HOW TO CHOOSE WILDFLOWER SEEDS

We’re here to guide you through what you need to know when choosing between regional mixes, native mixes and single species options”. 

American Meadows is best known for our exclusive wildflower seed mixes, crafted by Mike “The Seed Man” Lizotte and our seed experts at American Meadows. Our seed mixes are designed to make things better. Our seed mixes will help you solve growing challenges, attract more pollinators to your yard, and offer curb appeal for your home.

One of the best benefits of growing a wildflower seed mix from American Meadows? Our seed mixes are designed to bloom all growing season, making it easy to transform any area of your yard into a beautiful meadow. 

Every wildflower seed mix includes a list of “What’s In This Mix” on the product page. That will show you each species that’s included in the mix!

American Meadows offers a wide range of individual seed species. When growing individual wildflower species, you can choose to grow your favorite annual or perennial flowers, and explore unique, native, and rare wildflower species. Single wildflowers can be added to a wildflower seed mix, too, to enhance and personalize your mix. 

Annual, perennial, and biennial wildflowers have different lifecycles for growth and flowering. 

Annual wildflowers have a one-year life cycle. They bloom just weeks after germination and typically bloom until frost. They’re often re-seeded each year for fresh flowers.

Perennial wildflowers return year after year from their established root system. They usually start, blooming in the second season and for many years to come.

Biennials are more uncommon - they have a two-year life cycle, growing foliage and roots in the first season, and blooming only in the second season.

Growing a wildflower mix with annuals and perennials means that these wildflowers can work together to help establish your meadow. Annuals will bloom in the first season, helping to discourage weeds and giving you a burst of blooms in the first year while perennials establish their root systems. In year two, you’ll see biennials bloom and the first blooms of your perennials. In year three and beyond, you will see colorful perennial wildflowers bloom.

American Meadows has 30+ years of experience helping people grow meadows, and these are some of the most popular purposes for planting. Here you'll also find our exclusive, 100% seed, non-GMO mixes that provide solutions to the most common growing goals and challenges. Check out deer-resistant wildflower solutions, great seeds for pollinator-friendly plantings, flowers for bouqet-ready blooms, and beyond.

Wildflowers are the perfect way to plant for pollinators! Growing wildflowers from seed, especially wildflower seed mixes, is an easy way to offer an abundant buffet of nectar and pollen to nourish bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and the many other pollinating insects and wildlife who make our ecosystems thrive.

We’ve crafted several mixes especially for some of our favorite pollinators.

Use our Plant Advantages filter to find wildflowers that attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Beyond just nectar and pollen to nourish pollinators, your wildflower meadow can provide a habitat that supports the full lifecycle of pollinators, birds, and wildlife. 

Native wildflowers are those that have developed symbiotic relationships with wildlife in your areas over thousands of years. To provide food sources, and shelter, nesting material, native wildflowers are the best choice. 

Use our Native Plant Advantages filter to find wildflowers native to North America.

Whether you want to share your bounty with your community, or you’re starting your own cut flower farm, wildflowers will provide abundant blooms for bouquets.

Ideally, cut flowers will have a long vase life, and will hold their blooms after they’ve been cut. A good cut flower garden will include a mix of flower forms for eye-catching bouquets. We offer seed mixes and collections of our must-have wildflowers for bouquets!

Use our Cut Flowers Plant Advantages filter to select seeds and mixes that are great for bouquets.

Keep your meadow off the menu! Deer-resistant and rabbit-resistant wildflowers have natural defenses that deter nibbling. They may have fuzzy foliage, bitter sap, or fragrant resins that are unpalatable to critters. 

That said, wildflowers will need time to mature to establish those defenses. Be sure to protect young seedlings with sprays or barriers until they are established.

Use our Plant Advantages filter to select deer-resistant or rabbit-resistant wildflowers.

Wildflowers are a great choice to fill flower pots with abundant blooms. Annual wildflowers are a top pick for containers because they are quick to bloom after seeds germinate in spring, and they’ll flower continually until frost. 

Wildflower mixes can also provide an interesting array of textures and colors to brighten your patio, sidewalk, or balcony. 

Remember to match your flowers to your containers - larger flowers will need larger pots. 

Use our Container Planting Plant Advantages filter to find wildflowers for flower pots & patio plantings.

You can always start small with a mini meadow! Most of our wildflower seed mixes are well-suited to small spaces (see our recommendations for height and containers above). 

Our Wildflower Seed Patches are some of our most popular seed mixes, packaged specifically for small spaces. They’re great for planting a small area or adding on to your existing garden or meadow.

Use our Plant Advantages filter to select small space wildflowers.

Growing flowers is a great way to express your creativity! One of the best ways to show your personality is to grow flowers in your favorite colors. 

Single single-color wildflower seed mixes are crafted just for just this purpose. Choose your favorite flower colors - or mix and match them - to grow a meadow where your style will shine throught.

Use our Color filter to select the desired color. 

Leaving your meadow standing over the winter months is an important way you can improve wildlife habitat in your yard. This allows pollinators and beneficial insects to hibernate in the ground, leaves, and stems of your spent flowers. 

