How to plant a Pennsylvania wildflower garden

More and more gardeners are turning away from ornamentals in favor of native wildflowers, and I’m not surprised.

There are many reasons to welcome wildflowers to your landscape. Wildflower gardens are an oasis for diminishing pollinator populations facing habitat loss. Made up of native plants, they’re easy to establish and maintain. They help preserve biodiversity by providing food and shelter for local wildlife. And there’s no denying their beauty.

If they are planted and cared for properly, wildflower gardens are an opportunity to impact your local ecosystem in a big way.

Why native wildflowers?
Choosing Pennsylvania wildflowers
Planting in the fall for success in the spring
Purchasing seeds and plants
Pennsylvania wildflowers

Why native wildflowers?

You don’t have to be a full-blown nature conservationist to see why choosing native plant varieties for your garden is a no-brainer. Native plants are best suited to the weather, sunlight and seasons in your region. In Pennsylvania, as with most of the Midwest, native plants grow in a variety of environments under different conditions — wet or dry, sun or shade, soils with high or low fertility and acidic or clay-like soils. There are varieties in bloom throughout the growing season. They can provide food and shelter to wildlife. They help control erosion and filter stormwater.

So what does that mean to you?

Because native plants are adapted to your climate, they will require less maintenance.
Because they are versatile in many environments, you shouldn’t have to alter the growing conditions in your garden for success.
Because they bloom from spring through fall, your garden has the potential to be vibrant and colorful throughout the growing season.
Because local wildlife depend on native plants, you can help struggling populations facing habitat loss.
Because they help manage runoff, native plants can improve the overall health of your yard.

If you take the time to make the right choices for your garden, planting natives can save you time and money, while helping the environment simultaneously.

Choosing Pennsylvania wildflowers

Although native wildflowers have a lot of advantages over exotic plant varieties, it’s still important to choose plants suited to the growing conditions of your garden.

Things to consider:

1. What kind of soil do you have? Is it heavy clay or silty loam? Is it high or low in organic matter? Does it dry out quickly or hold moisture?

2. Is your garden in sun, partial sun or shade?

3. How much room do you have available?

By asking these questions in advance and choosing plants with similar needs, your garden will thrive with less care. You can determine which wildflowers are suited to the growing conditions offered by your garden throughout the year by visiting a nearby nature preserve in the spring, summer and fall. Observing native plants in their natural habitat will help you gauge what you’ll have the easiest time growing and visiting throughout the year will help you plan for each season.

Planting in the fall for success in the spring

In Pennsylvania, spring to early summer and fall are the best times to plant wildflower gardens. Follow these steps to successfully establish your wildflower garden:

1. Soil, sunlight and size. These are the three biggest factors you need to consider before choosing natives, as mentioned above. You need to determine how many hours of direct sunlight your garden gets, complete a soil test and measure the size of your garden before purchasing seed. This will help you determine what type of seed and how much seed to buy.

2. Remove any turf and weeds. Before you plant your garden, you’ll need to remove turf and weeds. You can try doing this by hand or by putting black sheet mulch over the area to smother any vegetation underneath.

Purchasing seeds and plants

Always purchase wildflowers from a reputable source that offers only plants grown in-house. Collecting plants from the wild or purchasing from a nursery selling plants collected from the wild causes depletion of native species and disruption of the local ecosystem. Additionally, plants collected from the wild rarely survive relocation.

You can start your search for a reputable nursery by calling your local Soil and Water Conservation District or you can check out this list of Native Pollinator Plant Nurseries and Seed Companies.

Pennsylvania wildflowers

Spring wildflowers

Wild ginger
Size: 4-8 inches
Color: Maroon
Season: April to May
Growing conditions: Moist shade. Ground cover.

Jacob’s ladder, Greek valerian
Size: 10-15 inches
Color: Pink
Season: April to May
Growing conditions: Moist. Shade.

Dwarf crested iris
Size: 4-12 inches
Color: Blue/violet
Season: April to May
Growing conditions: Moist to dry. Partial shade to part sun.

Columbine
Size: 1-2 feet
Color: Red & yellow
Season: April to June
Growing conditions: Moist to dry. Partial shade to sun.

