy flowers have a single purple floret in the center, which, according to the legend, is symbolic of a single drop of blood that resulted from a needle prick.
Queen Anne’s lace is a type of wild carrot, and the root is edible, although eating it is not advisable unless you are very familiar with the plant. Poison Hemlock has a very similar appearance and is highly poisonous.
Adaptable to full sun or partial shade, make sure you allow plenty of room for this plant to spread. If you don’t want it to colonize, it’s best to contain it, as it is known to spread quickly. Check with your local extension office before planting Queen Anne’s lace, as it is considered invasive in some areas.
Tickseed
The tickseed flower, favored by pollinators, blooms reliably for an extended season.
| | botanical name Coreopsis |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 2’-4’ |
| | hardiness zones 4-9 |
Tickseed is a wonderfully low-maintenance flowering plant that blooms for most of the year and requires very little in the way of care. It comes in an array of colors, including red, purple, yellow, orange, white, and bi-colored. It is drought-tolerant and blooms best in full sun and well-drained soil.
Pollinators will appreciate this flower in your garden as it reliably blooms for an extended season. I’ve even found them to be somewhat frost-tolerant, although an extended period of freezing weather kills off the foliage.
Deadheading can be a challenge because of the density of flower stems, but doing so will promote more blooms. It also prevents the intense re-seeding that can occur.
Cardinal Flower
The brilliant red petals of the cardinal flower beckon hummingbirds to the garden.
| | botanical name Lobelia cardinalis |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 1’-6’ |
| | hardiness zones 3-9 |
Cardinal flowers produce racemes of brilliant red flowers that will have your wildflower garden teeming with adorable hummingbirds. It’s a good thing, too, as they rely on them for pollination.
Native to most of North America, cardinal flower is tolerant of a wide range of sun exposure levels from full sun to nearly full shade. These plants are not drought-tolerant, so they are best planted in soil that retains a fair amount of moisture. All parts of the plant are edible and commonly used in medicinal preparations.
Black-eyed Susan
Thriving in various environments, Black-eyed Susans serve as essential pollinator magnets.
| | botanical name Rudbeckia hirta |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height up to 5’ |
| | hardiness zones 3-10 |
A wildflower garden just wouldn’t be the same without some cheerful and hardy Black-eyed Susans. Their brilliant yellow flowers with dark centers are a great food source for native and honey bees, drawing pollinators more abundantly than most flowers in the garden. They typically grow to about three feet tall, although I’ve had them reach nearly five feet in full sun.
Black-eyed Susans spread by rhizomes and re-seeding, returning reliably every spring and blooming through the summer and into fall. They are native to most of the United States and can commonly be found growing on roadsides and in meadows. They also make wonderful cut flowers and have a vase life of up to 10 days.
Wild Cosmos
Though not invasive, wild cosmos self-sows and benefits from restrained growth through deadheading.
| | botanical name Cosmos bipinnatus |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height Up to 4’ |
| | hardiness zones 3-10 |
Wild cosmos adds a wonderful textural element to the wildflower garden. Their lacy, fernlike foliage has a delicate appearance. However, these plants are really quite hardy and tolerant. Beautiful and abundant, their daisy-like flowers commonly come in shades of pink, white, lavender, and maroon and are often bi-colored.
While they are not considered invasive, they do self-sow readily and can colonize quickly. Deadheading is a good idea if you intend to keep them contained in a small space. They need moisture when seedlings are small, but once established, they need only basic care. Don’t overwater or fertilize these plants too much, or they will not flower as abundantly.
Chicory
Used in cuisine, chicory makes a coffee-like drink from its edible roots.
| | botanical name Cichorium intybus |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 3’-5’ |
| | hardiness zones All |
You might recognize this plant for its culinary uses. It can be brewed with water to create a coffee-like beverage, and the roots can be eaten as a vegetable. When the plants are young, they are small rosettes of leaves that resemble dandelions, but they can grow up to five feet tall throughout the growing season.
Its very long tap root makes chicory exceptionally drought-tolerant. The pretty blue flowers bloom only for one day each, but they are a favorite among bees and other pollinating insects. Chicory is not invasive, but it can be difficult to remove once established because of its deep roots.
Eastern Red Columbine
This self-seeding perennial attracts hummingbirds and bumblebees with its red and yellow flowers.
| | botanical name Aquilegia canadensis |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Partial to full shade |
| | height 1’-3’ |
| | hardiness zones 2-9 |
If you need to fill a shaded spot, eastern red columbine is a great little wildflower to do the job. The nectar-rich red and yellow flowers are popular with hummingbirds and bumblebees. It is a self-seeding perennial that, while non-invasive, colonizes quickly.
