How To Grow Wildflower Seeds

Planning your wildflower planting includes determining what to plant, where to plant, how much seed you need, and when to plant your seeds.

• Be sure to check out our complete guide to choosing the best wildflower seeds for your unique growing conditions. Learn More: How To Choose Wildflower Seeds

• Full sun is essential for most wildflower varieties, especially to encourage good seed germination. For full-sun wildflowers, choose a spot that receives at least 6+ hours of sun. For partial-shade wildflowers, choose a spot that receives 3-4+ hours of sun.
• Good soil drainage is a requirement for healthy root growth.
• The test is simple: If anything is growing in the area, even if it's just grasses or weeds, the area should support wildflowers without concern.

• It’s important to plant the recommended amount of seed for the best results. Too little, and your planting will be sparse. Too much, and your seedlings may be crowded, resulting in poor growth and flowering. (Too much seed is one of the biggest problems we see with new meadows.)
• Measure the area where you will plant your wildflowers and calculate the square footage of your planting area. Then, reference the seed coverage rates for your wildflower seeds or wildflower mix. This information is listed under the “Key Features” of every product page.
• All of our wildflower seed mixes are conveniently crafted to use the same coverage rate, however, seed coverage rates vary greatly with individual wildflower species.
• Learn More: How Much Seed Do I Need?

• You can plant wildflower seeds in spring, summer, and fall - the most important thing to know is your frost dates!

When To Plant Wildflower Seeds In Spring: 

• In all climates, plant wildflower seeds after your last frost date. Seeds will germinate as soon as your soil temperature has warmed to 55°F or warmer. 
• Spring is a popular time for growing both annual and perennial wildflowers. Sowing seeds in spring allows you to take advantage of a typically rainier season to help water your seedlings. Plus, you'll be able to see their growth start right away that spring and summer.

When To Plant Wildflower Seeds In Summer:

• Yes, you can plant wildflower seeds in the summer. However, long days of hot sun can easily dry out the soil or stress your seedlings. Be sure to water regularly to encourage germination and help seedlings survive extreme temperatures.
• Summer is a popular time for sowing quick-growing annual wildflowers.

When To Plant Wildflower Seeds In Fall:

• If you live in a cold-winter climate, fall planting won't give your seedlings enough time to establish before frost, so we recommend dormant planting. This means planting wildflower seeds after 2-3 killing frosts, and the ground is below 50°F and has begun to freeze. Seeds will lay dormant for the winter and germinate in spring. Be sure to wait until the ground is frozen to ensure seeds don't sprout early.
• If you live in a warm-winter climate, fall planting is a great option for planting perennial wildflowers and taking advantage of cooler temperatures to encourage seedling growth. Make sure you sow seeds at least 2 months before your first frost date to give seedlings time to establish.
• Fall is a popular time to sow long-lived perennial wildflowers or wildflower mixes.

See Our Frost Date Chart Here   |   Check Your Soil Temperature Here

Removing existing growth, including grass and weeds, is a critical step before planting wildflowers for the best results in your meadow! Remove grass and weeds and loosen the soil to give your seedlings the best chance of success. Proper site preparation dramatically improves germination, seedling survival, and overall meadow success.

• See our detailed guide to dig in: How To Remove Your Grass & Weeds

Can I just throw wildflower seeds into my lawn or yard?

• Scattering wildflower seeds without preparing the soil rarely yields good results. Wildflower seeds need good seed-to-soil contact to germinate. 

Do I have to till before I plant wildflower seeds?

• Tilling is just one option! There are many techniques you can use to repare for planting, including no-till options. You can use hand tools, a sod cutter, a rototiller, solarization/smothering, or organic herbicides to clear your soil of weeds and grasses.

Do I need a soil test before planting wildflowers?

• No! The beauty of wildflowers is that they thrive in poor soils. If anything is currently growing in the planting area, even just grass or weeds, the area should support wildflowers without concern.

Can I add seeds to my established meadow? 

• Follow our guide for adding supplemental seeds to your meadow for a boost of color. Learn More: How To Add To Your Established Meadow

1. Mix your seeds with sand. Put your seeds into a bucket, bowl, or bag with plenty of extra room. Mix in roughly eight parts dry sand to one part seed. (For example: 8 cups sand for 1 cup seed.) Sand helps you spread seeds more evenly, and you'll be able to see where you've sown. Use clean, dry, bagged sand to avoid weed seeds and clumping.
2. Then, sow your seeds in two batches. Separate your seed & sand mixture into roughly two equal parts. With the first half, walk back and forth across your site from north to south, spreading the seeds as evenly as possible. Then, take the second half and walk east to west, spreading seeds in a similar manner. 
3. Next, compress your seeds into the soil. After you’ve scattered your seeds, it’s important to compress them for good seed-to-soil contact. Compression helps germination; ensures access to moisture and nutrients; prevents wind and water from moving seeds around; and helps anchor your wildflowers' root systems.
   
