7 Unusual Wildflowers To Sprinkle In Your Garden In May – For a Whimsical Display That Will Last Until Fall
Sow these lesser-known seeds while the soil is warm for a magical meadow-scape that will support pollinators, too
Who doesn't love the sight of wildflowers bringing color to the landscape? Sadly, the US has lost a staggering amount of its wildflower meadows, prairies and grasslands over the last two centuries. From urbanization and agriculture to invasive species and herbicide use, the reasons are not going away soon, however, there are a large number of lesser-known, unusual wild flowers that are easy to grow and will bring more than just color to your yard.
However, a flicker of light on the horizon is that green-thumbed Americans are increasingly turning to wildflower planting in their gardens. Purple coneflower, Black-eyed Susan and blanket flower are native wild plants that are increasingly brightening up suburban yards and supporting pollinators.
Yet, those who know how to plant a wildflower meadow, understand that part of its appeal, lies in its diversity. Ahead are some unusual wildflowers that can be sprinkled or sown in May to increase the floral abundance and interest in your yard.
Before You Sow
Anyone who has sprinkled wildflower seeds in their garden, has likely had mixed results. However, if you provide seeds with the right soil and conditions, you should see them bloom.
'Most wildflower seeds prefer lean, well-drained soil,' says Tabar Gifford, Master Gardener and Representative, American Meadows. 'Before you sow any seeds, clear away existing vegetation, loosen the top inch of soil, and avoid adding rich compost; too much fertility can lead to fewer blooms.
'Good seed-to-soil contact matters more than perfect soil, so a simple rake and firm press is often all you need.'
1. Rocky Mountain Bee Plant (Cleome Serrulata)
As its common name suggests, this plant is native to Eastern WA state, the Rockies and into the Great Plains, so will thrive in those regions, but it can be grown across zones 1-10. Its tall, purple-pink flower heads are loved by pollinators, so Rocky Mountain bee plant seeds would suit being sown in a wildlife garden or towards the back of your flower beds.
'Rocky Mountain Bee Plant doesn’t tiptoe into the garden; it arrives with height, movement, and a kind of joyful chaos,' says Tabar. 'In a single season, it can grow into a tall, airy presence topped with clusters of pink-purple blooms that hum, literally, with pollinators.
'I'm often drawn to the species that make people pause mid-walk and ask, “What on earth is that?”. There’s also something magical about planting a seed in May and ending up with a towering, almost shrub-like wildflower by midsummer.'
'Direct sow once the soil has warmed, pressing seeds lightly into the surface and covering about 1/8 inch deep. Space plants 12–24 inches apart, or sow more densely for a naturalized meadow effect.'
This plant likes full sun and well-drained soils, especially in dry regions across the West and Great Plains (zones 3–9). It's highly drought-tolerant once established, blooms begin in early to mid-summer and can continue into fall.
These Rocky Mountain Bee Plant seeds from True Leaf Market take 75-85 days to reach maturity, but may benefit from brief cold stratification, depending on the weather where you live.
Tabar Gifford is a Master Gardener, and dedicated “plant geek”. With a lifelong love for gardening and nature, and a background in environmental studies and sustainable community development, she combines horticultural expertise with a commitment to education. Striving to empower individuals in achieving their gardening aspirations, Tabar embodies a genuine passion for sharing her knowledge. She gardens in zone 4 in Vermont.
2. Lacy Phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia)
Found in the southwestern deserts of the US, Lacy Phacelia is a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plant with tiny, lilac, spiky-looking flowers that slowly unfurl to attract butterflies, bees and hummers.
Although widely used as a cover crop, to improve soil health between planting seasons, this unusual wildflower also adds beauty, so is one to consider if you're designing a garden for pollinators in the southwest.
'Lacy Phacelia is one of those plants that feels almost too delicate to be as tough as it is,' says Tabar. 'Its fern-like foliage creates a soft, airy base, topped with curling clusters of lavender-blue blooms that look almost hand-drawn.
'I think of it as the quiet connector; it ties everything together while quietly supporting a wide range of pollinators.
