Wildflower Ideas For Theme Gardens

Main Theme Bloom Time Soil Conditions

There are prairie wildflowers that grow in forests and woodland areas where shade is present part or almost all of the time. Some are found on the outside borders of forests or in openings within a woodland area and others can be seen in the shade of deciduous forests. There are also woodland wildflowers that are a joy to add to any shady garden.

Wild Geranium (spring)		Geranium maculatum
Wild Columbine (spring to summer)		Aquilegia canadensis
Birds Foot Violet (spring)		Viola pedata
Showy Tick Trefoil (summer)		Desmodium canadense
Jack-In-The-Pulpit (spring)		Arisaema triphyllum
Bottle Gentian (fall)		Gentiana andrewsii
Shooting Star (spring)		Dodecatheon meadia
Bloodroot (spring)		Sanguinaria canadensis
Culver's Root (summer)		Veronicastrum virginicum
top

Wild Bergamot (summer)		Monarda fistulosa
Black-eyed Susan (summer)		Rudbeckia hirta
Spiderwort (early summer)		Tradescantia ohiensis
Boneset (late summer)		Eupatorium perfoliatum
Dense Blazingstar (summer)		Liatris spicata
Butterfly Plant (early summer)		Asclepias tuberosa
Sunflower, False (summer)		Helianthus helianthoides
Lupine (late spring)		Lupinus perennis
Purple Coneflower (summer)		Echinacea purpurea
Joe Pye Weed (late summer)		Eupatorium maculatum
Milkweed, Swamp (summer)		Asclepias incarnata
Goldenrod, all (summer to fall)		Solidago spp.
top

There are many kinds of wildflowers that are good for cutting. What could be more refreshing than bringing a fresh bouquet indoors to enjoy? Perennials will provide flowers for cutting every year while annuals usually need to be planted every year. The cutting time can vary season to season depending on the weather conditions.

An easy way to grow wildflowers almost anywhere is in containers. A wide variety of containers can be used but it's important to remember that containers such as clay pots are porous and your plants will require watering more frequently. Good drainage is very important and periodical light fertilization of a slow-released fertilizer is helpful. The root growth will not be as excessive in this environment but anyone can enjoy wildflowers and nature wherever they live.

Purple Coneflower (summer)		Echinacea purpurea
Black-eyed Susan (summer)		Rudbeckia hirta
Lance-leaved Coreopsis (summer)		Coreopsis lanceolata
Dense Blazingstar (summer)		Liatris spicata
Butterfly Plant (early summer)		Asclepias tuberosa
Sweet Alyssum (summer)		Lobulria maritima
Annual Baby's Breath (summer)		Gysophilia elegans
Cornflower (summer)		Centaurea cyanus
Shirley Poppy (summer)		Papaver rhoeas
California Poppy (summer)		Eschscholzia californica
top

Prairie wildflowers can adapt to rock garden conditions easily. You can create rock gardens for sun or partial shade and for dry or moist conditions. Choose your environmental preferences when selecting the species of wildflowers for your garden.

Wild Columbine (spring to summer)		Aquilegia canadensis
Birds Foot Violet (spring)		Viola pedata
Pasque Flower (spring)		Anemone patens wolfgangiana
Prairie Smoke (spring)		Geum triflorum
Blue Eyed Grass (spring)		Sisyrinchium campestre
Prairie Phlox (spring)		Phlox pilosa
Bottle Gentian (fall)		Gentiana andrewsii
Shooting Star (spring)		Dodecatheon meadia
top

What is xeriscape? It is techniques used in gardening which can reduce the amount of watering that is sometimes required in gardens. Drought tolerant wildflowers are an obvious choice when considering this method. Xeriscape designs take advantage of water draining from roofs, driveways and other surfaces as a method of watering plants. Grouping plants with similiar moisture needs and, in smaller gardens, adding mulch to aid in holding the water is also very helpful.

Lance-leaved Coreopsis (summer)		Coreopsis lanceolata
Black-eyed Susan (summer)		Rudbeckia Hirta
Yellow Coneflower (summer)		Ratibada pinnata
Butterfly Milkweed (early summer)		Asclepias tuberosa
Purple Prairie Clover (summer)		Petalostemum purpurea
Spiderwort (early summer)		Tradescantia ohiensis
Dense Blazingstar (summer)		Liatris spicata
Hoary Vervain (summer)		Verbena strita
New England Aster (fall)		Aster novae angliae
Rattlesnake Master (summer)		Eryngium yuccifolium
top

Deer, although a charming part of nature, can do considerable damage to a garden or planting. The plants listed below are a few most deer find unpalatable. It has been found that deer in different areas have different tastes but these are some of the best bets that we can recommend.

Lavendar Hyssop (summer)		Agastache foeniculum
Black-eyed Susan (summer)		Rudbeckia hirta
Lance-leaved coreopsis (summer)		Coreopsis lanceolata
Shooting Star (spring)		Dodecatheon meadia
Dense Blazingstar (summer)		Liatris spicata
Butterfly Plant (early summer)		Asclepias tuberosa
Rattlesnake Master (summer)		Eryngium yuccifolium
Nodding Pink Onion (summer)		Allium cernuum
Purple Coneflower (summer)		Echinacea purpurea
Goldenrod, all (summer to fall)		Solidago spp.
top