Hardy plants that thrive in your area, growing in meadows or ditches along roadsides are true native wildflowers. If you are curious about growing some of these plants it only requires you to take a hike along trails or a drive in the country. Our area of Southern Ontario and the surrounding Great Lakes Region is very diverse with many different mixed forests, open grassland, rivers and wildflower habitats. Local wildflowers can be used in a backyard garden to add color, variety and interest because they are easy to care for and already know how to survive well on their own. Choose plants that fit the habitats you already have in your garden. Some will thrive in open full sun while others grow well in shade under trees and shrubs. The site you plant in should mimic their home in the wild.
Wildflowers For Full Sun: Black eye Susan, Blazing Star, Thistles, Tansy, Boneset, Queen Anne Lace, Spurge, Lupine, Campion, Blue Chichory, Meadowsweet, Yarrow, Plantain, Mullein and Pink or white clover.
Wildflowers For Shady Woodlands: Solomon Seal, Trillium, Jack in the pulpit, Lady’s Slipper, Bleeding Heart, Hepatiea, wood Nettle, Violets, wood sorrel.
Wildflowers For Wetlands: Celandine poppy, Bloodroot, Dutchman breeches, St John wort, Purple Loostrife, Jacob Ladder. Columbine, Lupine and Liatris are all long lasting wildflowers that grow in most any conditions.
Wildflowers For a Sandy Rockery: Sedum, Milkweed, Campion, Meadowsweet, Honeysuckle, Teasel, Yellow Loostrife, Fall Aster, Pussy Toes, Milkworts, Pasque flower Wildflowers For Dry Shade: Evening Primrose, Cardinal flower, Violet, snakeroot, fleabane daisy Be sure to deadhead all the spent blooms to control seeds from spreading all over your garden.
