Best Native Wildflowers for Beginners
81 native wildflower varieties well-suited for beginner gardeners. Forgiving varieties that produce even if you make mistakes.
Allegheny Monkey Flower
Allegheny Monkey Flower (Mimulus ringens) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8. Prefers part shade.
Apollo Orange
Tall, vigorous plants do best in warm, relatively dry conditions. Vivid orange blooms with attractive, slender foliage. Best used for cut flowers. Asclepias curassavica is attractive to butterflies and pollinators but we recommend planting a native species for best supporting butterflies. Also known as milkweed, butterfly weed, blood flower, and sunset flower. Tender perennial in Zones 7-10.
Autumn Phlox
Autumn Phlox (Phlox paniculata) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8.
Bizzy Lizzy
Bizzy Lizzy (Impatiens walleriana) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 10 to 11.
Blanket Flower
A cheerful and resilient native wildflower that blooms from early summer until frost with vibrant daisy-like flowers in shades of red, orange, and yellow. Perfect for xeriscaping and low-maintenance gardens, this drought-tolerant perennial attracts butterflies and beneficial insects while requiring minimal care once established.
Blue-Eyed Grass
Blue-Eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9.
Brown-Eyed Susan
Profuse blooms of adorable, 1 1/2- 2 1/2", bright yellow flowers with small, black/brown centers. Wiry, well-branched stems have few leaves, making this an excellent cut flower. Also serves as a filler or accent flower in bouquets. This native US wildflower tolerates most conditions, including drought, once established. Short-lived perennial in Zones 3-9; typically flowers in the first year but may not bloom until second year if heavily crowded. Stems are reddish in color and have fine hairs. Leaves at the base of the plant are three-lobed, as indicated by the plant's Latin name species: triloba. Also known as brown-eyed Susan and browneyed Susan.
Butterfly Weed
Attracts butterflies and bees. Grows well in arid soils. Also known as milkweed, butterfly weed, butterfly milkweed, and butterfly-weed. Medicinal: Roots are a respiratory expectorant and diaphoretic. Perennial in Zones 4-9.
California Poppy
California Poppy is a vibrant native wildflower with silky, cup-shaped petals in golden-orange hues that close at night and on cloudy days. This easy-to-grow heirloom matures in 55-60 days and thrives in poor, sandy soils with minimal care—ideal for xeriscaping and cottage gardens. The delicate petals are edible with a mild, lettuce-like flavor, adding color and subtle taste to salads. Its self-seeding nature and drought tolerance distinguish it from ornamental annuals, making it a low-maintenance native choice for sunny landscapes with good drainage.
Canada Goldenrod
Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9. Prefers full sun.
Cardinal Flower
Nature's most brilliant red wildflower creates an unforgettable display with its intense scarlet blooms that seem to glow in shade gardens. This native beauty is a hummingbird magnet, drawing ruby-throated hummingbirds from miles around with its tubular flowers perfectly designed for their long beaks. Thriving in moist soils where many plants struggle, it brings vibrant color to pond edges, rain gardens, and woodland borders.
Cheyenne Spirit
Bred for improved branching and a higher percentage of 3-4" flowers per plant. The vivid red, orange, purple, scarlet, cream, yellow, and white blooms can be used as cuts or as high-impact landscaping or container plants. Attracts and is a food source for bees. Perennial in Zones 3-8. FleuroSelect Gold Award Winner. AAS Winner.
Common Milkweed
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9. Prefers full sun.
Coral Bells
Native coral bells offer delicate clouds of tiny white or pink flowers dancing above beautiful mounds of scalloped leaves that change colors with the seasons. This versatile perennial bridges the gap between wildflower and cultivated garden, equally at home in formal borders or naturalized woodland settings. Its long-lasting foliage provides four-season interest while the airy flower stems attract bees and other beneficial pollinators.
Cup Plant
Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9. Prefers full sun.
Cutleaf Coneflower
Cutleaf Coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9.
Dutchman's Breeches
Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 3 to 7. Prefers part sun.
Foamflower
Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8.
Foxglove Beardtongue
Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8.
Fringed Bleeding Heart
Fringed Bleeding Heart (Dicentra eximia) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9. Prefers part sun.
Golden Alexander
Golden Alexander (Zizia aurea) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8.
Gray Goldenrod
Gray Goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9.
