Article by Kelly Mae Heroux -
For the past two years, I’ve found myself smiling every time I pass a vibrant island of wildflowers in my neighbor’s front yard. Surrounded by neatly trimmed turf and concrete sidewalks, this unruly burst of color seems to make everything around it feel more alive.
The term wildflower often refers to flowering plants that grow without intentional cultivation and are typically native to a region. However, they can also be seeded or transplanted intentionally. Here in Northern California, wildflowers grow in a stunning range of colors and forms as they bloom with the unique rhythms of our local climate.
Many of our native wildflowers are spring ephemerals, such as sky lupine (Lupinus nanus) and the iconic California poppy (Eschscholzia californica). These beautiful harbingers of spring bloom brightly, then fade as summer heat returns, making way for hardier, often drought-tolerant species. Because they’re adapted to local conditions, most native wildflowers are not only resilient but also excellent support for pollinators and wildlife.
As California faces hotter, drier summers and increasing ecological pressures, planting wildflowers is a low-water, high-impact way to help restore habitat while also bringing color and life to our communities. And notice I didn’t write “planting wildflowers in your garden”? That’s because wildflowers don’t just belong in carefully tended beds! They can thrive in all sorts of spaces: roadside strips, bare patches, sidewalk edges, empty planters, even cracks in asphalt. Citizen scientists working with UC Davis researcher Haven Kiers helped disperse native wildflower seeds along sidewalks, bus stops, and bike paths. According to early results from the Seed Pile Project, the most successful wildflower growth occurred in places like cracks in pavement and roadsides, where seeds were left undisturbed.
While wildflowers are hardy, there are general guidelines for when and how to seed them. For example, summer is not the ideal time to sow wildflower seeds in Northern California—the heat and dryness can stress seeds and reduce germination. Instead, join me in starting to plan for a fall planting. Check out Calscape.org to get inspired and learn more about native California wildflowers; where to buy them, how to care for them, and what species are suited to your area. Create your own ever-changing patch of color and texture, with each wildflower variety blooming in its own seasonal rhythm. For the greatest ecological benefit, choose seed mixes with species native to Northern California. Many seed mixes are inexpensive, easy to care for, and include perennial or self-seeding species that return year after year.