Walking on the Wildflower Side

    The glorious displays of the goldenrod announce that the cooler days of fall are at hand. Not only does the goldenrod remind us of fall, they also remind us that wildflower-planting season is upon us.

            There are many species of wildflowers but only a few provide us with the mass of color that we want. Wildflowers come in many categories. They can be vines, grasses, reseedining annuals, or hardy perennials. What we must do is choose those that are indigenous to our growing conditions and specifically adapted to the site on which we want to plant them. Are we trying to plant large meadows or do we want a spot of color in the corner of our property? Is the planting site high and dry or low and boggy? Proper selection of wildflower species to meet our site is the first step to a successful planting.

   Some of my favorite annual wildflowers that grow well in Mississippi are cosmos, calliopsis, patridgepea, crimson clover, morningglories, and sunflowers. Great perennials to grow are purple coneflower, blackeyed susan, cardinal flower, swamp mallow, bitter sneezeweed, and lanceleaf or tickseed coreopsis. Choose your favorites to fit your growing site.

Ideal wildflowers planting time are the months of September through November. The cool, wet weather during fall and winter help the seeds to germinate and get the young seedlings established.

            To get your planting underway, remove all the weeds in the area by spraying with glyphosate (sold under the trade names of Roundup, Eraser, etc). Once the weeds are dead, scratch the soil surface with a rake to a depth of about one–quarter of an inch. The biggest cause of failure in planting wildflower seeds is planting them too deeply. Mix the seeds with some dry sand to aid in distribution and spread uniformly. After the seeds are spread, tamp or roll the area so the seeds will be in contact with the soil. Lightly mulch the area with straw and water thoroughly.

            The annual wildflower species will bloom next spring whereas the perennials should bloom the following spring. If you are in a hurry to have perennial wildflowers in bloom, check the local garden centers for container-grown plants. 

            Remember where you plant your wildflower seeds and tell everyone who works in your yard. When the tiny seedlings appear, they look just like weeds so lawn care people often spray them with weed killer. Just ask my mother-in-law!

There are many books on wildflowers including one entitled ‘Wildflowers of Mississippi.’ On the Mississippi State University Extension Service website, www.msucares.com, look for Publication 1709 ‘Wildflowers for Mississippi Meadows and Gardens.

Join me at your local extension service office at noon on September 15 to learn more about 'Wildflowers for Mississippi Landscape.'