Wildflowers from seed: native mixes, stratification and care
Wildflower seed often has built-in dormancy. Sowing in autumn lets winter break it; sowing in spring usually needs seed chilled in advance. Success depends mostly on bare, low-fertility soil and little competition from grass.
Choosing seed
Buy seed of species native to your region where possible; they suit local soils and wildlife. Check whether a mix is annual (flowers the first year) or perennial (slower, longer lived). Avoid mixes that do not list their species.
Dormancy, stratification and scarification
Cold-moist stratification: keep seed mixed with damp sand in the fridge, typically 30 to 90 days depending on the species (see each plant), or sow in autumn. Scarification: nick or rub hard-coated seed such as lupine, baptisia and some legumes, or soak it in warm water. Many tiny seeds need light, so do not bury them.
Sowing a meadow or patch
Clear the ground of existing grass or weeds, rake to a rough tilth, scatter seed mixed with sand for even coverage, press in and water if dry. Fertile soil favours grass over flowers, so do not feed. Sow in autumn or early spring.
Care and conservation
Water young plants in dry weather, keep weeds down by hand, and cut meadows after seed has set. Wildflowers feed pollinators and birds, and nitrogen-fixing species such as lupine improve poor soil.
Plants in this guide
| Plant | Germination temp | Depth | Days | Light | Before sowing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milkweed Asclepias spp. | 65 to 75°F | cover or leave exposed | 14 to 28 | Either | Treat seed |
| Coneflower (Echinacea) Echinacea purpurea | 65 to 70°F | covered lightly | 10 to 28 | Either | Nothing needed |
| Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta | 68 to 72°F | cover very lightly | 7 to 14 | Needs light | Nothing needed |
| Coreopsis (tickseed) Coreopsis spp. | 65 to 75°F | cover or leave exposed | 9 to 12 | Either | Nothing needed |
| Yarrow Achillea millefolium | 65 to 70°F | lightly covered or exposed | 10 to 15 | Either | Nothing needed |
| Penstemon (beardtongue) Penstemon spp. | 70 to 70°F | surface; do not cover | 7 to 21 | Needs light | Treat seed |
| Baptisia (false indigo) Baptisia australis | see page | covered | 7 to 14 | Either | Treat seed |
| Lupine Lupinus spp. | 65 to 75°F | ¼ in (6 mm) | 14 to 21 | Cover | Treat seed |
| Columbine Aquilegia spp. | 70 to 75°F | do not cover | 10 to 28 | Needs light | Nothing needed |
| Poppy Papaver and Eschscholzia spp. | 60 to 75°F | surface | 7 to 21 | Needs light | Nothing needed |
| Cornflower Centaurea cyanus | 60 to 65°F | see page | 7 to 14 | Nothing needed | |
| Gaillardia (blanket flower) Gaillardia spp. | see page | surface | varies | Needs light | Nothing needed |