   • In small spaces, you can use your feet to compress seeds into the soil, either barefoot or in shoes. In larger areas, lay a piece of cardboard or plywood over the sown seeds and walk all over it to evenly compress a larger area. For the largest plantings, use a seed roller walk-behind tool or tractor attachment. 
4. Water your seeds. If possible, give your seeds a thorough, gentle soaking. (See What To Expect below for more watering tips.)
5. Leave seeds uncovered. Unlike vegetable seeds, tiny wildflower seeds require light to germinate.

Note! This technique is best for direct sowing wildflower seeds and mixes. If you want to sow individual wildflower seed species like Sunflowers, or you want to start seeds indoors, visit our learning center: All Wildflower How-To Guides

"Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience." - Ralph Waldo Emerson 

Once your wildflowers are established, they require minimal maintenance. However, some care will ensure a thriving meadow:

• Watering: Watering your wildflower seedlings is essential for the best results! After germination, water as needed to keep soil and seedlings moist until they are 6 - 8 inches tall, which typically takes 4 - 6 weeks.  A sprinkler attached to a timer is an easy way to water your planting regularly. After 4-6 weeks of growth, wildflowers should be able to absorb groundwater through their roots and may only need occasional supplemental water in dry weather.
• Weeding: During the early stages, remove weeds that may compete with young seedlings. As the meadow matures, wildflowers will naturally suppress weeds. With good preparation and sowing the proper amount of seeds, you should avoid seeding too many weeds in your meadow. American Meadows includes annuals in all of our wildflower seed mixes because their quick growth helps crowd out and deter weed seedlings. 

Why is it important to water wildflower seedlings?

• Since wildflower seeds are not buried beneath wet soil, they have constant exposure to the sun. For the best results, young seedlings will need your attention and regular watering.
• If you have hot, sunny, and/or dry weather, you'll need to water your planting. Be sure to give a thorough watering in the morning before a hot day, and also give a thorough watering the next morning.

What can you do if you're planting wilflower seeds in an area where you can't water? 

• Time your planting with rain in the forecast, and sow your seeds on a rainy day. If you're lucky, Mother Nature will step in and provide your plants with some rain, or at least keep the weather nice and mild so that the sun doesn't evaporate all of the moisture from the soil.
• Or, you can plant seeds in fall when you can take advantage of winter precipitation.
• Seeds will lay dormant until they have enough moisture to germinate, so lack of moisture can slow down germination. Be patient - at some point, you should have enough rain or precipitation to germinate your seeds. In the heat of the summer, if you can’t water, you may see reduced flowering.
• Don’t worry! Think about wildflowers growing in the wild - follow Mother Nature’s lead and “adopt the pace of nature.” It may take more time than in an area where you could water with a hose, but you will still have a beautiful meadow.

How do I prevent weeds in my wildflower meadow?

• With good preparation and sowing the proper amount of seeds, you should avoid seeding too many weeds in your meadow.
• When planting a meadow in an area that used to be a regularly mown lawn, there is often less weed pressure and fewer weed seeds in the soil. 
• On the other hand, in more rural or agricultural settings, or when removing grass in areas that have not been mowed regularly, there can be a large amount of weed seeds collected in the soil. When planting in these areas, you may need to do extra weeding as your wildflower meadow establishes.
• When your wildflower seedlings are young, you may wonder, “Are those wildflowers or weeds?” When in doubt, do not pull the plant. If you give your seedlings some time to grow, you may find that they were wildflowers all along. If you do identify a weed, you can gently pull it up from the ground, careful not to disturb surrounding plants or seedlings. Or, cut it back before it goes to seed. Just lean in and snip as low down on the weed plant as you can. A few passes with your scissors every week or two will greatly reduce the threat of weeds proliferating in your meadow.

How do I know if a seedling is a weed or a wildflower?

• When in doubt, do not pull the plant. If you give your seedlings some time to grow, you may find that they were wildflowers all along.
• Try using a plant identification app to determine if you have a weed or a wildflower. Research and learn about your local weeds at every stage of growth. Getting to know what they look like as seedlings, adolescent, and adult plants will make it easier to spot them within your plantings – so you can pull them whenever you see them.
• If you do identify a weed, you can gently pull it up from the ground, careful not to disturb surrounding plants or seedlings. Or, cut it back before it goes to seed. Just lean in and snip as low down on the weed plant as you can. A few passes with your scissors every week or two will greatly reduce the threat of weeds proliferating in your meadow.