'Scatter seeds over prepared soil and lightly rake in to a depth of about 1/8 to 1/4 inch. Germination is quick in warm soil, often within 1–2 weeks. Broadcasting seed works best for a natural look.'
Choose a spot with full sun and provide well-drained soil, particularly in dry or sandy conditions. Lacy Phacelia grows to around 12-24" tall and is adaptable across a wide range of climates (Zones 3–10).
'Flowers appear within 6–8 weeks of sowing, making it one of the fastest ways to bring pollinators into your garden,' adds Tabar.
Plant these Blue Tansy Phacelia tanacetifolia seeds from Burpee for a meadow-like feel in your garden that pollinators will love.
3. Farewell to Spring (Clarkia unguiculata)
Although a northern Californian native, Farewell to Spring is adaptable across many regions (Zones 3–10) so would suit many wildflower gardens with its pretty pink "powder puff" flower spikes, which bloom from late spring into summer. These plants usually grow to around a foot or so tall, but can reach greater heights when the conditions are right.
'Farewell to Spring offers taller growth and more dramatic displays in areas with consistent moisture,' explains Tabar. 'It feels like a wildflower with a sense of nostalgia; soft, powdery pink blooms climbing up slender stems, as if it wandered out of a cottage garden and into the wild.
'In its native range, it can blanket hillsides in color, and I’ve always loved how it manages to feel both delicate and resilient at the same time.'
Clarkia unguiculata grows well in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soils. Direct sow the wildflower seeds on the soil surface and lightly press them in; these seeds need light to germinate. The seeds don't necessarily require stratification, but they do need moisture.
'Avoid overly rich soil, which can lead to floppy stems,' says Tabar. 'Thin seedlings to 8–12 inches apart, or allow them to grow more densely for a meadow-style planting.'
Although considered an annual, Farewell to Spring can reseed. So try these Clarkia seeds from True Leaf Market in containers, if you don't want to risk them spreading.
4. Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum)
One of Mother Nature's more ethereal offerings, this native prairie plant is an early bloomer with pretty pink flowers. However, it's striking looks come to the fore, when the tiny flowers give way to fluffy-pink seed heads in the summer. Reaching 12-15" tall, Prairie Smoke is great for rock gardens, prairie plantings, or as a small-scale groundcover.
'The first time I saw Prairie Smoke in full seed, I stopped in my tracks. It’s subtle, but completely mesmerizing,' Tabar tells us. 'It's a plant that rewards patience. It doesn’t rush to impress, but when it does, it’s unforgettable.
'Early in the season, it produces modest, nodding pink flowers that almost hide beneath the foliage. Then comes the transformation: feathery, blush-toned seed heads that drift like tiny plumes of smoke across the garden.'
Beyond its beauty, Prairie Smoke plays an important ecological role too. 'It blooms early enough to support emerging pollinators, including queen bumblebees establishing their first brood, making it a quiet powerhouse in native plantings,' says Tabar.
Prairie Smoke benefits from cold stratification, which nature typically provides over winter, so spring sowing may result in delayed or staggered germination, sometimes not appearing until the following season.
Direct sow seeds on the soil surface or barely cover them, as they need light to germinate. Prairie Smoke thrives best in full sun and well-drained, lean soils in cooler regions (Zones 3–7). 'Flowers appear in late spring, followed by signature feathery seed heads in early to mid-summer.'
You can find Prairie Smoke seeds at Walmart. Sow them now for a charming surprise next spring.
5. Lewis Flax (Linum lewisii)
Also known as Prairie Flax, this pretty little blue wildflower is named after Meriwether Lewis, because it was spotted in 1806 on his expedition across the Western US. It blooms all summer and can reach over two feet in height. Sprinkle seeds in areas with sandy or rocky soil and in partial shade, and it will reward you with delicate sky-blue blooms throughout the summer.
'Lewis Flax is a perennial native wildflower that is easy to grow, and was a valuable plant to the native American people,' explains Steve Sykora, founder, Everwilde Farms. 'The seeds were used for food, the stems in fiber arts, and the plant also had several traditional medicinal uses.
