Wildflower Gardens and Water Conservation

A wildflower is a non-cultivated flower growing naturally in the landscape.  Wildflower gardens may consist of native or non-native plants that have naturalized on a site. They are often combined with grasses to provide a more natural and attractive look and feel.

Yellow wildflowers
Wildflower garden in Montana dominated by composite flowers Photo credit: Occidental Botanist Flickr CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Benefits of wildflowers

  • Attract beneficial insects such as butterflies and bees
  • Reduce water use in the landscape
  • Adapted to harsher soil conditions than many other landscape plants
  • Bloom throughout growing season
  • They can be annual, biennial, or perennial
  • Make good cut flowers
Orange, blue, and red wildflowers
A wildflower meadow on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Photo credit: Jim Crotty Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Tips for creating the wildflower garden

  • Choose seed mixtures developed for the local climate and soil conditions
  • Control weeds before planting
  • Avoid aggressively spreading species

See the following additional resources for more detailed information on planting and selection of wildflowers for the water-wise landscape:

Additional Resources:

Southeast

North Carolina – Wildflowers