Planting wildflowers can transform your garden into a vibrant, pollinator-friendly haven. Growing wildflowers, offers numerous benefits, from enhancing local biodiversity to creating a beautiful, low-maintenance garden. Wildflowers support pollinators, improve soil health, and add vibrant colors to your landscape.
Northeast Florida experiences a humid subtropical climate with hot summers and mild winters. The region receives ample rainfall, particularly in the summer months. The soil in Alachua County varies but is generally sandy and well-draining, which is ideal for many native wildflower species.
WHY PLANT WILDFLOWERS?
Wildflowers are not only beautiful but also beneficial for the environment. They provide essential habitats and food sources for pollinators like bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. Additionally, they can enhance the biodiversity of your garden and require less maintenance than traditional lawns.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT WILDFLOWERS
Selecting native wildflowers is crucial for a thriving garden. Native species are adapted to local conditions and support local wildlife. There are also some non-native species that make excellent additions to wildflower gardens providing good ground cover and supporting pollinators.
Some excellent choices for Alachua County include:
Coreopsis (Coreopsis spp.): This is Florida’s state wildflower, known for its bright yellow blooms and commonly known as tickseed. The most common species is Leavenworth’s tickseed (C. leavenworthii). Lanceleaf tickseed (C. lanceolata). Blooms in spring and summer.
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta): A hardy plant with striking yellow petals and dark centers.
Tropical sage or Scarlet Salvia (Salvia coccinea): versatile perennial with bright red flowers.
Blanketflower (Gaillardia pulchella): Not native but a very hardy, drought-tolerant flower with red and yellow blooms.
Spotted beebalm or Horsemint (Monardo punctata): robust and aromatic with showy leaflike pink to lavender or purple bracts with yellowish-green tips and undersides.
STARTING A WILDFLOWER GARDEN: PLANTING FROM SEED
For spring blooms, sow seeds in the fall. In Alachua County, this is October through November.
Location
Wildflowers thrive in areas with full sun and well-drained soil and free of weeds. Ensure the area receives at least 6-8 hours of sunlight daily.
Clear and prep the area
Remove existing vegetation, especially weeds that can compete with flowers, and any debris. You can add organic matter to improve soil fertility, but wildflowers generally do well in nutrient-poor soils.
Scratch or firm up soil
Soil-to-seed contact is critical for germinations, so prior to seeding either lightly scratch firmer soils with a rake, OR firm sandier soils by rolling to ensure that seeds do not sink too deeply.
Sow the seeds
Scatter the seeds evenly over the prepared soil. For better coverage, mix the seeds with sand and/or vermiculite mixture.
Press the seeds
Lightly press the seeds into the soil using a board or by walking over the area. This ensures good seed-to-soil contact.
Watering
Water the area very gently but thoroughly after planting. Be careful not to over water and drown seeds.
Germination
Usually takes 1-3 weeks, but for some species can take longer, up to 3 to 4 months. Seeds need exposure to light to germinate. Do not cover with mulch.
STARTING A WILDFLOWER GARDEN: PLANTING WITH STARTS OR YOUNG PLANTS
You can also add wildflower plants to your fall garden that will then bloom in the spring. These are going to be perennial or short-lived perennials. Plants are usually sold in 4-6” containers.
As with seeded flowers, choose a site that is sunny and well-drained and free of weeds. When planting provide adequate spacing between plants based on their size at maturity. For example, Blanket flower, requires 12-18” spacing to accommodate their 1-1.5’ size at maturity.
Consider planting wildflowers in clusters of three to five plants per species to make them more attractive to pollinators and maintain a good design aesthetic.
MAINTAINING YOUR WILDFLOWER GARDEN
Watering
After the initial establishment period, wildflowers typically need little supplemental watering. Water only during prolonged dry spells.
Weeding
Regularly remove invasive weeds that compete with your wildflowers for nutrients and space.
Do not fertilize
Many wildflowers are adapted to poor nutrient soils. Adding fertilizers will promote leafy growth over flowering, can make them more susceptible to pests, and can encourage weeds.
Reseed
Many wildflowers will reseed themselves so wait to cut back, deadhead, or mow until after seeds have matured. Seeds need good contact with soil, so if you are mulching only use a light layer of pine straw.
For more information wildflower selections for Florida, visit the Florida Wildflower Foundation. For a local seed source visit Florida Wildflower Cooperative and Working Food.
REFERENCES
A Guide to Planting Wildflower Enhancements in Florida – EDIS. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN1180.
Florida-Friendly Wildflowers 3-part Educational Series – UF/IFAS https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/orangeco/2021/09/16/florida-friendly-wildflowers-3-part-series/
Wildflowers for all seasons – Gardening Solutions UF IFAS Extension
Seeding Dates for Florida Native Wildflowers and Grasses – Florida Wildflower Foundation
https://www.flawildflowers.org/wp-content/resources/pdfs/Publications/SeedingDates.pdf
20 Easy-to-Grow Wildflowers – Florida Wildflower Foundation
https://www.flawildflowers.org/20-easy-to-grow-wildflowers/
Starting a wildflower garden from seed
https://www.flawildflowers.org/wp-content/resources/pdfs/Publications/12StepWildflowerHandout.pdf
Fall Planting – it’s the perfect time for wildflowers
Authored by: Dr. Cynthia Nazario-Leary, Environmental Horticulture Agent and Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator, UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County.
Photo credits: UF/IFAS