'The seeds should be direct sown in the garden, because the plants do not like to be transplanted. Clear the planting area of plant matter and debris, so that the seeds can make good contact with the soil.'
Although native to the Western US, Lewis Flax is drought-tolerant and can be grown in most garden soils in the Eastern US as well.
'It should bloom in the first growing season, but will reach full blooming size in the second year,' adds Steve.
Sprinkle these Blue flax linum seeds from True Leaf Market in your garden after the last frost and water the seeds with a mister. Although, once they've taken, been mindful not to over water them.
Steve Sykora is the founder of Everwilde Farms, a small family-owned company with hands-on experience growing the native wildflower seeds and organic vegetable and herb seeds that they offer. All the seeds are GMO-free, and few are hybrids, so seeds can be saved to plant for next year.
6. Pussytoes (Antennaria sp.)
A low-growing deer-resistant groundcover plant, loved more for its velvety foliage, than its compact white flowers, Antennaria neglecta aka Pussytoes grows throughout most of the country, from the northeast to the midwest and beyond. You might even see pussytoes (with its flower heads that resemble cat's feet, hence the name) blooming now.
'Pussytoes has silvery leaves and makes a lovely groundcover, but it's not usually planted for its beauty, so you tend to see the low white flowers popping up in more biodiverse lawns,' explains Rebecca McMackin, lead horticulturalist at AHS.
'Antannaria are one of the favorite host plants for the American Lady Butterfly. Their dark caterpillars make little homes, rolling up the leaves, before transforming into bright orange butterflies. It's a wonderful plant to show children this incredible process.'
Antannaria seeds need to stratify and go through the freeze and thaw cycle, so can be slow to germinate. If you sow them now, you should see signs of life next spring. However, plugs and seedlings can be planted in May to provide cover by early summer and are hardy in USDA Hardiness zones 3-7.
'Pussytoes is a great plant for in between perennials,' says Rebecca. 'It has a surprising tolerance for sun, shade, dry and mesic garden soils. There are dozens of species covering every state and your local native plant nursery or botanical society or Wild Ones chapter should have them.'
Rebecca McMackin is an ecological horticulturist, garden designer and Lead Horticulturalist at The American Horticultural Society. She lives in the woods of Connecticut, writing, lecturing, and designing gardens. She is a public servant, dedicated to bringing beauty and biodiversity to all corners of our cities.
7. Spotted Beebalm (Monarda punctata)
Bee balm is a much-loved plant for pollinators, but for something that looks more unusual, try its 'spotted' cousin, Monarda punctata. At one to two feet tall, this striking wildflower not only stands out, it is a short-lived perennial, which will reseed itself in the garden once established.
'Spotted Beebalm is an unusual wildflower but an easy to grow plant in full sun with normal to dry garden soils,' says Rebecca. 'If you look closely at their pale lavender flowers, you will be amazed at their complexity. Polkadots, Umber tones, they look like a flower you might find on the moon.
'Like all Monardas, they are a favorite of pollinators, attracting bumble bees, moths, and gentle solitary wasps. They’re native to much of the country and bloom well before most other Monardas.'
These plants like full sun and dry or mesic garden soils – and light is necessary for the seeds to germinate. Sow Monarda puncata seeds now and you may see flowers late this summer.
'Leave the seed heads up in winter - they are also delightful,' adds Rebecca.
Walmart offers a range of Monarda seeds, including punctata.
Consider the wildflowers that are native to your region, as these will best support local pollinator populations, or experiment with a few species in a patch of your garden. Some blooms will appear this summer, while others may emerge next spring. Either way, you're in for an eye-catching surprise.
'There’s something deeply satisfying about growing the wildflowers that aren’t on every seed rack or pre-mixed meadow blend,' says Tabar.
'They’re also incredibly resilient, often adapted to tough soils, drought, or extreme climates. In other words, they’re not just interesting; they’re quietly brilliant. May is a good time to sow these species directly outdoors, as soil temperatures warm and spring moisture helps seeds settle in.'
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