FAQs About Planting Wildflowers In Fall & Meadow Maintenance 

Curious about when and how to plant wildflower seeds in the fall? Or wondering what to do with your meadow as the growing season comes to an end? Click on your question below to jump to the answer.

For more information, visit our Wildflower Learning Center for all of our wildflower planting guides.

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Yes, you can sow wildflower seeds and fall - but getting the timing right is essential for success.

You will need to know two things: First, when a killing frost is going to sweep through your area and put an end to the growing season, and second, what seeds are suitable to plant in fall your climate.

When you know your USDA zone and average first frost date, you'll have the information you need to determine if a dormant fall planting or an active fall planting is best. 

• Find Your USDA Zone Here
• Find Your Frost Dates Here

For Climates With Freezing Winters
Generally Zones 1-6 | Northeast, Midwest, and The Rockies

When to plant:

• In areas with a deep winter freeze and shorter growing seasons, we recommend a dormant planting for seeds in fall. Dormant planting means spreading seeds after a few killing frosts, so that the seeds lay dormant over the winter.

What to expect:

• The goal of dormant planting is for seeds to lay inactive over the winter. Sowing should happen only after several killing frosts and when ground temperatures are continuously below 50°F.
• Germination will begin the following season after ground temperatures have warmed up to above 55°F.

What to plant:

• In these climates, you can sow annual wildflower seeds, perennial wildflower seeds, or a mix of annuals and perennials.

For Temperate Climates
Generally Zones 7-10 | Much of the Southeast and Southwest

When to plant:

• In areas with warmer winters, you have a longer growing season that allows for an active wildflower seeding in early fall. Timing is critical for success and seeds must be sown at least 8 weeks before the first frost date.
• You also have another option - to wait until after a killing frost to do a dormant planting for seeds as well (as mentioned above).

What to expect:

• In these areas you can plant quick-blooming annual wildflower seeds, or a mix that includes annuals and perennials, in fall for a nice display of fall color.
• You can plant perennial wildflower seeds to give them a head start on next year's blooms. The perennials will establish their root systems in the fall, and they will go dormant over the winter. Then, they'll be able to wake up and start growing in spring as soon as the soil warms up.

Areas with No Winter Freeze
Zones 11+ | Southern Florida/Texas/California, Southwest

When to plant:

• In these areas with long growing seasons and no winter freeze, you can plant almost all winter.
• In frost-free areas with intense summer heat, your best planting time is during fall for winter bloom, so you'll be able to enjoy a good bloom time before your inevitable burn-out once summer begins.
• In especially dry climates, it's always best to plant just before your rainiest season begins. This extra moisture will be essential for helping seeds germinate.

For more detailed planting instructions, please see our complete guide: How To Grow Wildflowers

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A dormant planting means that you are sowing wildflower seeds to lay dormant, or not actively growing, over later fall and winter months.

With a dormant planting, you spread seeds after a few killing frosts, when the ground has cooled to below 50°F, and it is too cold for the seeds to germinate. See your local soil temperature here

After the winter, germination will begin the following spring season, after ground temperatures have warmed up to above 55°F.  

Benefits of dormant planting:

• Cold Stratification: Many annual seeds, like Zinnias, and Sunflowers, have soft shells and can simply be sprinkled on bare soil for quick germination in warm weather. However, some seeds, including Lupine seeds and Milkweed seeds, have a hard coating that helps protect the outer shell from breaking and sprouting too early, and they require cold stratification before they will germinate and grow. The freeze and thaw cycle, as well as the added moisture of fall and spring precipitation, are both part of the natural cold stratification process. Dormant planting allows seeds to cold stratify outside, as they would in a natural setting.
• Learn More: What Is Cold Stratification
• Reduced Watering Needs: The natural snowmelt and rainfall of early spring are very helpful in supporting seed germination. We all know the saying, "April showers bring May flowers!" Having nature water your meadow can be especially helpful for large-scale plantings, or in areas that are difficult to water.
• Earlier Blooms: In taking advantage of the rainfall and earliest warm temperatures, wildflower meadows that are dormant planted can bloom 2-3 weeks earlier than those that are planted in spring.

