A wildflower (or wild flower) is a flower that grows in the wild, meaning it was not intentionally seeded or planted. The term implies that the plant probably is neither a

hybrid Hybrid may refer to: Science * Hybrid (biology), an offspring resulting from cross-breeding ** Hybrid grape, grape varieties produced by cross-breeding two ''Vitis'' species ** Hybridity, the property of a hybrid plant which is a union of two dif ...

nor a selected cultivar that is in any way different from the way it appears in the wild as a native plant, even if it is growing where it would not naturally. The term can refer to the flowering plant as a whole, even when not in bloom, and not just the flower. "Wildflower" is not an exact term. More precise terms include ''native species'' (naturally occurring in the area, see flora), ''exotic'' or, better, '' introduced species'' (not naturally occurring in the area), of which some are labelled ''

invasive species An invasive species otherwise known as an alien is an introduced organism that becomes overpopulated and harms its new environment. Although most introduced species are neutral or beneficial with respect to other species, invasive species ad ...

'' (that out-compete other plants – whether native or not), ''imported'' (introduced to an area whether deliberately or accidentally) and ''naturalized'' (introduced to an area, but now considered by the public as native). In the United Kingdom, the organization

Plantlife International Plantlife is the international conservation membership charity working to secure a world rich in wild plants and fungi. It is the only UK membership charity dedicated to conserving wild plants and fungi in their natural habitats and helping peo ...

instituted the "County Flowers scheme" in 2002, see County flowers of the United Kingdom for which members of the public nominated and voted for a wildflower emblem for their county. The aim was to spread awareness of the heritage of native species and about the need for conservation, as some of these species are endangered. For example, Somerset has adopted the

cheddar pink ''Dianthus gratianopolitanus'', commonly known as the Cheddar pink or clove pink, is a species of plant in the family Caryophyllaceae. It is a herbaceous perennial, hardy to zones 4–8. It grows to a height of 0.5 to 1 feet, blooming from May ...

('' Dianthus gratianopolitanus''), London the

rosebay willowherb ''Chamaenerion angustifolium'' is a perennial herbaceous flowering plant in the willowherb family Onagraceae. It is known in North America as fireweed, in some parts of Canada as great willowherb, in Britain and Ireland as rosebay willowherb. In ...

(''Chamerion angustifolium'') and Denbighshire/Sir Ddinbych in Wales the rare limestone woundwort ('' Stachys alpina''). Annual and perennial wildflowers Perennial meadows thrive best on poor soils because the grasses compete less with the wildflowers. If you have rich soil, it is worth removing the top layer and sowing directly into dug or rotovated sub-soil. The difference between annual and perennial wildflowers: from the definition of “annual” – to appear once a year and this applies directly to wildflowers (and all plants in general!). Annual wildflowers bloom grow vibrantly all season long. Then come winter they die, just like ''all'' ''annual'' plants. On the other hand, perennial wildflowers will come back every spring for many years. Annuals grow, bloom and die all in the same year. You can also collect the seeds at the end of the season and replant them yourself - and this extra work will give you another bloom next season. For these reasons, it is often thought that perennials are the better option. Mainly because they show their face year after year. But on the other hand, they grow slowly and will not bloom in the first year. When and where to sow wildflower meadows Sow during March and April or in September, depending on soil conditions (in temperate climates). On lighter soils, autumn-sown seeds generally germinate and establish quickly, although some will not come up until the following spring. This delay makes it advisable to wait until March or April on heavy soils, as waterlogging may cause the seed and seedlings to rot during winter. Wildflowers for pollinators, birds and insects Adding a wildflower meadow to your garden is the best way to attract more

bees Bees are winged insects closely related to wasps and ants, known for their roles in pollination and, in the case of the best-known bee species, the western honey bee, for producing honey. Bees are a monophyletic lineage within the superfamil ...

and encourages them to collect more

nectar Nectar is a sugar-rich liquid produced by plants in glands called nectaries or nectarines, either within the flowers with which it attracts pollinating animals, or by extrafloral nectaries, which provide a nutrient source to animal mutualists ...

and

pollen Pollen is a powdery substance produced by seed plants. It consists of pollen grains (highly reduced microgametophytes), which produce male gametes (sperm cells). Pollen grains have a hard coat made of sporopollenin that protects the gametophyt ...

to help feed their colony. Wildflowers are also a substantial food source for pollinators like bees and

butterflies Butterflies are insects in the macrolepidopteran clade Rhopalocera from the Order (biology), order Lepidoptera, which also includes moths. Adult butterflies have large, often brightly coloured wings, and conspicuous, fluttering flight. The ...

