Everything becomes simple if you immerse yourself in nature.
Mary Reynolds, landscape designer, author, and public activist
Planting wildflower seeds for your garden affords an array of benefits. When I planted wildflowers for the first time this year, I was delightfully surprised with the ease of growth, the array of color, and how well they would spread.
Sowing seeds is a hit-or-miss effort. Sometimes they do not work, and the lack of growth is frustrating after your hard work of planting. But wildflowers seem to be hardy and work well under trying conditions because they were meant to breathe on the earth. Unlike manicured plants which only do well in certain USDA zones under particular conditions, wildflowers—as the name implies—can go wild in the oddest places with the help of the natural elements.
Wildflowers’ ease of growth
Wildflowers are easy to grow. Because most wildflower seed packets recommend planting the seeds directly outdoors, it eliminates the need to start and care for seedlings indoors. The seeds make it easy to drop them where you envision your garden color, cover with a small bit of earth, and simply wait.
Whether you plant the seeds in your small garden nook, or spread them throughout your garden, you can have a variety of flowers throughout the summer and fall that create a sensation both for human eyes (including envious neighbors!) and the grateful pollinating insects. Most wildflowers do well in full sun, even in areas with sun aimed at your flowers most of the day.
Water your garden during hot and dry spells, but for the most part, the wildflowers do fine on their own. As the flowers shrivel after they have done their part, pinch them to allow the flowers to seed and regrow throughout the season.
Cosmos and Coreopsis 
Cosmos 
Cornflower 
Cornflower 
Cornflower 
White cosmos 
White cosmos
Wildflowers are natural pollinators
Wildflowers are natural pollinators. They attract the honey and bumblebees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Some wildflower seed mixes target certain pollinators as well, so if you desire to see a particular bird, bee or insect, be sure to plant with those particular wildflower attractions.
Leaving your wildflowers in their natural state is best. If you spray the plants, be sure to use neem oil or other natural sprays that will not harm the pollinators. And try to spray in the early evening so as not to disrupt the pollinators. Otherwise, avoid sprays if at all possible. So far, my wildflowers have not needed any sprays.
Varieties of wildflowers
Varieties of wildflowers abound and range from annual to perennial to biannual. So if you plant wildflower seeds, expect a few to return next year.
It would be difficult to list the variety of wildflowers that exist, although you can check your local cooperative extension to see what does well in your area if you would like to start there. Seed packets contain either mixed varieties or you can buy seeds for specific wildflowers. For me, the mix of wildflower seeds created a rainbow of color in my garden and the flowers look more wild than manicured, which was my aim.
What has delighted me the most is seeing the different colors and new flowers that appear almost daily in my garden. The mystery of what I will discover each morning is intense and it is thrilling to see what a tiny seed can accomplish.
A few of the flowers I have the pleasure of showcasing in my garden include: nasturtiums, hollyhocks, zinnias, phlox, bee balm, columbine, asters, marigolds, cosmos, sunflowers, tall sweet alyssum, black-eyed Susans (Spanish Eyes), cornflowers, and so many more varieties I have yet to learn what they are.
But it’s the color and appealing shapes of the variety that fill me with awe and inspire compliments from the neighbors. My camera is loving all the options available to me right now for the photo opportunities.
White hollyhock 
Hollyhock 
Sunflowers 
Hollyhock 
Marigold 
White hollyhocks 
Sunflower
Bringing wildflowers indoors
The variety of wildflowers also afford opportunities to bring their beauty indoors. Many of the flowers can be cut to create artistic bouquets. A sunflower mixed with zinnias, cosmos and marigolds are an imaginative, colorful array for a lovely, personal gift from your garden.
Cutting your flowers will also help the rejuvenation process so they continue to produce flowers.
The busy gardener who wants an appealing, no fuss garden with minimal maintenance, will love the wildflower garden.