Gray-Headed Coneflower
Gray-Headed Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8.
Great Blue Lobelia
Great Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9. Prefers full sun.
Hairy Alumroot
Hairy Alumroot (Heuchera villosa) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8.
Hairy Beardtongue
Hairy Beardtongue (Penstemon hirsutus) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9. Prefers full sun.
Hollow Joe-Pye Weed
Hollow Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium fistulosum) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8.
Indian Pink
Indian Pink (Spigelia marilandica) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9. Prefers part sun.
Jacob's Ladder
Jacob's Ladder (Polemonium reptans) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8. Prefers full sun.
Jerusalem Artichoke
Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9.
Joe-Pye Weed
Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9.
Large-Flowered Tickseed
Large-Flowered Tickseed (Coreopsis grandiflora) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9.
Large-Flowered Trillium
Large-Flowered Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8. Prefers part sun.
Lemon Mint
Towers of bright lavender 1 1/2-2" blooms on straight and thin, yet sturdy stems. An unusual and easy-to-use cut flower. The blooms and leaves are edible, though the leaves are intensely spicy. Native to the US. Also known as lemon bee balm, purple horsemint, and lemon mint. Edible Flowers: Add petals to salads, sprinkle over mild fish, use in fruit salads, or to garnish desserts and drinks. Flavor is minty and spicy. Leaves are used to flavor salads, cooked foods, and tea. Attracts Beneficial Insects: Nectar plant for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Mayapple
Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8. Prefers part sun.
Mexican Hat
Mexican Hat (Ratibida columnifera) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9. Prefers full sun.
Milkmaid
Clusters of creamy white florets on sturdy stems. Attractive lance-shaped leaves. Use for cut flowers and garden beds. Flowers late in the summer of the first year. Tall plants and sturdy stems are highly uniform. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Larval host for monarch butterflies. Native to North America. Also known as swamp milkweed. Perennial in Zones 3-8.
Narrow-Leaved Mountain Mint
Narrow-Leaved Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8. Prefers full sun.
New Guinea Impatiens
New Guinea Impatiens (Impatiens hawkeri) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 10 to 12.
New York Aster
New York Aster (Symphyotrichum novi-belgii) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8.
New York Ironweed
New York Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9. Prefers full sun.
Obedient Plant
Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 2 to 9. Prefers full sun.
Paradiso Tall Mix
3-4" wide blooms in shades of magenta, cream, yellow, white, and orange can be used as casual cut-flowers, high-impact landscaping, or for perennial beds. Compared to Cheyenne Spirit, Paradiso Tall Mix has taller plants and a wider color range, including some softer hues such as white and cream. Attracts and is a food source for bees and other pollinators. Perennial in Zones 3-8.
Partridge Pea
A delightful annual legume that produces bright yellow flowers with distinctive red-spotted petals throughout summer and fall. This native prairie plant fixes nitrogen in the soil while attracting beneficial insects and providing seeds for quail and other wildlife. The sensitive compound leaves fold when touched, adding an interactive element that children love.
Partridgeberry
Partridgeberry (Mitchella repens) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8. Prefers full sun.
Pink Turtlehead
Pink Turtlehead (Chelone lyonii) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8. Prefers full sun.
Prairie Blazingstar
A tall, dramatic native perennial that sends up striking purple flower spikes that bloom from top to bottom in late summer, creating a unique spectacle in prairie gardens. This pollinator magnet is essential for monarch butterfly migration and adds stunning vertical interest to any native plant garden.
Prairie Dock
Prairie Dock (Silphium terebinthinaceum) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8. Prefers full sun.
Prairie Trillium
Prairie Trillium (Trillium recurvatum) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9.
Purple Coneflower
Easy-to-grow echinacea. Vigorous plants with large, purple-petaled flowers. Fibrous roots are easy to harvest (other species have taproots). Attracts and is a food source for bees. Also known as purple coneflower and eastern purple coneflower. Normally grown for 3-4 years for harvest of sizeable roots. Perennial in Zones 3-10.
Purple Milkweed
Purple Milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8. Prefers full sun.
Purple Poppy Mallow
Purple Poppy Mallow (Callirhoe involucrata) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8. Prefers full sun.
Red Trillium
Red Trillium (Trillium erectum) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 4 to 7.
