Endangered Native Wildflowers and Seeds

Endangered native flowers are good for the environment, and good for gardeners. They are also very easy to grow. Most endangered native flowers have an exact "twin" that is commonly sold in garden stores. Gardeners can achieve the same effect with native flowers that they can with traditional garden plants. Even better, planting endangered native flowers increases the quality of the environment while making a garden more beautiful. The best thing about endangered native flowers is that they are perfect for beginning gardeners.

Mainstream garden sites don't always offer the best variety in native flowers. Finding seeds for endangered native flowers can be even more difficult. Seeking native flower seeds in less-likely places can get very confusing. Specialized native and prairie flower stores tend to rely on scientific names to identify the plants they sell. For the beginning gardener, this dilemma can become very frustrating.

The worst part about this problem is that native flowers are IDEAL for beginning gardeners. No one takes up gardening with the intention of studying a new language. Nor does anyone start growing flowers because they want to engage in debates or arguments about the relative merits of Asclepias incarnata over Buddleia davidii. No, people start growing flowers because they love beauty, enjoy the outdoors, and want to create something lasting and pretty.

Native flowers are PERFECT for beginners. Beginning gardeners need easy to grow plants that can stand up to natural conditions. That is exactly what native flowers can do. Native flowers adore the soil and climate conditions that already exist. They don't need extras. Native flowers coexist with insects. They neither need nor want pesticides. Native flowers spread vigorously in most ordinary gardens. They don't need special tending or encouragement to thrive and fill garden space.

This page makes it easy to select endangered native flowers to grow in the home garden. there are choices for both experienced and beginning gardeners. Choose a few packets, and try native flowers today!

Amorpha canescens

Good alternative to: Tamarisk, Mimosa, Spiraea.

Best for experienced gardeners.

Lead Plant is a host for the caterpillars of the Lead Plant Moth. It is a very long-lived shrub that does very well in dry areas. Lead Plant native flowers will NOT bloom the first year. they are quite slow to mature. For this reason, beginning gardeners may want to combine plantings with faster growing perennial native flowers like Purple Coneflower or Wild Larkspur.

The foliage is silvery green. Flowers are purple, growing in large spikes. The shrub will grow between 3 and 6 feet tall. It will rarely need pruning.

Echinacea paradoxa

Good alternative for: Hybrid/cultivated Yellow Coneflower, Teddy Bear Sunflower,Lady's Mantle, Yellow Day lily, Zinnia, Dahlia, Canna Lily

Good for beginning gardeners!

This native flower is not the same plant as the yellow coneflower plants that are created in a lab. This version of Yellow Coneflower has drooping petals and a deep brown center. It will grow 2 to 3 feet tall. Native flowers in general are very drought tolerant, and Yellow Coneflower is no exception. Goldfinches love the seed of Yellow Coneflower. Leaving the plant standing in fall will attract finches throughout the winter months.

Sphaeralcea coccinea

Good alternative to: Foxglove, Amaranth, Oriental poppy, Snapdragon

Great for all gardeners.

These native flowers are fairly short, growing only 12 inches tall. They are good for rock gardens and other dry places. Because Scarlet Globemallow tends to sprawl out rather than up, it can give the same effect as a groundcover plant. It needs a great deal of sun daily. DO NOT water or fertilize these native flowers.

Salvia azurea

Good alternative for: Russian Sage, Chicory

For beginning and experienced gardeners

These native flowers are also known as Prairie Sage or Pitcher Sage. Grows 3 to 5 feet tall. Use in the back of the border. Plant in full sun. Blooms summer through fall with bring blue flowers. Attracts bumblebees and butterflies. Host/nectar for Checkerspot butterflies. Flowers are not a consistently showy, so will do better with companion native flowers.It will look best closely planted with tall grasses or other tall blooming plants. May need staking in traditional garden conditions.

Gaura lindheimeri

Good alternative to: Gladiolus, Foxglove, Dianthus, Cornflower

Recommended for somewhat experienced gardeners.

This is a known as a plant that is drought tolerant. It will grow as a perennial in most zones (5-9). Guara attracts butterflies and bees and will reach 3 to 5 feet in height. Flowers are white and pentiful. Will tolerate many differetn sun exposures and soil conditions. Try it anywhere. Don't worry if seedlings take some time to come up. Can germinate in one to three weeks. Some seds take the full time.

Machaeranthera tanacetifolia

Good alternative to: Bachelor Buttons, Painted Daisy, China Aster, Blue Petunias

Great for beginners

Artemisia frigida

Good alternative for: Silver Artemisia, Dusty Miller,Lamb's Ear

Good for gardeners of all experience levels

Verbena strica

Good alternative for: Alyssum, Brachycome, Mint

Best for somewhat experienced gardeners

Erigeron speciosus

Good alternative to: Queen Anne's Lace, Kingfisher Daisy, Blue Fringe Daisy

Great for beginners!

Silphium lacinatum

Good alternative to: Sunflower, Canna, Daylily

ESPECIALLY GOOD FOR BIRDS AND BUTTERFLIES

Better for experienced gardeners- very tall, needs to be placed carefully within garden design.

Allium cernuum

Good alternative for most decorative alliums

Good for beginners. Easy to grow.

Schizochyrium scoparium

Good alternative for pampas grass.Great addition to any prairie style planting.

Great for beginners. Very showy in fall.

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