Need wildflowers that grow fast and will have your field looking lush and brilliant by the end of the season? Here’s a list of fast-growing wildflowers you can plant!
1. Annual Phlox (Phlox drummondii)
An annual wildflower native to Texas. It produces showy, bright red or pink trumpet-shaped flowers, 1 inch in size. They bloom from early spring to early summer.
The flowers attract bees, hummingbirds, butterflies and other pollinators. Annual Phlox dies after dropping its seeds. Ideally, you should plant it together with wildflowers that bloom in the summer and fall.
It can be planted in flower beds, hanging baskets or wildflower meadows. Propagates by seed. It should be planted 8 inches apart. Needs regular deheading to promote blooming and growth.
- Reaches a height of 12 inches and spreads 12 inches at full maturity.
- Thrives in full sunlight or partial shade, in fertile, moist, and well-drained soils. It prefers sandy soils.
- Ideal for USDA zones 2-11.
2. Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis)
A perennial in warmer climates but an annual in cooler climatic zones. Planted during spring and grows around six to eight weeks from seeding. The annual species is best if you are looking for fast-growing varieties.
Produces bright yellow to orange flowers that have several medicinal and culinary purposes. The plant is tolerant to frost and cold hardy. It is reseeding in ideal conditions. Regular deheading or mowing will allow timely blooms during spring and fall.
- Reaches a height of 2ft and spreads 1ft at full maturity.
- Grows well in poor, well-drained soils.
- Requires full sunlight or partial shade.
- Ideal for USDA zones 2-11.
3. Common Zinnia (Zinnia elegans)
An annual flowering plant, with showy flower flowers that bloom during the summer. The plant sprouts a few days after planting and the flowers appear around six weeks later. It attracts pollinators and can be added to containers, walkways and wildflower meadows.
- Reaches a height of 3ft and spreads 2ft at full maturity.
- Thrives in full sunlight and is highly drought tolerant.
- Require well-drained, alkaline, loamy soils.
- Ideal for hardiness zones 2-11.
4. Candytuft (Iberis umbellate)
A herbaceous annual wildflower that grows very fast in your garden. It produces pink flowers which bloom during spring. It is a favorite for pollinators.
- Grows to a height of 20 inches.
- Requires full sun or partial shade.
- Grows well in dry, well-drained soils.
- USDA zones 3-8.
If you’re looking to find great fast-growing ground cover for your garden or farm, here’s a comprehensive guide.
Fast-growing wildflowers are great but they can be a bit too aggressive and compete with other plants you’ve grown in the same area. Here are few slow-growing varieties that won’t overwhelm your garden.
Slow growing wildflowers
1. New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
This American native perennial wildflower blooms from August to October. It is easy to maintain and adds color to your garden throughout the year due to its green foliage. It grows slowly but once it is established it is self-seeding. Resistant to diseases and pests.
- Reaches 4ft tall at full maturity.
- Requires full sunlight or partial shade.
- Grows best in well drained, moist soils.
- USDA zones 4-8.
2. Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
This perennial wildflower blooms during the summer with yellow daisy-like flowers. It is self-seeding and thus maintains its bloom each summer. The flowers attract pollinators and wildlife. You need to dehead the plant regularly to regulate its spread.
- Reaches a height of 1-3ft fall.
- Requires exposure to full sunlight.
- The soil should be dry and well-drained.
- USDA zones 3-8.
3. Tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolate)
This perennial produces yellow, pink or white flowers that bloom during the summer. It is the state wildflower of Florida. Require constant deheading through the year to ensure regular blooms.
The nectar and pollen in the flowers attract butterflies, moths, wasps, bees and beetles. Highly drought tolerant. Self-seeding in ideal conditions.
- Reaches a height of 24 inches and spreads 18 inches at full maturity.
- Grow well under full sunlight.
- Needs dry, well-drained, sandy soils.
- USDA zones 4-9.
Conclusion
Remember to not overwater or overfertilize you wildflowers. Unlike crops, wildflowers prefer to grow in natural conditions. Here are guides I wrote on how to plant wildflowers in grass or in a large field or even in a pot! Best of luck with your blooms!
