By Mike "The Seed Man" Lizotte
There are several factors that go into a successful wildflower planting. A couple of important elements that I discuss often with our customers are sunlight conditions and soil composition. In a perfect growing situation, we would all get 6 hours of sun and have well-balanced soil with perfect amounts of silt, clay, and nutrients — but in nature, and in our own yards and meadows, some variability is to be expected. Here are tips that will help you determine if your area will be successful when planting wildflowers in partial shade conditions.
Sunlight: Defining Partial Shade
Let’s first discuss sunlight. When we refer to “full sun” we are defining that as an area that gets six or more hours a day. So when you are planning your meadow or wildflower planting, if the area gets 6 or more hours of sun, we would consider that ‘full sun’ and you can grow just about any of our mixtures and species that we sell.
If the area you are thinking about planting wildflowers only gets 3 - 4 hours, or what we would define as Partial Shade, don’t be discouraged. We offer several wildflower mixtures and species that will grow very well in these conditions.
Not Sure How Much Sunlight Your Planting Area Receives?
Here are some questions you can ask yourself to understand your site and determine if your partial shade area will support a wildflower meadow. These simple observations can go a long way in determining your success.
- How much is currently growing in the area you're thinking of planting?
This is a good indicator that can help determine if your wildflower planting will be successful or not. Ideally, we want to see existing growth in the area you are thinking about planting. Existing growth tells us two important things; you are getting enough sun and the soil conditions will work. If the area currently supports growth, such as weeds or grasses, that is a good sign that your wildflowers should grow and thrive there as well.
On the other hand, if the area you want to plant has very limited growth, with lots of bare spots, that is a pretty good sign that this area might not be a good choice for starting a wildflower planting. This would indicate that that area is probably getting less than the 3-4 hours of sun needed to successfully grow and establish a wildflower meadow.
- Are plants growing in your ‘partially shaded’ area also found on sunny parts of your property?
If this is the case, you are probably getting more sun than you realize, and wildflowers would thrive very well.
However, if you see the landscape drastically change from grasses and weeds in the sunny areas to damp soil, ferns, and/or plants that are found only in your partially shaded areas, that is usually a sign that it might be too shady.
Soil: Wildflowers Are Adaptable
The second element I always discuss is soil composition. Well, the great thing about planting a wildflower meadow is that wildflowers do not need ‘perfect’ soil conditions. If we were planning a vegetable garden, we would want to make sure we are using the best soil we can find, loaded with compost and microbes, in hopes of growing that prized tomato and having a bountiful harvest. Unlike tomatoes, wildflowers can tolerate a wide variety of soils, from clay to sand to silt. If the area currently supports growth, your wildflowers should thrive just fine!
Wildflowers For Partial Shade
We have formulated our Partial Shade Wildflower Seed Mix with limited sunlight in mind. This mix is a hardy blend of annuals and perennials that should succeed in areas that may only get 3-4 hours of sun daily. Under proper conditions, when soil temperatures over 55°F and adequate water, you should see seedling 7-10 days after germination, followed by flowering in 4- 6 weeks.
Our Top 12 Wildflowers For Partial Shade:
- Baby's Breath
- Bellflower
- California Poppy
- Cornflower
- Echinacea
- Forget-Me-Not
- Four O'Clock
- Foxglove
- Johnny Jump-Up
- Scarlet Flax
- Sweet Alyssum
- Sweet William
Wildflower Seeds For Shady Areas
Wildflowers that tolerate part shade can add color to areas that may receive just morning or afternoon sun, and can be a good choice for planting under trees and along fencelines.
Partial Shade Wildflower Seed Mix is a colorful, varied mix of 26 annual and perennial wildflowers. A complementary color palette of pinks, reds, blues, and golds will brighten up an...
Learn MorePartial Shade Wildflower Seed Mix Partial Shade Wildflower Seed MixAs low as $9.95Per 1/4 PoundPartial Shade Wildflower Seed Mix is a colorful, varied mix of 26 annual and perennial wildflowers. A complementary color palette of pinks, reds, blues, and golds will brighten up any part-shade garden or meadow for many seasons to come. Hearty blooms will attract pollinators from summer through fall. Plant in an area with at least 4 hours of sun per day. This mix contains 100% pure, non-GMO and neonicotinoid-free seeds, and is guaranteed to grow.Learn MoreThis quick-blooming, fragrant annual has been a staple of the meadow and garden for centuries. Although blooming mostly white, Sweet Alyssum will sometimes surprise with a touch of p...
Learn MoreSweet Alyssum Seeds Sweet Alyssum Lobularia maritimaAs low as $9.95Per 1/4 PoundThis quick-blooming, fragrant annual has been a staple of the meadow and garden for centuries. Although blooming mostly white, Sweet Alyssum will sometimes surprise with a touch of pink blooms. Growing to be 8-16” tall, this smaller beauty can be planted in the front of the garden or meadow or even in containers. Sweet Alyssum is deer resistant and tolerates partial shade. All of the seed we handle at American Meadows is non-GMO, neonicotinoid-free and guaranteed to grow. Annual.Learn MoreBring show-stopping color to your shady meadow or garden with our Shade Wildflower Collection. Our wildflower experts have designed this collection with two annual and perennial vari...
Learn MoreShade Wildflower Seed Collection Plains Coreopsis, Scarlet Flax, Sweet William, Purple Coneflower Coreopsis tinctoria, Linum grandiflorum rubrum, Dianthus barbatus, Echinacea purpurea$31.95Per 1 PoundBring show-stopping color to your shady meadow or garden with our Shade Wildflower Collection. Our wildflower experts have designed this collection with two annual and perennial varieties, including Plains Coreopsis, Sweet William and more, that thrive in partial shade, bringing gorgeous color one variety at a time, year after year. All of the seed we handle at American Meadows is non-GMO, neonicotinoid-free and guaranteed to grow.Learn MoreA popular wildflower around the world, Forget-Me-Not’s soft blue blooms with charming yellow centers delight in the early season garden or meadow. Whether you’re planting to cele...
Learn MoreForget Me Not Seeds Forget Me Not Myosotis sylvaticaAs low as $31.95 Sale $30.36Per 1/4 PoundA popular wildflower around the world, Forget-Me-Not’s soft blue blooms with charming yellow centers delight in the early season garden or meadow. Whether you’re planting to celebrate the life of a loved one, or simply love watching the delicate blue blooms sway gently in the breeze, this wildflower always brings a sense of joy to the landscape. Forget-me-nots tolerate shade and partial shade, as well as moist soil and humid environments. All of the seed we carry at American Meadows is non-GMO, neonicotinoid-free and guaranteed to grow. Perennial.Learn More