Blue wild indigo
Size: 2-4 feet
Color: Blue/purple
Season: April to June
Growing conditions: Moist to dry. Sun. Shrubby.

Virginia bluebells
Size: 1-2 feet
Color: Blue
Season: April to June
Growing conditions: Wet to moist. Shade to partial sun.

Wild geranium, Cranesbill
Size: 1-3 feet
Color: Pink
Season: April to July
Growing conditions: Moist to dry. Shade to partial shade.

Foamflower
Size: 8-12 inches
Color: White
Season: April to July
Growing conditions Moist. Shade.

Wild bleeding heart
Size: 1-2 feet
Color: Pink
Season: April to September
Growing conditions: Moist to dry. Partial shade.

Green-and-gold
Size: 6-12 inches
Color: Yellow
Season: April-October
Growing conditions: Moist to dry. Sun to partial shade.

Resources

Penn State Extension

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How to plant a Pennsylvania wildflower garden - Farm and Dairy (2024)

FAQs

When should you plant wildflower seeds in Pennsylvania? ›

Planting in the fall for success in the spring. In Pennsylvania, spring to early summer and fall are the best times to plant wildflower gardens. Follow these steps to successfully establish your wildflower garden: 1.

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What is the best month to plant wildflower seeds? ›

September-December is the most favorable time to plant your wildflowers. Some species will quickly germinate, allowing a seedling enough time to establish a healthy root system before going dormant during the winter months. Some species will not germinate until the ground temperature is above 55 degrees F.

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Can I just sprinkle wildflower seeds? ›

If there is no vegetation in the space where you plan on growing wildflowers, your chances of success may be a bit better if you simply toss the seeds onto the ground. However, if you really want to ensure their success, preparing the soil is highly recommended!

Learn More Now ›

Should I soak wildflower seeds before planting? ›

If possible, give your seeds a thorough, gentle soaking. (See What To Expect below for more watering tips.) Leave seeds uncovered. Unlike vegetable seeds, tiny wildflower seeds require light to germinate.

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Should you water wildflower seeds right after planting? ›

All seeds, including wildflower seeds, need ample moisture to germinate and to develop into healthy seedlings. Best results will be obtained by soaking the planted areas thoroughly and maintaining consistent moisture for 4-6 weeks.

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What are the disadvantages of a wildflower meadow? ›

Weeds and Competing Species:

Weeds can infiltrate the meadow and compete with wildflowers for resources. Regular maintenance, including weed removal and occasional mowing, is necessary to manage unwanted plant species.

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Can you plant too many wildflower seeds? ›

Be sure to use only the recommended amount of seed — wildflowers do not grow well in overcrowded conditions! For even distribution, we recommend mixing 1 part seed with 8-10 parts clean, dry sand.

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Do wildflowers grow back every year? ›

WILL MY WILDFLOWERS COME BACK? WILL MY WILDFLOWERS COME BACK? Yes, both native annual and perennial species will return year after year once they become established and are allowed to reseed.

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Should you cover wildflower seeds with soil? ›

To allow the seeds full sunlight, do not cover them in any way. After planting, give the area a good soaking. We recommend watering regularly (but not soaking the area) until seedlings are about 6-8" tall.

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How do you prepare the ground for wildflower seeds? ›

To prepare the seed bed, rake or till the surface of the soil to a maximum depth of one inch. Smooth the area by raking. Remove any leaf litter or debris prior to seeding. Combine the seed with a carrier such as sand.

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Should I mulch over wildflower seeds? ›

It is best to leave these deeply buried seeds undisturbed in a dormant state beneath the soil. Seeds can be sown over mulch as long as the mulch is not too thick.

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Will wildflower seeds grow if I just throw them? ›

It can't be said too often: preparation is the key to success when it comes to growing a meadow or garden. Gardeners often ask, “Can I just toss seeds in the grass?” We do NOT recommend it! Planting perennials and bulbs into poorly prepared soil will result in disappointing growth as well.

How to plant a Pennsylvania wildflower garden - Farm and Dairy (2024)