The 11 Best Wildflowers to Grow in Your Garden, According to an Expert

Wildflowers are plants that thrive on their own in the wild without any human intervention. Many of them are native species, while others are just great at reseeding themselves. They often create a delightful mix of colors and textures that you can introduce to your own yard by planting a wildflower garden with easy-to-grow plants. To get started, check out these colorful options and get expert tips on selecting the best varieties for your space.

Rebecca Sears is the chief marketing officer and resident green thumb at Ferry-Morse, a seed company.

Coreopsis

Also known as tickseed due to the shape of its seeds, Coreopsis (Coreopsis spp.) includes perennials, tender perennials, and annuals that display a range of colors, including yellow, orange, pink, and red. These flowers bloom in the summer and spread each year. Plus, deer and rabbits usually avoid them, but birds, butterflies, and bees are drawn to them.

Zones: 3-9

Size: 1-4 feet tall; 1-3 feet wide

Care Requirements: Prefers well-drained soil and full sun but can tolerate partial shade.

Recommended Varieties: Lance-leaf coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata) is easy to grow and native to much of the United States. Some species, like threadleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata), are drought-tolerant.

Milkweed

Milkweed (Asclepias spp.) is crucial for any wildflower garden because it serves as the only host plant for monarch butterflies. With over 70 species native to the U.S., it also attracts other butterflies, native bees, and hummingbirds.

Zones: 3-9

Size: 1-6 feet tall

Care Requirements: Prefers well-drained soil and full sun.

Recommended Varieties: Rebecca Sears from Ferry-Morse suggests butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) for dry, sandy soils and swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) for wetter climates. Be cautious with common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), which can be aggressive, and tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica), which can host harmful parasites for monarchs.

Black-Eyed Susan

The common variety of black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is a biennial that self-seeds, so you'll likely see blooms every year. This genus also includes perennials and annuals. Rudbeckia’s yellow, daisy-like flowers with dark centers bloom in summer and continue into fall, complementing purple coneflowers. They are drought-tolerant and attract butterflies.

Zones: 3-11

Size: 1-5 feet tall; 1-3 feet wide

Care Requirements: Prefers well-drained soil and full sun.

Recommended Varieties: Rudbeckia hirta is native to most of the United States and can grow in various climates; in warmer areas, it may act like an annual.

Cosmos

Cosmos (Cosmos spp.) are easy-to-grow flowers that display daisy-like blooms in pink, orange, red, yellow, and white. They will be annuals in much of the country. “I love planting cosmos in my garden, as they provide nectar and pollen to many species of pollinators,” Sears says. Their cheerful blooms and tall stems make these flowers a beautiful addition to any landscape.

Zones: 9-11

Size: 1-6 feet tall; 1-2 feet wide

Care Requirements: Prefers full sun and well-drained soil.

Recommended Varieties: Sears recommends Candy Stripe Cosmos for their bi-colored flowers with distinctive rose-colored edges, which make great additions to cut-flower bouquets.

Purple Coneflower

Easy to grow with long-lasting blooms from summer through fall, purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) can thrive even in rocky, clay, and sandy soils. They attract beneficial insects and butterflies, and their seed heads provide food for birds in late fall and winter.

Zones: 3-9

Size: 2-4 feet tall

Care Requirements: Prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.

Recommended Varieties: Purple coneflower is native to the Midwest and Eastern United States and most varieties can be grown throughout the U.S.

Blanket Flower

Blanket flower (Gaillardia spp.) is a low-maintenance plant that blooms in spring, summer, and fall in shades of orange, red, yellow, and white. Native to the plains and western United States, blanket flowers include perennials, annuals, and biennials. Deer and rabbits tend to leave them alone, but butterflies love them, and songbirds will feed on the small seed heads in fall.

Zones: 3-10

Size: 2-3 feet tall; 1-2 feet wide

Care Requirements: Prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Most do best in hot, dry climates.

Recommended Varieties: Gaillardia x grandiflora, a tropical hybrid, is the most common type found in home gardens.

Sunflower

These cheery flowers, mostly in golden and yellow hues, include annuals and perennials. Some types of sunflowers (Helianthus spp.) thrive in dry, woodland areas, while others prefer swampy areas. Blooming from summer to fall, sunflowers attract pollinators like butterflies, hummingbirds, birds, and beneficial insects. Many sunflowers grow tall, adding dramatic height to any wildflower garden.

Zones: 2-11

Size: 1-10 feet tall; 1-3 feet wide

Care Requirements: Site in full sun to part shade, depending on species, with well-drained soil, except for species that prefer more moisture.

Recommended Varieties: Try swamp sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius) for wet areas or near ponds and streams. Dune sunflower (Helianthus debilis), native to southeastern coastal regions, grows well in dry, sandy soil.

Yarrow

Yarrow (Achillea spp.) is a low-maintenance and versatile perennial available in a range of colors like orange, pink, red, white, and yellow. It tolerates a variety of conditions, including cold winters, hot humid summers, poor soil, and drought. The flowers attract butterflies and beneficial insects.

Zones: 3-9

Size: 6-24 inches tall; 2-3 feet wide

Care Requirements: Prefers full sun and well-drained soil.

Recommended Varieties: Check hardiness zones to ensure the species will grow in your climate. Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is drought-tolerant and deer-resistant.

Though yarrow is considered toxic to dogs, cats, and horses, its bitter taste usually keeps animals away.

California Poppy

Native to the Western United States, California poppies (Eschscholzia californica) are spring- and summer-blooming flowers that can grow in various parts of the U.S. In areas with mild winters, they often reseed and come back for several years. In colder climates, they behave more like annuals. They are drought-tolerant and easy to grow.

Zones: 8-10

Size: 8-18 inches tall

Care Requirements: Prefers full sun and well-drained soil.

Recommended Varieties: Some cultivars expand beyond the standard yellow/orange palette; try 'Mission Bells' for blooms in pink, salmon, and cream.

Calendula

Also called pot marigold, calendula (Calendula officinalis) is a hardy annual in most areas and is easy to grow. It displays daisy-like flowers with single or double rows of petals in yellow and orange. In warm climates, it can reseed. Calendula attracts bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects, but deer usually leave them alone.

Zones: 9-11

Size: 1-3 feet tall; 1-2 feet wide

Care Requirements: Prefers full sun and well-drained soil.

Recommended Varieties: Most cultivars can grow in most regions but vary in size and color. 'Oopsy Daisy' is a compact variety that grows only to 8 inches tall; 'Bronze Beauty' shows off peach and cream petals.

Lobelia

With over 300 species of annuals, perennials, and shrubs, lobelias (Lobelia spp.) are a diverse group of plants that can grow in various conditions. Featuring several colors, including shades of red, blue, and purple, lobelia contrasts nicely with other flowers in your wildflower garden. Unlike many other wildflowers, it can thrive in partial shade as well as full sun.

Zones: 2-11

Size: 4-18 inches tall; 4-6 inches wide

Care Requirements: Plant in full sun to partial shade, depending on the species, and well-drained soil.

Recommended Varieties: Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) is a native wildflower that thrives in moist soils and displays scarlet-red flowers loved by hummingbirds.

When selecting wildflowers, choose those that make you happy and will thrive in your region. “Some of my favorite wildflowers are cosmos and purple coneflower due to their easy care, unique colors, and shapes,” Sears says. It’s also vital to choose wildflowers suited to your area. “To ensure what you’re growing is right for your climate, check the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to find your gardening zone and look for plants recommended for that range,” says Sears.