by Lisa Lantz

Wildflower mixes or "meadows in a can" are showing up with increasing frequency on store shelves. Packages show photos of fields alive with brilliantly colored flowers. But will these mixes produce similar effects for you? Furthermore, would you want them to?

People are drawn to wildflower mixes for a variety of reasons. Some are looking to add color to their yards. Others want a groundcover, sometimes as an alternative to a lawn. Native plant enthusiasts may plant wildflower mixes out of a desire to propagate native plants, while others are interested in site restoration. Your success with a given wildflower mix will depend on your initial goal and expectations. If you are interested in some color or a ground cover, you are not necessarily concerned with using native species. However, if you hope to propagate native species or restore a site, bear in mind that "wildflower" does not mean the same thing as "native plant."

Webster’s defines native as "indigenous, originating in a certain place." While this sounds simple enough, native is a subjective term, like tall, dark or handsome. My family settled in western Washington in the 1890’s. Around the same time, Spartina alterniflora was introduced to Willapa Bay. I consider myself a native of western Washington, but I consider Spartina a noxious weed, one of the worst non-native, invasive plants in western Washington. An effective definition for native plants requires additional parameters, such as an historical benchmark and geographical limits.

Few would argue that Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) is native to Washington; it was part of the dominant vegetation over large tracts of land at the time of the first European explorers. Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) is now the dominant species over large portions of the intermountain west, but no one considers it native because it was introduced from Eurasia by human actions. European settlement, which brought dramatic changes to Washington’s flora and landscapes, is usually used as the historical benchmark for determining nativeness.

Geographic limits are also important. Consider dune wildrye (Leymus mollis), a species found on coastal dunes of the Washington coast. Even though a coniferous forest might occur within a few yards of this dune habitat, L. mollis is not found in the coniferous forest. Therefore, while L. mollis is native to coastal dunes in Washington, it would be inappropriate to say that it is native to the entire state. L. mollis is native to a particular habitat in Washington.

With these definitions of native in mind, let’s look at some of the wildflower mixes that are currently on the market. These mixes can generally be divided into four groups: local, regional, national and specialty. Local mixes are probably the least common, as they are produced by local nurseries. These mixes are collected and blended for a very specific geographic region and type of habitat. For example, a local mix might include wildflowers native to Puget Sound prairies.

Regional mixes are blended to include seeds of some species native to major habitats of a region, such as the Pacific Northwest or the western U.S. For example, a western wildflower mix may contain species from Washington wetlands, California oak woodlands and Arizona deserts. The idea behind these mixtures is that by including species adapted to a variety of habitats, at least some will thrive in a given area.

This same idea applies to national mixes and specialty mixes. National mixes contain very hardy species from a wide range of habitats across the continent. Specialty mixes are similar to national mixes, but they are blended for a specific purpose, such as attracting butterflies. Once again, by including species from a wide range of habitats, the idea is that where one species won’t grow, others will.

Each type of mix has advantages and disadvantages. In most cases, local mixes have the best chance of establishing because they include species adapted to a particular area. However, local mixes can be hard to find. Regional, national and specialty mixes are easier to find, but they include species that may not be adapted to your site. Bear in mind that "native North American wildflowers" are not necessarily native to or adapted to your site. Many species have quite specialized site requirements. While these requirements create difficulties, inclusion of species without these requirements also cause problems – we call them "weeds." Weeds become a real issue when regional, national and specialty mixes include Eurasian species. Eurasian species are not necessarily problems, but some of them can be particularly invasive and difficult to control.

Several species listed as noxious weeds in Washington commonly show up in wildflower mixes. These species include: Leucanthemum vulgare = Chrysanthemum leucanthemum (oxeye daisy), Daucus carota (Queen Anne’s lace or wild carrot), Centaurea species (knapweed, particularly bighead knapweed = lemon fluff), and Echium vulgare (blueweed). Since these species can be highly destructive, competitive and difficult to control, mixes including noxious weeds create ongoing problems. To prevent the spread of noxious weeds, these species and others have been quarantined in Washington, making it illegal to buy, sell or offer for sale, or transport these plants or parts of these plants. However, vendors who are unfamiliar with the quarantine still attempt to sell these species. In poor quality mixes, noxious weeds may also occur as contaminants.

When deciding if a wildflower mix will work for you, determine your goals ahead of time and weigh the pros and cons of various mixtures. Noxious weeds will be a problem regardless of your goals. However, if you are interested in color or a ground cover, you may not be concerned if the mixture contains non-native species. Therefore, a meadow mix may work for you, as long as it contains enough species that are adapted to your site. If your goal is native plant propagation, a local mix may work, but other types of mixes would include non-native species that would be unacceptable. A wildflower mix is almost certainly not appropriate for site restoration. Restoration requires native plants that would have naturally occurred together at the site. Native ecotypes are also desirable. These conditions cannot be met with a commercial wildflower mix.

If you decide that a wildflower mix is right for you, take steps to maximize the success of your venture. First of all, familiarize yourself with the noxious weeds that are quarantined in Washington. You may obtain a copy of the quarantine list from the Washington State Department of Agriculture Nursery Inspection Program, at (253) 872-6005. Second, buy from a reputable source. Seeds from a reputable company are less likely to contain contaminants. Finally, check the species list to make sure you are planting species you want. If the mixture does not have a list, request one from the seed company. Seed companies can also provide seed test reports that will help identify seed contaminants. While this may seem pushy, most seed companies are happy to try to satisfy potential customers. Meadow mixes are not appropriate in all situations. However, by taking these steps, you can maximize your odds for success and prevent the spread of undesirable species.

References:

Wilson, M.V., D.E. Hibbs and E.R. Alverson. 1991. Native plants, native ecosystems and native landscapes: An ecological definition of "native" will promote effective conservation and restoration. Kalmiopsis 1:13-17.

Wilson, W.H.V. 1984. Landscaping with Wildflowers and Native Plants. Ortho Books, San Francisco.

This page was last updated 09/10/08

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