Native Flowers and Wildflowers- What's the difference?

That is an excellent question. It's a little bit of a conundrum. The term "wildflower" is often used to describe any flower that grows well without a lot of human intervention. By that definition, Queen Anne's lace and Orange Tiger Lilies are both wildflowers. So are their native alternatives: White Yarrow and Butterfly Weed. The trick is to understand the difference between native and non-native species. This complicated process often involves many factors. The first thing to understand is the difference between native and alien species.

Unfortunately, both Queen Anne’s Lace and Orange Tiger Lilies have their origins in other continents. That makes them “alien” species. Humans brought them here, either on purpose or by accident, as our continent was settled. More importantly, these two plants have a tendency to out-compete other plants and take over entire areas wherever they grow. When they do that, they push out beneficial plants. That makes them “invasive” plants. A field full of solid Queen Anne's Lace may look pretty to us, but it is damaging and unhealthy to wildlife. A riverbank or wet area that is overtaken by Orange Tiger Lilies (Sometimes known as Ditch Lilies) offers very little food or shelter for native animals and insects. Therefore, even though these plants are easy to establish, and they look very stunning to others, they are NOT the best choice when it comes to supporting and encouraging environmental balance. That is why these plants are sometimes referred to as alien invasive.

In contrast, although natives also grow without human intervention, a native flower is one that developed and flourished on our continent BEFORE gardeners came along. They were not accidentally transported or deliberately planted by overseas settlers. That makes them “native” to North America. Most of the time, these plants grow in cooperation with the rest of the environment, and also provide food or shelter for wildlife. They do not over-grow or create large, monotonous stands of all one type of flower. They contribute to the diversity of life in the garden or in the wild. That is why they are referred to as “beneficial” plants. White Yarrow and Butterfly Weed are two varieties of native flowers that look very similar to their alien invasive counterparts. They both have all these good qualities. They offer the same carefree gardening options: requiring no fertilizer, extra water, or soil amendments. They are naturally resistant to disease and pests. White Yarrow and Butterfly Weed can grow in the same conditions as the others plants, but they DO contribute to the balance of the ecosystem. That is why these types of plants are sometimes referred to as native or beneficial wildflowers.

Knowing the difference between native and alien is only the first step. Determining whether a plant is beneficial or invasive is still only a beginning. Even within the “native” category, there are many variations and levels. The everyday home gardener is right to feel a bit mystified and even a tad irritated by all the debate and confusion. Learning scientific names, researching every possible detail, and double-checking every planting can intimidate anyone who just wants a nice bunch of blossoms in the yard. It is not surprising that many gardeners simply avoid the issue entirely. If the options were presented more pleasantly, many gardeners would see how easy it is to practice native, or near-native, gardening. Wildflower gardening would not only be easier, it would be much more fun.

For those who simply want to plant wildflowers and enjoy their beauty, it does not have to get overly complicated. It can be a simple matter to select a native or near-native beneficial flower instead of an alien invasive species.

Right here, there are great alternatives to some of the most common garden options. Even better, each comes with a direct link for purchase. What could be easier than that? Just try any of the native flowers on this page, and they will quickly become perennial favorites!

Just remember that the options on this page are not necessarily 100% native in the strictest sense. They are, however, a great way to get started growing native flowers.

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