Red Turtlehead
Red Turtlehead (Chelone obliqua) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9. Prefers full sun.
Showy Goldenrod
Showy Goldenrod (Solidago speciosa) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8. Prefers full sun.
Smooth Blue Aster
Smooth Blue Aster (Symphyotrichum laeve) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8.
Spiderwort
A resilient native wildflower producing clusters of three-petaled blue to purple flowers that open in the morning and close by afternoon. This easy-to-grow perennial forms attractive clumps of grass-like foliage and self-seeds readily to create natural colonies. The mucilaginous stems and leaves were traditionally used by Native Americans for medicinal purposes.
Spotted Joe-Pye Weed
Spotted Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium maculatum) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8.
Spring Beauty
Spring-beauty is a native perennial in the purslane family found in moist woodland areas in eastern Canada and the U.S.A. It is a low growing plant with groups of light pink or white flowers that sport dark pink stripes. They open on sunny days and close at night and on cloudy days. This plant prefers partial shade in moist rich humusy soils with good drainage. It can be naturalized in meadows, woodlands or even the yard and used in rock gardens and native/wildflower gardens.
Stokes' Aster
Stokes' Aster (Stokesia laevis) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9. Prefers full sun.
Sundrops
Sundrops (Oenothera fruticosa) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8. Prefers full sun.
Swamp Milkweed
Blooms summer through frost. Clusters of rose to mauve florets on sturdy stems. In our trials the species is nearly identical to the variety Soulmate. Attractive lance-shaped leaves. Use for cut flowers and garden beds. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Larval host for monarch butterflies. Native to North America. Also known as pink milkweed and rose milkweed. Perennial in Zones 3-8.
Sweet Coneflower
Sweet Coneflower (Rudbeckia subtomentosa) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8.
Tall Coreopsis
Tall Coreopsis (Coreopsis tripteris) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8.
Tall Ironweed
Tall Ironweed (Vernonia gigantea) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 5 to 8.
Tall Thimbleweed
Tall Thimbleweed (Anemone virginiana) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 2 to 8. Prefers part sun.
Threadleaf Coreopsis
Threadleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9.
Trout Lily
Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8. Prefers part sun.
White Heath Aster
White Heath Aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9.
White Turtlehead
White Turtlehead (Chelone glabra) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8. Prefers full sun.
White Wild Indigo
White Wild Indigo (Baptisia alba) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 5 to 8.
Whorled Milkweed
Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9. Prefers full sun.
Wild Bergamot
A fragrant native wildflower that attracts butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds with its clusters of tubular lavender-pink blooms. This hardy perennial spreads naturally to form beautiful colonies and has been used traditionally for tea and medicinal purposes. Its minty fragrance and long blooming period make it a favorite for pollinator gardens and prairie restorations.
Wild Blue Indigo
A stunning prairie native that produces dramatic spikes of deep blue lupine-like flowers in late spring, followed by attractive seed pods that rattle in the wind. This long-lived perennial forms impressive clumps over time and is virtually maintenance-free once established, making it a cornerstone plant for naturalized gardens.
Wild Geranium
Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 3 to 11.
Wild Ginger
A charming woodland groundcover with heart-shaped leaves that forms lush carpets in shaded gardens. This native wildflower produces curious burgundy bell-shaped flowers hidden beneath the foliage in spring, pollinated by ground-dwelling beetles and ants. Its aromatic rhizomes were historically used as a ginger substitute by early settlers.
Wild Indigo
A unique prairie native with silvery-gray foliage and distinctive deep purple flower spikes topped with bright orange stamens, creating an unusual and striking garden display. This extremely drought-tolerant legume develops a deep taproot and becomes virtually maintenance-free once established, making it perfect for challenging sites.
Woodland Sunflower
Woodland Sunflower (Helianthus divaricatus) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8.
Yellow Columbine
Yellow Columbine (Aquilegia chrysantha) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9.
Yellow Trillium
Yellow Trillium (Trillium luteum) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8. Prefers part sun.
Yellow Wild Indigo
Yellow Wild Indigo (Baptisia tinctoria) is a perennial native wildflower. Hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9.
Why These Native Wildflowers Work for Beginners
New to gardening? These varieties are the most forgiving — tolerant of irregular watering, less prone to pests and disease, and quick to produce visible results. Start here to build confidence before attempting more advanced crops.