This winner of the RHS Award of Garden Merit has attractive three-lobed leaves that turn yellow in the fall. It tolerates a wide range of soil types, and while it can be grown in full sun, it will need a lot of water under high exposure conditions and prefers at least partial shade with morning sun.
Common Blue Violet
With diverse colors and sizes, violets thrive in partial sun.
| | botanical name Viola sororia |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to full shade |
| | height 2”-12” |
| | hardiness zones 4-8 |
There are hundreds of species of violets, and they cover a wide range of flower colors and sizes. The most common and popular color is, of course, violet. Beautiful and delicate, the common blue violet is often unappreciated. The low-growing habit makes them great for borders, and they grow and flower best in partial sun. However, they are very flexible about light conditions as long as they receive adequate moisture.
Their attractive and symmetrical flowers can appear singly or in clusters and appear mainly in the spring but can continue to bloom in summer and fall under the right conditions. Their heart-shaped, bright green foliage is attractive even when no flowers are present.
Narrowleaf Milkweed
Attract Monarch butterflies to your garden with Narrowleaf milkweed.
| | botanical name Asclepias fascicularis |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height up to 6’ |
| | hardiness zones 6-10 |
With more than 70 species of Milkweed native to the United States, this is a great plant to add to your wildflower garden. That said, most gardeners don’t plant milkweed for its beauty in the garden but rather for what it attracts. Milkweed is the sole larval host plant for the Monarch butterfly, and planting it in your garden is almost guaranteed to draw these beautiful pollinators.
Narrowleaf milkweed produces lovely clusters of pink flowers. With so many species, there is a wide array of flower colors and formations, as well as different types of foliage. While these plants provide a feast for caterpillars, they are toxic to pets and humans, so keep your furry friends clear of this plant.
Goldenrod
Tall and flamboyant, goldenrod boasts striking golden blooms perfect for wildflower gardens.
| | botanical name Solidago |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height up to 6’ |
| | hardiness zones 3-8 |
If large plumes of golden, pollen-rich flowers appeal to you, goldenrod is a great addition to the wildflower garden. These tall plants bloom in late summer and fall and really make a splash wherever you plant them. The texture of the foliage and flowers is unique and flamboyant, and they re-seed themselves readily.
Goldenrod is a tall plant that gives beautiful movement in beds and borders but doesn’t require staking. Use it to make a stunning statement in cut floral arrangements. It is drought tolerant and can grow in full sun or partial shade, although it will flower best with more sunlight. It isn’t picky about soil types either, so it is versatile and easy to care for.
Ironweed
With vibrant purple flowers, Ironweed attracts butterflies and thrives in full sun.
| | botanical name Vernonia |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 2’-6’’ |
| | hardiness zones 5-8 |
Ironweed is another big butterfly attractor, with its clusters of vibrant, purple, nectar-rich flowers. Different species range in height from two to six feet, and most have long, lanceolate leaves, although some species have leaves that are very fine and needle-like. The flowers are fluffy and finely petaled and begin blooming in late summer, continuing for about six weeks.
Plant ironweed in full sun and rich, moist soil. Amend the soil with some well-rotted compost or manure before planting if your soil quality is poor. It also likes slightly acidic soil. It reseeds freely, so if you prefer to contain its spread, clip off the flower heads before they go to seed.
Foamflower
This plant subsists in shade with moist soil, tolerating drought once established.
| | botanical name Tiarella cordifolia |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Partial to full shade |
| | height 1’-3’ |
| | hardiness zones 3-9 |
Another wonderful flowering plant for the shadier spots in your wildflower garden, foamflower likes moist soil but once established, can be somewhat drought tolerant. It’s important in warmer climates, especially to keep foamflower plants in the shade, as they are not tolerant of hot weather.
Mounds of green foliage, sometimes with reddish veining, produce flower spikes in the spring and into the summer months in cooler climates. Large, dense clusters of fluffy white flowers are lightly fragrant and very attractive to pollinators. Reseeding is not an issue, but the plant spreads by sending out runners and forms large clumps over time.
