Each spring, Texas roadsides display wildflowers in colorful profusion. Other than the water provided by rainfall, these hardy plants expect no extra care or extreme measures to keep them blooming year after year. Adding wildflowers to a home landscape and garden welcomes warm weather and attracts pollinators to a vegetable garden. A gardener may purchase wildflower seeds at local nurseries or order them from vendors such as Wildseed Farms in Fredericksburg, Texas.
Sow wildflower seeds in the fall for all Texas hardiness zones. Select a site with good drainage and full sun. Clear the area of debris and plant materials. Turn the top level of soil – about 1 inch deep — and remove weeds or roots beneath the soil surface. Adding compost or potting soil helps the plants become established. However, amendments are not necessary for successful flowering.
Cast or distribute the seeds over the area. Because wildflower seeds are extremely small, it is best not to cover them with soil. A good distribution is achieved by using ½ the seeds in one direction followed by casting the remaining seeds from a perpendicular direction. Press the seeds gently into the soil by walking across the area. Then water thoroughly each week for six to eight weeks unless there is adequate rainfall. Wildflowers require no additional care through the winter.
Wildflower leaves and stems begin emerging in early spring followed in April and May by flowers. Unless the wildflower garden has exceptionally poor soil, fertilization is not needed. Remove weeds by hand during the growing season. Water the wildflowers only if conditions remain dry and the plants appear stressed. After the flowers finish blooming at the end of spring, give them time to self-seed for the following year before removing the dead materials.
Texas has several wildflower growing regions so select varieties that adapt or are native in the area. One pound of wildflower seed covers 2,500 square feet. To see examples of Texas wildflowers in bloom, checkout the photos and plant information from the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Many wildflowers grow well over the entire state. Some favorites are:
After wildflowers bloom, a gardener may collect the seeds for sowing the following year or trust nature to self-seed. Otherwise, plan to add new seeds every three or four years to ensure a healthy stand of spring wildflowers.
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