Native perennial wildflower species with stiff upright stems, planted on their own or in a wildflower mix, are best for holding their form after frost and snowfall.

Find your favorite mix at a glance.

As America's Better Yard Authority, American Meadows offers wildflower solutions for every challenge! Resilient wildflowers are an easy-to-grow solution for any growing condition. 

Full-sun wildflowers will thrive in areas that receive at least 6+ hours of sun.

Wildflowers are perfect for hot, sunny sites. Full sun is essential for most wildflower varieties, especially to encourage good seed germination. 

Some wildflowers can thrive in partial shade, in areas that receive about 3-4+ hours of sun.

In full shade, we typically don’t recommend starting wildflowers from seed, because they’re unlikely to have enough sunlight to germinate. Shade-loving perennials can be a great solution for full shade

Our wildflower mixes include a wide range of flowers, so they are suitable for a wide range of climates and zones.

Our exclusive Regional Wildflower Seed Mixes carefully crafted with wildflowers that are proven to thrive in your region, including Native Regional Mixes, Pollinator Regional Mixes, and Classic Regional Mixes. These are top picks for beginners and experts alike.

For very steep hills that you only want to prepare once, we recommend planting a wildflower seed mix that includes perennials. Perennials tend to have deep root systems that will help to stabilize the soil on your slope and prevent erosion. Plus, you can plant once, and they will return for years to come. 

The annuals in the mix will grow quickly to stabilize your soil, and provide colorful first-season blooms while the perennials in the mix establish their root systems and start blooming in year two, three, and beyond.

In general, wildflowers are resilient and adaptable to a wide range of soil types. Wildflowers are favored for their ability to thrive in poor soils - they don’t need rich soil like many ornamental plants do. If you have clay soil, sandy soil, average soil or dry soil, you will find a wide range of wildflowers that will thrive in your soil, without any amendments. 

When shopping, use our Soil Type filters to narrow down wildflowers for your yard.

With any soil type, preparation is essential for growing wildflowers. Be sure to follow our Wildflower Planting Guide for the best results.

If you live in a dry climate, don’t worry! There are many wildflowers that are resilient and drought-tolerant once established. They will need water for seeds to germinate and seedlings to grow, but once established, they can thrive with little supplemental water. When Shopping, use our Soil Moisture filters to choose Dry soil. On the other hand, If your plating area is often wet or saturated, you’ll want to choose wildflowers with roots that can tolerate moist soil.

When shopping, use our Soil Moisture filters to choose moist/wet soil.

American Meadows wildflower seeds are 100% pure seed with no fillers added, unlike many inexpensive bagged mixes that feature lots of filler. All of our seeds are non-GMO and neonicotinoid-free, so you can feel good knowing you’re growing a safe and healthy habitat. 

Plus, American Meadows seeds are backed by our Dig In Guarantee, and you can always reach out to our team of experts with questions. Our Wildflower Learning Center has helpful resources so you can grow with confidence. We’re here to help!  

More and more people are becoming passionate about growing native wildflowers and native plants to support wildlife habitat in their yards. Resilient native plants are beautiful, adaptable, and connected to your local wild landscape.

Is growing native wildflowers  a goal for you? If so, a great place to start is with our exclusive Native Regional Wildflower Seed Mixes, which are an easy, affordable way to grow a mix of wildflowers that are native to your region of the United States. 

You can also select from our wide range of native wildflower seed species, including rare and hard-to-find species. We also offer a wide range of native perennial plants, including woodland wildflowers, shrubs, and ornamental grasses, and native grass seeds. 

Remember, you can use our Plant Advantages filter to find wildflowers native to North America.

It is important to note, however, that just because a wildflower is not native, does not mean that it is invasive or harmful.

Wildflowers that are introduced, or not native, to the United States, can also offer a host of benefits for your yard. 

For example, introduced wildflowers can provide an important nectar and pollen source for honeybees, which are also a species that was introduced, not native to the United States. Without sufficient flowers, honeybees can outcompete native pollinators. Studies show that growing abundant and diverse flowers that provide plenty of nectar and pollen sources for pollinators will increase pollinator population and diversity in your area. 

It's also worth noting that many introduced wildflowers are favorites for cut flower gardens, and many have been cultivated to provide beautiful, long-lasting additions to wildflower gardens. 

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

Digging in and nurturing plants is proven to make us happier and healthier. Growing wildflowers will create a space where you can relax, unwind, and enjoy an outdoor oasis. Enjoy more peace and quiet from less mowing, and more time connecting with the beauty of nature.

Your meadow will also brighten your community. Your friends and neighbors will enjoy the natural beauty of your meadow, and are sure to share a compliment and a smile! Plus, you’ll be able to share the bounty of your blooms with plenty of cut flower bouquets.

Wildflowers help transform your yard into a celebration of biodiversity. You can feel good knowing that you’ve added food for birds, bees, butterflies, and lots of other wildlife to your yard. Watch your yard buzz and hum with the activity of pollinators.