California Bluebell
A North American native plant, California Bluebells bloom with blue, trumpet-shaped flowers in spring.
| | botanical name Phacelia campanularia |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Partial to full shade |
| | height 2’ |
| | hardiness zones 9-10 |
For springtime color in the wildflower garden, California bluebells are a great little North American native plant that is typically found in the understory of woodland areas. It thrives in partial shade and is tolerant of full shade as well.
Blue, trumpet-shaped flowers with their light and sweet fragrance, are attractive to bees and butterflies. They grow from rhizomes and spread quickly, but as they are native to most parts of the country, they are not considered invasive. Because they disappear in summer, it may seem like your plants have died off, but they will return in the spring to bloom once again.
Maximilian Sunflower
Native to most of North America, Maximilian sunflower exhibits unique cold tolerance.
| | botanical name Helianthus maximilliani |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height up to 10’ |
| | hardiness zones 3-9 |
I absolutely adore this perennial sunflower for its extra tall, profusely blooming stems. Pollinators feel the same way and are heavily drawn to these sunny yellow blooms. Native to most of North America, these sunflowers are unlike most garden variety sunflowers, not only for their perennial habit but also for their excellent cold tolerance.
These are fall bloomers, bringing an immense amount of color to the autumn landscape. They bloom alongside goldenrod for an all-over, golden glow in the wildflower garden. They make beautiful cut flowers and are a valuable food source to birds, and in the fall when food becomes scarce.
You should expect dense stands of this flower if you plant it. Therefore, it’s better for areas of the garden that need to be filled in or for open, natural areas.
Mexican Hat Flower
Mahogany-tipped Mexican Hat Flowers thrive in diverse conditions, attracting pollinators.
| | botanical name Ratibida columnifera |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 18”-3’ |
| | hardiness zones 7-9 |
Also known as Prairie Coneflower, Mexican hat flowers resemble echinacea with their large central cones and drooping petals. These flowers attract pollinators and have a long bloom time beginning in early summer and continuing into the fall months. They are drought tolerant and naturalize easily. These are North American natives, so they’re not considered invasive.
Not picky about soil, Mexican Hat Flowers can grow in just about any conditions. Their mahogany flowers are often tipped with yellow and bloom in great numbers atop tall, leafless stems. The seedheads are a good food source for birds in the late fall and winter.
Blazing Star
An ideal addition to wildflower gardens, blazing star grows from corms rather than seeds.
| | botanical name Liatris |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 2’-5’ |
| | hardiness zones 3-9 |
For a fun, vertical element in the wildflower garden, blazing star is a great choice. They can be grown from seed but are best grown from corms, as they don’t bloom the first year when grown from seed. Not picky about soil types, these rarely need fertilizing, and they are drought tolerant after their first year.
The tall flower spikes bloom in late spring in shades of purple and white, attracting many types of bees to the garden. The leaves are grasslike and turn bronze in the fall, adding a third season of interest to these fun plants.
Cornflower
Bachelor’s Buttons, or Cornflowers, attract pollinators with their high nectar content.
| | botanical name Centaurea cyanus |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 1’-4’ |
| | hardiness zones 2-11 |
Cornflowers are also known as bachelor’s button. These annual wildflowers are most well known for their pretty blue color, but the flowers can also be pink, white, or red. The flowers have a high nectar content, so they are a big draw for pollinators. They also make nice cut flowers.
The colorful center disk flowers are surrounded by papery bracts and typically bloom for about 10 weeks. The bloom time can be extended by deadheading the spent flowers. For the most part, these are summer bloomers, but they begin their blooming in late spring or continue into the early fall months.
Yarrow
A low-maintenance plant, yarrow features dense clusters of small flowers.
| | botanical name Achillea millefolium |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 3’ |
| | hardiness zones 3-9 |
Yarrow is one of those plants practically takes care of itself once you have it in the garden. Dense clusters of small flowers bloom from spring until late summer, beginning to fade as the fall months creep in. It makes wonderful cut flowers and dried flowers, and pollinators love it.
Yarrow also has many medicinal uses and is drought-tolerant. Hot, dry conditions are tough, but you’ll see your yarrow still bursting with blooms. The most common shade for these flowers is white, but they also come in pink, yellow, and even bright red. They can be a bit aggressive in the garden, so give them some space to spread out.
Candytuft
This drought-tolerant plant with small white or pink flowers thrives in full sun.
| | botanical name Iberis sempervirens |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 6”-12” |
| | hardiness zones 3-9 |
This low grower makes a wonderful border or foreground plant in the wildflower garden. It tolerates partial shade, but for maximum flowering potential, full sun is best. Candytuft is very drought tolerant and likes dry, hot weather. It spreads easily and makes a lovely ground cover.
