Flowering plants have been around for at least 150 million years. National Plant a Flower Day encourages people to plant a flower in honor of the vital role flowers play in our ecosystems, history, religion, traditions and inspiration.
Locally near Clifton Park, the likely last day for a spring frost is May 15. While it is obviously much too soon to plant any flowers outdoors at this time, it would be OK to start seeds indoors that have gone through cold moist stratification and that you intend to keep indoors in small containers until such time that the seedlings are an appropriate size for transplanting after May 15. For other localities, view first and last frost dates by zipcode, provided by The National Gardening Association.
Propagation by Seed:
Photo Credit: valkyrieh116 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/valkyrieh116/4360193931/)
To begin plants indoors after cold/moist stratification of your harvested seeds, press the seeds into the surface of your potting mix. Keep the soil of each container moist until germination occurs. They should not be allowed to dry out. Any time after May 15, you may then transplant the contents of each container into the spots you’ve selected to establish these plants.
What native wildflowers might you want to start indoors at this time in readiness for transplanting them outdoors after mid-May? Here’s a few suggestions for your consideration.
- Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata) can be found in moist meadows in floodplain woodlands, soggy thickets, fence rows, and along borders of rivers, ponds, marshes, ditches, and pastures. It is perfect for backyard ponds along pond edges. Once established, Blue Vervain spreads slowly through rhizomes and self-seeding. It begins blooming during the last week of June and continues for approximately six weeks. To learn more about this native wildflower, please view my prior post What Wildflower Begins Blooming This Week? (June week 4), published on 6/26/2021.
- Seeds require 1-3 months of cold/moist stratification before planting
- Once planted, seeds require 2-4 weeks to germinate
- Seed-started plants will likely flower the year after sowing
- Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) is a native clump-forming perennial flower that commonly grows in wet soils of woods, prairies, and meadows. Consider using it in a rain garden or a woodland garden setting where the soil is constantly on the wet side. Boneset tolerates partial shade, but it will flower better if you give it full sun. While it will reseed readily if populations are large enough, Boneset mostly spreads via underground rhizomes. So do not plant it in a flower bed that will share space with other plants. It begins blooming during the third week of July.
- Seeds require 1-2 months of cold/moist stratification before planting
- Once planted, seeds require 1-2 weeks to germinate
- Seed-started plants will likely flower 2-3 years after sowing
- Enchanter’s Nightshade (Circaea canadensis) can be found in woodland settings with dappled sunlight or medium shade. It can be used in a woodland setting, naturalized area, or shady garden. Once established, it spreads by both seed and rhizomes, often creating small colonies. It begins blooming during the last week of June and continues for approximately one month.
- Seeds require 3-5 months of cold/moist stratification before planting
- Once planted, seeds require 3-4 weeks to germinate
- Seed-started plants will likely flower 2-3 years after sowing
- Hairy Beardtongue (Penstemon hirsutus) can be found in forests, glades, forest margins, rocky woodlands, and along roadsides. It is great for borders, cottage gardens, rock gardens, and pollinator gardens. Once established, Hairy Beardtongue will readily self-sow. It begins blooming during the second week of June and continues for approximately 4-6 weeks.
- Seeds require 1-2 months of cold/moist stratification before planting
- Once planted, seeds require 10-21 days to germinate
- Seed-started plants will likely flower 2-3 years after sowing
- Hairy White Oldfield Aster (Symphyotrichum pilosum) is found on forest edges, meadows, prairies, or open woodlands and readily pops up in vacant lots, fields, ditches, or anywhere there is bare soil via aggressive self-seeding. In this manner it is not always a great choice for formal flowerbeds, but can be a great addition to wildflower meadows or perennial borders to add some late-season blooms. It begins blooming during the first week of August and continues for approximately six weeks.
- Seeds require 3-4 months of cold/moist stratification before planting
- Once planted, seeds require 2 weeks to germinate
- Seed-started plants may flower in the year that they are sown
- Heart-leaved Aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) is commonly found in woodlands, meadows, or along stream banks. It can be weedy as it self-seeds very easily and creeps slowly by rhizome as well. In this manner it is not always a great choice for formal flowerbeds, but can be perfect for extending color and interest in the woodland shade garden to add some late-season blooms. It begins blooming during the second week of August and continues for approximately four weeks.
- Seeds require 2 months of cold/moist stratification before planting
- Once planted, seeds require about 2 weeks to germinate
- Seed-started plants may flower in the year that they are sown
- Mad-dog Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora var. grohii) can be found in moist meadows, openings in floodplain woodlands, soggy thickets, swamps, bogs, seeps and springs, and edges of vernal pools and ponds. It can be used in a woodland garden with a sunny edge and dappled shade and for moist to wet low spots such as stream or pond margins and marshy areas. Once established, it spreads by both seed and rhizomes, often creating small colonies. It begins blooming during the first week of July and continues for approximately 1.5-2 months. To learn more about this native wildflower, please view my prior post What Wildflower Begins Blooming This Week? (July week 1), published on 7/3/2021.
- Seeds require 6-8 weeks of cold/moist stratification before planting
- Once planted, seeds require about 2 weeks to germinate
- Seed-started plants will likely flower 2-3 years after sowing
- Tall Goldenrod (Solidago altissima ssp. altissima) is found on old fields, pastures, road banks, and disturbed soil; it clearly does best in dry open areas. Tall Goldenrod often forms dense patches in successional fields and is one of our most common goldenrods. Consider using it in large borders or in a managed meadow. Tall Goldenrod develops many creeping rhizomes that cause the plant to cluster; therefore, it is not recommended for smaller planting areas. It begins blooming during the second week of August.
- Seeds require 2 months of cold/moist stratification before planting
- Once planted, seeds require about 2 weeks to germinate
- Seed-started plants may flower in the year that they are sown
- Turtlehead (Chelone glabra) can be found in swamps, marshes, ditches, and wet thickets. This perennial herbaceous plant makes an excellent choice for wetland plantings or the edges of ponds or streams. Once established, Turtlehead spreads slowly over time from short rhizomes and self-seeding. It begins blooming during the first week of September and continues for approximately four weeks. To learn more about this native wildflower, please view my prior post What Wildflower Begins Blooming This Week? (September week 1), published on 9/4/2021.
- Seeds require 3-4 months of cold/moist stratification before planting
- Once planted, seeds require 3-5 weeks to germinate
- Seed-started plants will likely flower two years after sowing
FYI:
Cornell Cooperative Extension Service is conducting a quarterly Sustainable Landscapes Lunch & Learn series in 2024 to promote climate change conscious and regionally-adapted skills for ecological gardening. It focuses on areas of soil health, water management, herbs and vegetables, ornamental perennials, edible perennials, woody plants, sustainable lawn care, and habitat for birds and beneficial insects. Each quarterly webinar will feature three lightning talks on the essential skills for that season.
- March 20th, 12:00 – 1:30 pm: Spring Ecological Gardening Practices – Register Here
- June 26th, 12:00 – 1:30 pm: Summer Ecological Gardening Practices – Register Here
- September 18th, 12:00 – 1:30 pm: Fall Ecological Gardening Practices – Register Here
- December 18th, 12:00 – 1:30 pm: Winter Ecological Gardening Practices – Register Here
Happy wildflower gardening!
Curious By Nature 