What happens if I plant too many wildflower seeds?

• Overseeding can lead to overcrowding, resulting in competition for resources, poor growth, and reduced flowering. It's essential to follow recommended seeding rates for optimal results.

Do wildflower seeds need to be soaked before planting?

• Most wildflower seeds do not require soaking before planting. However, some species with hard seed coats, like Milkweed, may benefit from soaking or other pre-treatment methods.
• Learn More: How To Cold Stratify Seeds For Spring Planting and How To Scarify Seeds For Spring Planting

Should I cover my wildflower seeds? 

• Generally, no. Wildflower seeds are much smaller than vegetable seeds, and their optimal germination conditions are on the soil’s surface.
• The two scenarios where you may cover your seeds are if you are planting on a steep hill or if you’re planting on a site exposed to strong winds. In these cases, we recommend covering seeds with a thin layer of straw (not hay), which will help secure seeds while allowing light through.

Will birds eat my seeds? 

• Birds and wildlife eating seeds doesn’t typically affect wildflower seedings – probably because our seed mixes average 250,000 seeds per pound! We don't recommend covering seeds to protect against them. If your area is a true exception with above-average wildlife pressure, you can place a thin layer of straw on top of your seeding as a safeguard.

Will deer or rabbits eat my wildflowers?

• If you have lots of deer or rabbits in your area, it is important to protect seedlings from critters. Even deer-resistant plants need time to grow to establish their natural defenses, such as fragrant oils or bitter sap. 
• Be sure to choose deer-resistant wildflowers if you have lots of hungry critters in your yard.
• Learn More: 5 Strategies For Preventing Deer Damage

How long do wildflower seeds take to grow?

• Seedlings will grow quickly when the soil temperature is warm enough, there is adequate moisture, and the seeds are sown in properly prepared soil. Less than optimal conditions can slow down germination and growth.

When will your wildflowers bloom?

• This will vary depending on the season, your climate, and what type of wildflowers you are growing.
• Spring Planting: Seeds will germinate as soon as your soil temperature has warmed to 55°F or warmer. As long as the soil is warm, and there is enough sunlight and moisture, you'll begin to see growth appear in about 1-3 weeks.
• Fall Planting: Seeds will lay dormant over the winter. Then, in spring, seeds will germinate as soon as your soil temperature has warmed to 55°F or warmer. See notes on spring growth above.
• Annuals have a one-year lifecycle. Annuals bloom about 6-8 weeks after germination and will continue to bloom until frost.
• Biennials have a two-year life cycle. In the first year, they establish foliage, and in the second year, they bloom.
• Perennials live for many years, returning year after year from the same root system. In the first year, perennials will establish their foliage, but most will not start blooming until their second year.
  Growing a wildflower mix? Some of our wildflower mixes are all annuals, and some are a mix of annuals, perennials, and/or biennials. 

How do you know if your wildflowers are annuals, perennials, or a mix?

• See “Seed Life Cycle” and “What’s In This Mix” on the product page to review the lifecycle of your seeds. 
• Learn More: Wildflower Life Cycles 101

Better You

There are so many ways you will enjoy the magic of your wildflower meadow!

• Studies show that spending time tending a garden reduces stress and improves overall health.
• Add a curving path or garden bench so you can relax, unwind, and enjoy each bloom and butterfly up close.
• The more meadow you have, the less mowing you'll have to do in your yard, and the more time you can spend connecting with the beauty of nature in your own yard. 

Better Community

Your meadow will also brighten your neighborhood and connect you with others. 

• Your meadow is a season-long source of glorious cut flowers. Drop off bouquets to the people you love to bring a spot of cheer.
• Save your small jars to make small bouquets to sell or give away! Put a flower stand up near your driveway to share the bounty of blooms.
• Your friends and neighbors will enjoy the natural beauty of your meadow.
• Share seeds, plants, and advice with other plant lovers in your community.

Better World

Wildflowers help transform your yard into a celebration of biodiversity. 

• Native bees, butterflies, and other pollinators are the tiny heroes of ecosystems everywhere — and your wildflower meadow will be abuzz and aflutter with them!
• Your lush meadowscape will become a safe haven for scores of species of pollinators and other beneficial insects and provide food and shelter for birds and wildlife.
• Make your home their home too! Enhance your meadow with a birdhouse, birdfeeder, or water feature to help support wildlife in your yard.

All of our wildflower seeds are 100% pure, non-GMO, neonicotinoid-free, and backed by our Dig In Guarantee.