Risks of dormant planting:

• Variable Weather: While seeds lay dormant, they are at risk of extreme weather such as wind and water, or even warm snaps or cold snaps that may reduce their viability. 
• Earlier Fading: Earlier blooms from annual wildflowers may mean that they complete their lifecycle earlier and fade earlier toward the end of the growing season. To balance that out, you can succession sow fresh annual wildflower seeds in spring or summer, or add patches of fresh seed to fill in bare spots in your meadow.
• Learn More: How To Add To Your Established Meadow
• Expert Tip: Keep some of your wildflower seeds stored in a cool, dry, dark place, in case you want to fill in patches at a later time.

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• Many wildflowers—especially native varieties—have clever mechanisms in place that help protect them from germinating too early in the spring or too late in the summer. These varieties re-seed naturally in the wild and stay dormant until they go through a period of darkness, moisture, and cold temperatures before they will germinate. This is known as Cold Stratification. 

In cold climates with winter freeze, dormant planting allows this process to happen naturally. 

If you're planting in spring, or if you live in a warm climate without frosty winters, you can pre-treat the seeds that need cold stratification to encourage proper germination. Our guides provide detailed information about how to prepare seeds for planting:

• How To Scarify Seeds For Spring Planting
• How To Cold Stratify Seeds For Spring Planting

Wildflowers That Require Scarification or Cold Stratification:

• Milkweed (Asclepias)
• Lupine (Lupinus)
• St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
• Prairie Coneflower (Ratibida)
• Prairie Violet (Viola pedatifida)
• Pincushion Flower (Scabiosa)
• Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris)
• Perennial Sunflowers (Helianthus)
• Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum)
• Rudbeckia (most varieties)
• Coneflower (some varieties)
• Soapwort (Saponaria ocymoides)
• Primrose (Oenothera speciosa)
• Larkspur (Delphinium)
• Shooting Star (Dodecatheon meadia)
• Heliopsis
• Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
• Ironweed (Vernonia gigantea)

Note: none of our regional wildflower seed mixtures need to be soaked or chilled before planting.

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Different wildflower seed species have different lifecycles, which means that if your mix contains annuals, perennials, and/or biennials, it will look different from year to year.

Annuals have a one-year life cycle, and bloom 6-8 weeks after planting to provide bright color in the first season.

• Although annuals produce seeds that may drop at the end of the season, annuals do not reliably reseed themselves, so you may not see them return in year 2, year 3, and beyond.
• Expert Tip: For dependable results, most gardeners reseed annuals for each new growing season. Popular annuals include Sunflowers, Zinnias, Cosmos, Poppies, and more.
• Learn More: How To Add To Your Established Meadow

Biennials complete their life cycle in two years, and you typically see them flower only in the second year.

• The first year they develop root systems and grow stems and leaves. In the second year, the plant will flower and then die.
• Biennials include Sweet William, Foxglove, and Hollyhocks, among others. Some species may reseed or volunteer on their own in ideal conditions, but you may not see them return.

Perennials don't typically bloom in their first season - they spend their first growing season developing healthy root systems and some foliage.

• Generally, once they are mature, perennials will start to bloom in year two or three - and they return for many years to come.
• Popular perennials include Coneflowers, Milkweed, Lupines, and Daisies. If you have not seen them bloom in year one or two of your meadow - be patient, they are still on their way!
• Learn More: Plant Life Cycles: Annuals, Perennials, and Biennials

There are other natural factors that can influence how well your wildflower meadow blooms.

• Does your soil type and soil health support that plant?
• Did that plant receive enough daylight to flower?
• Did that plant receive too much or too little water?
• Was there a heat wave or a cold snap that could have stressed your plants?

