Among the pleasures of gardening is choosing your favorite flowers to grow in the garden. Most cultivated plants grow satisfactorily under similar conditions, thus resulting in an almost unlimited list of available materials for home gardens.
This, however, does not hold for the wildflower garden. Although many native plants are not fussy, some of the most desirable have restricted requirements, which must be duplicated in their new homes.
Thus the likes and dislikes of the wildflowers must be considered before those of the gardener.
Wildflower Gardening
The beginner in wildflower gardening must thoroughly investigate the possibilities of the selected area before determining the kinds to grow. Unfortunately, when land is acquired for a new home, all native growth is often removed.
A valuable clue to the area’s climate and the soil’s character is thus lost, and time and effort are wasted.
The owner would often like a natural garden once he is aware that the starry flowers of the native bloodroot open fully to the sun and fold their petals at the close of the day. This is one of the easiest plants for wild gardens if given moist, humus soil and high shade.
Of the pleasure it affords, he does not realize until too late the value of the plant material he destroyed.
For example, unless he has a coniferous mood, interspersed with oak trees, where the soil is very acidic, he should not try to grow the wildflowers of this habitat.
Preserving Groundcover and Wildflowers
Residents of northern states, where some of the choicest ground covers and wildflowers grow, can do nothing better than to preserve these treasures, which will enhance their surroundings more than introduced plants.
Many of our loveliest orchids are most abundant in the colder sections of the country, where twin-flower (Linnaea borealis), bunch-berry (Cornus canadensis), and clintonia (Chittonia borealis) form ground covers that do not thrive under warmer, fewer acid conditions.
These plants cannot successfully be transplanted to a different environment.
The beginner in wildflower gardening should restrain himself from collecting or buying any of the orchids.
They are certain to disappear after a year or two. Thus it is better not to encourage their sale or uselessly remove them from their natural home to try them.
The successful gardener learns from observation and the experiences of others.
The pink lady’s-slipper or moccasin flower (Cypripedium acaule) is an outstanding example of a wildflower that does not tolerate transplanting.
Skilled gardeners can sometimes transplant this orchid to areas where they are already present, but even under these circumstances, it is not always successful.
Difficult To Grow Wildflowers
Another group of difficult-to-grow wildflowers includes trailing arbutus (Epigaea repens). This plant needs fairly acidic soil, but less than for the pink moccasin flower.
Sometimes gardeners who hopefully set a clump of this favorite trailer among other plants, which do not have this requirement, are dismayed when it fails to thrive.
Some wildflowers cannot tolerate any acidity whatsoever and, except in limestone areas, must have soil especially prepared for them.
Fringed gentian (Gentiana crinita) and various small, rare ferns fall into this group and are for the experienced gardener only.
Majority of Garden Soils
Most garden soils where wildflower gardens are likely to start are slight to moderately acidic. The new gardener should therefore limit his choice to plants of these conditions.
When setting out plants, avoid bare ground around them because the humidity, so necessary for wildflowers, is reduced.
Place a mulch of rotted leaves around each plant until the ground covers have had time to establish themselves.
Moving Wildflowers
Given proper care, most wildflowers can safely be moved in almost any season. Any that make strong lusty growth should not be moved when they have grown too large. Ferns are particularly easy to move if taken with plenty of soil.
Some wildflowers are, however, practically impossible to transplant. Wild Lupin (Lupinus perennis) and butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) have long taproots and should be raised from seed.
When collecting the seed, also take some soil from around the plants for the seed mixture.
Some wild asters are desirable but cannot be lifted when they are in flower. Dig them instead in the spring.
The best goldenrods are excellent in the wild garden, particularly the seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens), which succeeds under garden treatment.
Another plant that is difficult to move is bear-berry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), a perfect ground cover for a dry, sunny bank. Cuttings are taken in late fall or winter roots easily.
Spring Flowers in Wild Garden
The most popular type of wild garden features spring flowers. This garden invariably contains plants that need very light shade in the spring and much heavier shade in summer.
The filtered sunlight of high-branching trees, like oaks and locusts, is best.
Huge maples and other specimen lawn trees cast a dense shade under which almost nothing will grow.
Spring flowers also need adequate moisture to be maintained, to some degree, throughout the whole season.
If the soil is dry and low in organic matter, it is unsuitable for spring flowers unless prepared previously.
Bird Bath
A bird bath fed by the constant water drip through a copper tube will overflow enough to moisten a very small wild garden.
If enough water is available, a copper tube can also source a small brook that will moisten a more extensive area.
Large rocks also help to keep the ground cool and moist, and wildflowers planted among them usually do well.
If no water is available, an entirely different kind of wild garden must be considered. Where the soil is sandy, sterile, and considerably acidic, various charming wildflowers will grow there, thus extending the period of bloom into summer.
Hew, clay that is like cement when dry, requires sand and organic matter. A gardener with a natural stream, pond, or boggy area already has a wild garden and needs only to add more kinds.