. Over the last hundred years, it’s estimated the UK has gon
from 7.5 million acres of wildflower meadows to just 26,000 acres
One of the repercussions of this decline is an enormous drop in the population of pollinators, including bees. Gardens can support good numbers and a wide range of pollinators, but worryingly bees and other pollinators are in decline
Gardeners can make a difference
to help reverse this trend. Due to the rich diversity of plants growing in Britain’s gardens, these outside spaces, and the gardeners who tend them, are critical to support a wide range of pollinators. There can be more pollinators in our nation’s gardens than in surrounding agricultural land.

Examples

* ''

Adonis aestivalis ''Adonis aestivalis'', the summer pheasant's-eye, is a medicinal and ornamental plant. It is native to Europe and Asia but has been introduced elsewhere, such as the western and eastern parts of the United States, as an ornamental plant. In part ...

'', summer pheasant's-eye * ''

Anagallis ''Anagallis'' is a genus of about 20–25 species of flowering plants in the family Primulaceae, commonly called pimpernel. The scarlet pimpernel referred to in literature is part of this genus. The botanical name is from the Greek ( 'again') ...

'', pimpernel * '' Agrostemma githago'', common corn-cockle * '' Alnus glutinosa'', common alder * '' Anthemis arvensis'', corn chamomile * ''

Callirhoe involucrata ''Callirhoe involucrata'' is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family known by the common name purple poppy-mallow. It is native to the United States and northern Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican St ...

'', purple poppy-mallow * ''

Centaurea cyanus ''Centaurea cyanus'', commonly known as cornflower or bachelor's button, is an annual flowering plant in the family Asteraceae native to Europe. In the past, it often grew as a weed in cornfields (in the broad sense of "corn", referring to gra ...

'', cornflower * '' Coreopsis tinctoria'', plains coreopsis * '' Dianthus barbatus'', sweet William * '' Digitalis purpurea'', foxglove * ''Dimorphotheca aurantiaca'', glandular Cape marigold * '' Eschscholzia californica'', California poppy *'' Ficaria verna'', lesser celandine * ''

Glebionis segetum ''Glebionis segetum'' (syn. ''Chrysanthemum segetum'') is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, probably native only to the eastern Mediterranean region but now naturalized in western and northern Europe as well as China and par ...

'', corn marigold * ''

Gypsophila elegans ''Gypsophila elegans'', the annual baby's-breath or showy baby's-breath, is an ornamental plant native to Asia and Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical siz ...

'', annual baby's-breath * '' ''Lantana spp.'', shrub verbenas * '' Papaver rhoeas'', common poppy * '' Petasites hybridus'', butterbur * ''

Phlox drummondii ''Phlox drummondii'' (commonly annual phlox or Drummond's phlox) is a flowering plant in the genus ''Phlox'' of the family (biology), family Polemoniaceae. native plant, Native to Texas, it is also widely distributed in the southeastern United St ...

'', annual phlox * '' Potentilla sterilis'', strawberryleaf cinquefoil * ''

Prunus padus ''Prunus padus'', known as bird cherry, hackberry, hagberry, or Mayday tree, is a flowering plant in the rose family. It is a species of cherry, a deciduous small tree or large shrub up to tall. It is the type species of the subgenus '' Padus' ...

'', bird cherry * ''

Silene latifolia ''Silene latifolia'' subsp. ''alba'' (formerly ''Melandrium album''), the white campion is a dioecious flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae, native to most of Europe, Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is a herbaceous annual, occasio ...

'', white campion * ''Tussilago farfara'', coltsfoot * ''Ulmus sp.'', elm * '' Viola riviniana'', common dog-violet * '' Viola tricolor'', wild pansy

References

External links

{{Commons category-inline, Wild flowers
Wildflower Magazine
promotes the use and conservation of wildflowers and native plants, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Formerly published by the North American Native Plant Society
Plantlife, UK organization
Information on 1250 native plant species to North Cyprus.
Ontario Wildflowers
Detailed information about wildflowers of Ontario (Canada) and Northeastern North America
NPIN: Native Plant DatabaseNative Plant Database
from the North American Native Plant Society Plants Flowers

Examples

See also

References

External links