How do you know what you're growing? Visit the product page for the wildflower seed species or wildflower seed mix that you're growing. There, you will see information about the species (or a list of species in the mix), and their lifecycle(s).

Growing and gardening puts us in the ebb and flow of nature's changing seasons. Our team is here to help troubleshoot and answer any questions you may have - Contact us.

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A quick reminder about the lifecycles of wildflowers!

• Annuals such as Cosmos, Zinnias, and Sunflowers have a one-year life cycle, so while they may reseed themselves in ideal conditions, not all annuals will bloom in year two. We recommend sowing fresh annual seeds each spring.
• Biennials such as Sweet William, Foxglove, and Hollyhocks, complete their life cycle in two years, so if they bloomed this year, you are not likely to see them in year two. Like annuals, they may reseed in ideal conditions.
• Perennials are the flowers that will return year after year. Although, they don't typically bloom in their first season - they spend their first growing season developing healthy root systems and some foliage. Generally, once they are mature, perennials will start to bloom in year two or three - and they return for many years to come. Popular perennials include Coneflowers, Milkweed, Lupines, and Daisies.
• How do you know what will come back? Visit the product page for the wildflower seed species or wildflower seed mix that you're growing. There, you will see information about the species (or a list of species in the mix), and their lifecycle(s).

Learn More about resowing annuals: How To Add To Your Established Meadow

Learn More about wildflower lifecycles: Plant Life Cycles: Annuals, Perennials, and Biennials

Learn More about long-term meadow care: End Of Season Meadow Maintenance

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That depends on a few factors!

• First, it depends on the type of species that you grow. Some species will die back to the ground after a hard frost. Some species will dry out, leaving their stems and seed heads standing over the winter months. If you're growing a wildflower mix, you'll likely have some of both.
• Second, it depends on your climate. If you live in a warm or temperate climate, you may have some evergreen foliage, in particular, if you have perennials growing in the meadow. The colder the climate, the fewer plants will be evergreen.
• Finally, it depends on how you want to maintain the meadow. You have the choice to leave stems and seed heads standing to offer food for birds and overwintering habitat for pollinators - or choose to mow down the spent flowers.

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One of the beauties of a wildflower meadow is that it is relatively low maintenance — but that’s low maintenance, not no maintenance. When weeds begin to grow in your planting, here are some tips for controlling weeds:

• Try to pull or cut back any weeds before they go to seed! If you can, pull the weeds up, roots and all, when they are young. It can be easier to do so when the soil is damp, such as after rain. Take a stroll through the meadow often, with scissors in hand for picking bouquets, and cut any weeds down as low to the ground as possible.
• At the end of the growing season, if the weeds have already gone to seed, and you can cut them down and put them in the trash, that's a good option to prevent weed seeds from spreading. 
• In very large meadows where hand-weeding is not possible, you may want to consider tilling and re-planting seeds if the weeds have taken over dramatically. Feel free to contact us for recommendations for your planting.

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We encourage our gardeners to leave meadows standing all winter as an important habitat for local wildlife and pollinators. In sloped or hard-to-reach areas, there is no need to mow wildflowers!

Wildflower meadows can be mowed just once a year, either in early spring or late fall. If you prefer to mow in the fall, you can do so late in the season after the wildflowers have all bloomed and dropped seeds. Mow the area down to 3” or 8” with a weed trimmer, brush hog, or mower set on a high setting. Rake the clippings and debris away in spring to make way for new growth.

Learn More in our guide: End Of Season Meadow Maintenance

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Many people ask this, and of course, the answer is "Yes, definitely!" Red poppies, for example, have an endless number of flower variations. If you particularly like one form, save the seed from the little pod that's left after the flower fades (leave it on the plant until it's good and dry). Store the seed in a dry envelope until next spring, and you'll have more of the exact same flowers. 

You can choose your favorite flower types and save the seed for more of the same. Saved seed like this makes great gifts for your gardening friends!

Learn More: How To Harvest Sunflower Seeds

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