Artificial Garden Pools
Most artificial garden pools can be made more exciting by using a little ingenuity to imitate the natural growth around shallow ponds.
It is more important to test the soil for acidity for spring gardens than for flowers that come later in the season. Summer flowers seem to like various soil conditions, and a soil test for these is unnecessary.
Here are some suggestions of easy plants for several types of wildflower gardens:
Spring Garden
Moderately acid soil (ph 5.0-6.0).
Trees
- Hemlock
- Flowering dogwood
- Pussy-willows
- Silverbell-tree
- Birches
- Hop hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana)
- Sassafras
- Washington thorn (Crataegus phaenopyrum)
- Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum)
Shrubs
- Azaleas
- Rhododendrons
- Pieris
- Leucothoe
- Inkberry (Ilex glabra)
- Blueberry (Vaccinium count-bosun)
Wild Flowers
- Foam-flower (Tiarella cordifolia
- Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
- Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)
- Solomon’s-seal (Polygonatum sp.)
- Bluets (Houstonia caerulea)
- Wake-robin (Trillium erectum)
- Creeping phlox (Phlox stolonifera)
- Downy violet (Viola pubescens)
- Canada violet (Viola canadensis)
- Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum)
- Spring-beauty (Claytonia virginica)
- Hepática (Hepatica americana).
Ferns
- Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides)
- Lady fern (Athyrium filix femina)
- Marginal shield-fern (Aspidium marginate)
- Spinulose wood fern (Aspidium spinulosum)
Spring Garden
Slightly acid soil (ph 6.0-7.0)
Trees
- Same as above
Shrubs
- Witch-hazel
- Flowering dogwood
- Shadbush
- Mountain-laurel
- Viburnums
Wild Flowers
- Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica)
- Snow trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)
- Twin-leaf (Jeffersonia diphylla)
- Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
- Mitre Wordt (Mitella diphylla)
- Woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata)
- Great Merrybells (Uvularia grandiflora)
- Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)
- Dutchman’s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)
- May apple (Podophyllum peltatum)
- Adders-Tongue (Erythronium sp.)
- White baneberry (Actaea alba)
Ferns
- Maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum)
- Goldie’s fern (Aspidium goldianum)
- New York fern (Aspidium noveboracense)
Sunny Wild Garden
Trees
- Red cedar
- Locust
Shrubs
- Common juniper
- Bayberry
- Sweet-fern
- Wild rose
- Low blueberry
- Bittersweet
- Viburnums
- Dewberry
- Bearberry
Wild Flowers
- Birdfoot-violet (Viola pedata)
- Wild lupine (Lupinus perennis)
- Wild pink (Silene caroliniana)
- Butterfly-weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
- Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
- Yellow bedstraw (Callum rerun:)
- Crown-vetch (Coronilla varia)
- Bellflower (Campanula rapunculoides)
- Butter-and-eggs (Linaria vulgaris)
- Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia)
- Moth-mullein (Verbascum blattaria)
- Robin’s plantain (Erigeron pulchellus)
- Savory-leaf aster (bonnet is linariifolius)
Fern
- Hay-scented fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula)
Moist Wild Garden
Trees
- Willows
- Tupelo
- Red maple
Shrubs
- Spice-bush
- Sweet pepper-bush
- Wild rose
- Swamp azalea
- Alder
- Shadbush
- Rhodora
- Choke-berry
- Button-bush
Wild Flowers
- Marsh-marigold (Caltha palustris)
- Wild forget-me-not (Younis laxa)
- Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
- Great lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica)
- Creeping Charlie (Lysimachia nummularia)
- Ladies’-smock (Cardamine pratensis)
- Yellow iris (Iris pseudacorus)
- Blue flag (iris versicolor)
- Rose-mallow (Hibiscus palustris)
- Iron-weed (Vernonia noveboracensis)
- Queen-of-the-prairie (Filipendula rubra)
- Tall meadow-rue (Thalictrum polygamum)
- Closed Gentian (Gentiana crinita)
Ferns
- Cinnamon
- Interrupted
- Royal
- Marsh
- Crested ferns
Seaside Wild Garden
Trees
- Red cedar
- Oaks
- Gray birch
- American holly
Shrubs
- Sheep-laurel
- Beach-plum
- Wild rose
- Blueberry
- Huckleberry
- Inkberry
- Chokeberry
- Sweet-fern
- Bayberry
- Bearberry
Wild Flowers
- Bird-foot violet (Viola pedata)
- Butterfly-weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
- Scarlet pimpernel (Anagallis Golden Aster (Chrysopsis mariana)
- Aster (Aster sp.)
- Goldenrod (Solidago sp.)
- Beach-pea (Lathyrus marlthin’s)
- Hoary pea (Lathyrus in-cairns)
- Wild lupin (Lupinus perennis)
- Blazing star (Chamaelirium luteum)
- Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
- Rock-rose (Helianthemum canadense)
Fern
- Hay-scented fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula)
44659 by Kathryn S. Taylor