Blooming in late spring and early summer, this plant produces tons of small white or pink flowers that, although quite pretty, do not have a pleasing scent. Their smell is considered unpleasant by most. This is a long-lived perennial sub-shrub that grows slowly, maturing over five to 10 years.
Joe-Pye Weed
Towering Joe-Pye Weed, a pollinator favorite, thrives in rich, well-drained soil.
| | botanical name Eutrochium purpureum |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 5’-8’ |
| | hardiness zones 4-9 |
Joe Pye Weed towers over most flowers in the garden. This stately wildflower grows up to eight feet tall and is a pollinator favorite. Deep, blue-green foliage creates a beautiful backdrop for other garden plants. Keep this one in the background, as it will cast a shadow on smaller plants.
Throughout the summer and into fall, large clusters of bright pink flowers top the tall stems. The flowers are followed by fluffy seed heads, adding interest in the late fall. Rich, well-drained soil types are best, but this is an adaptable plant. Make sure to keep it watered through the growing season for the healthiest and most robust plant.
Shasta Daisy
A diverse, low-maintenance flower, the Shasta Daisy thrives in various conditions.
| | botanical name Leucanthemum x superbum |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 1’-2’ |
| | hardiness zones 4-9 |
While technically not a wildflower, this hybrid of the oxeye has all the charm and cheerfulness of any native bloomer. There are 69 unique varieties of Shasta Daisy, with varying petal formations and sizes. All cultivars have white petals with yellow centers. As long as they are planted in spring and allowed to mature, the dark green, leathery foliage is evergreen.
Shasta Daisies don’t require much attention and spread well by underground rhizomes. They are tolerant of most soil types, drought-tolerant, and resistant to pests and diseases. They flower best in full sun but are tolerant of partial shade. These plants don’t grow well in very humid climates, as they tend to be sensitive to fungal rot.
Snapdragon
These flowers bloom best in morning sun and afternoon shade.
| | botanical name Antirrhinum |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 6”-48” |
| | hardiness zones 3-10 |
Snapdragons are usually grown as annuals, although they are perennial in Zones 7-11. Plant these cool-weather flowers in spring, and they will flower for several months before the heat of summer sets in. During the hot months, flowers are scarce, but when temperatures lower again in the fall, the flowers return.
Considered lightly frost tolerant, Snapdragons continue to bloom right into the winter, particularly in warmer climates. Although they bloom best in full sun, the heat of summer is often too much for these plants.
Planting them in a space where they receive sun in the morning and afternoon shade is ideal. They prefer well-draining soil with a neutral pH.
Wild Blue Flax
With thin, flexible stems and periwinkle blue flowers, Wild Blue Flax adds texture to wildflower gardens.
| | botanical name Linum lewisii |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 18”-30” |
| | hardiness zones 4-10 |
Wild Blue Flax lends a great deal of texture and whimsy to the wildflower garden. The thin, flexible stems and needlelike foliage are graceful and attractive. Small, periwinkle blue flowers begin to bloom in late spring and continue well into the summer.
Like other types of flax, this is a fiber plant that can be used for making fabric, cord, and baskets. The flowers open only in full sun, so that’s where they should be planted. On cloudy days, the flowers may remain closed entirely, but on sunny days, they open wide. Pollinators are less likely to visit this type of flax, although they will visit in the morning when the flowers first open.
Bee Balm
Favored by pollinators, Bee Balm displays colorful blooms from early summer to fall.
| | botanical name Monarda |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 1’-4’ |
| | hardiness zones 4-9 |
As the name suggests, this plant is favored by pollinating insects, and especially bees. The flashy blooms appear in early summer and bloom well into the fall in shades of red, pink, purple, and white. Bee Balm needs plenty of sunlight and air circulation, as it is prone to powdery mildew when it gets too much moisture.
Bee Balm spreads by rhizomes and can be aggressive in the garden, so plant it with sturdy neighbors and give it space to spread out. It requires very little care but prefers moist soil. It is somewhat drought-tolerant once established. Avoid overhead watering to minimize the risk of powdery mildew.
Final Thoughts
By combining different colors, sizes, and textural elements, your wildflower garden will spring to life and bring immense enjoyment to both the gardener and casual observers. Once you’ve selected and prepared the space for your garden, enjoy the process of cultivating a collection of wonderful flowering plants that will work together, creating harmony and beauty for years to come.
