Wildflowers: 14 Types of Wild Flowers with Pictures

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Wildflowers are generally found growing in the wild, as opposed to being planted somewhere intentionally.  However, there are some that can be planted in your garden through the use of seed packets.  They’re also known as wild flowers and species vary from state to state. 

Below you can find a list of 14 different wildflowers along with basic growing information.  You’ll find yellow wildflowers, purple ones, and more!

Agrimony

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Agrimony is a small genus with only about 10 to 15 species worldwide. More than half can be found in the United States.

  • Hardy to zones 6 through 9
  • Full sun
  • Average and well-drained soil

 

Alfalfa

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Alfalfa is great for feeding livestock or as a crop cover and soil conditioner. This yellow wildflower also makes a great drought-resistant plant for your garden.

  • Full sun
  • Well-draining soil

 

American Agave

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The American Agave is a large evergreen with lily-like blue-green foliage. They can live for more than ten years.

  • Full sun but can take light shade
  • They can grow 6-12 feet
  • Sandy, Sandy-medium loam, clay loam, or rocky soil

 

Anemone

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The Anemone has around 19 species in the genus. They can usually be found in ID, MT, OR, UT, and WA.

  • Full to partial sun
  • Rich and moist soil
  • Hardy to zones 5 through 10

 

Anthemis Arvensis

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Anthemis Arvensis (also known as the Corn Chamomile) is scentless chamomile. Some other common names are mayweed, scentless chamomile, or field chamomile. If you like chamomile, you may enjoy our post about medicinal flowers & herbs.

  • Hardy to zones 4-8
  • Full sun
  • Well-drained neutral to slightly acidic soil (heavy clay soil will work as well)

 

Baby Blue Eyes

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Photo Source: The Flower Expert

Baby Blue Eyes is an annual native to California but can grow anywhere in the US. They are a sky blue flower with cup shapes.

  • Light and sandy soil
  • Partial shade but can handle full sun in colder weather
  • Requires a moderate amount of water

 

Barren Strawberry

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Photo Source: The Flower Expert

The Barren Strawberry has white flowers that look like miniature wild roses. They are actually a cinquefoil or potentilla. These wildflowers may look like strawberries but they are actually inedible.

  • Hardy to zones 4-9
  • Full sun to partial shade
  • They look great around wooden paths or stepping stones

 

Cornflower

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The Cornflower (Bachelor’s Button) is a colorful flower that makes a beautiful addition to your garden and can grow in blue, white, red, pink, and purple. They will also attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects.

  • Full sun
  • Fertile soil enriched with lots of organic matter (moist and well-drained)
  • Will grow in spring, summer, and fall

 

Dianthus Barbatus

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Dianthus Barbatus (Also known as Sweet Williams) belong to the carnation family. They actually have a strange spicy scent when they bloom.

  • Hardy to zones 3-9 depending on the species
  • Partial sunlight for at least 4-5 hours per day
  • Fertile, alkaline, and well-draining soil

 

Digitalis Purpurea

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Digitalis Purpurea has many names such as The Foxglove plant, Fairy Thimbles, Folk’s Glove, Fairy Caps, Witches’ Gloves, and more. These purple wildflowers are grown commercially for their powerful heart-healing properties, then distilled to make Digitalin.

  • Hardy to zones 4-10
  • Prefers afternoon and midday shade (the hotter the sun, the more shade it needs)
  • Rich and well-drained moist soil
  • Keep pets and children away from this plant as it does have toxic components

 

Eschscholzia Californica

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Eschscholzia Californica (California Poppy) is the state flower of California. It is one of 11 species in the Eschscholzia genus.

  • Hardy to zones 5-10
  • Sandy to clay loam soil

 

Golden Tickseed

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The Golden Tickseed (Also known as Coreopsis) is native to the US and has 22 known species. The Coreopsis is also the state wildflower of Florida.

  • Most varieties are hardy up to zone 4
  • Full sun
  • Too much fertilizer can limit flower production

 

Gypsophila Elegans

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Gypsophila Elegans is part of the carnation family. These small yellow wildflowers are also commonly known as Baby’s Breath.

  • Sandy and warm soil (placing small pebble stones around them helps)
  • Hardy to zones 3-9
  • At least 6 hours of sunlight daily

 

Liverwort

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The Liverwort has small cup-shaped blue, pink, or white flowers. Be careful of slugs during early growth periods.

  • Moist and well-drained soil
  • Thrives in heavy soil
  • In late spring you should top-dress them with leaf mold or compost

 

 

We hope you enjoyed this post!  If you’re thinking of gardening you may also like our recent post about different types of gardening gloves.

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