If you want to make your outdoor space more colorful and a little wild, I would definitely recommend you plant some pretty prairie flowers.
Not only do prairie flowers look amazing, but they also help pollinators and wildlife!
You could plant a few in your backyard or use them to create a wildflower meadow (and these look like something straight out of a fairy tale!). So, if you’re ready to transform your garden into a lively, low-maintenance paradise, let me introduce you to these prairie flowers you must grow!
1. Prairie Blazing Star Is A Tough Plant That Attracts Beneficial Insects
Prairie Blazing Star is a tall, purple plant that can brighten up any outdoor space with its beauty and quirkiness. I added some to my yard and they’ve truly been glowing ever since.
These plants are great for attracting bees and butterflies (especially monarchs). And they are tough too – loving full sun, drought, and even keeping deer away.
2. Wild Bergamot WIll Fill Your Garden With Its Sweet Fragrance And Lots Of Pollinators
Wild Bergamot (or bee balm) is a fragrant perennial that attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds with its lavender-pink flowers. This magnificent plant can grow in full sun (though it can handle some partial shade) and blooms from summer to fall.
I love it for its sweet scent and the fact that it helps pollinators. You can even use the leaves of Wild bergamot to make herbal tea! It’s also deer-resistant and drought-tolerant, which makes it a useful plant that is super easy to grow.
Related: 11 Purple Flowers That Will Attract Hummingbirds To Your Garden
3. Compass Plant Can Tell You The Right Directions
The Compass Plant is a tall wildflower featuring vibrant yellow flowers that bloom from summer through fall. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, so you can easily grow them in meadows.
Its unique leaves face north and south, which is how this plant got its name (so, if you’re lost, just look for a compass plant!). Bees and butterflies also absolutely love this special plant!
4. Prairie Smoke’s Feathery Flowers Add A Whimsical Touch
Prairie Smoke is known for its pink to reddish flowers that turn into feathery, smoke-like seed heads, which creates a whimsical look.
I love how it attracts bees in early spring (just when they are needed the most!), but it also keeps deer away. This plant grows well in full sun exposure and soil that drains well.
Related: Grow These 19 Spiritual Plants To Remove Negative Energy From Your Home
5. Asters Produce Colorful Flowers That Stick Around Longer Than The Rest
Asters are colorful perennials that adorn your garden with lovely blooms in late summer and fall. With flowers in purple, blue, pink, and white, they’re loved by gardeners, bees, and butterflies!
Their long blooming period can provide nectar for pollinators late in the season (how cool is that?). Asters are also deer-resistant and drought-tolerant, which makes them easy to grow.
Related: Get Your Fall Garden Started With ‘October Skies’ Asters
6. Little Bluestem Fully Supports Wildlife
Little Bluestem is a beautiful prairie grass with blue-green stems that turn reddish-bronze in fall.
This plant fully supports wildlife – birds eat its seeds and small animals find shelter in its leaves (there’s something for everyone!). This prairie flower can grow in drought and heat!
Related: What Is Prairie Planting And How To Start It In Your Backyard
7. Purple Coneflower Is A Gorgeous Native Plant
Purple Coneflower is a popular prairie flower with bright purple petals and spiky centers. It is native to the central and eastern U.S., only needing full sun and good soil to grow and thrive.
Pollinators like bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies absolutely love it. The flowers also provide seeds that birds enjoy in fall and winter.
Related: Try These Simple Tricks To Keep Your Gorgeous Coneflowers Blooming Year After Year
8. Butterfly Weed Is Just Perfect For Meadow Gardens
Butterfly weed is a distinctive orange flower that naturally draws in butterflies (hence the name). Just like any other prairie flower, it only needs some sun and quality soil to grow and thrive.
It’s easy to care for, drought-tolerant, and just perfect for a meadow garden. Butterfly weed can definitely make your landscape more vibrant and lively.
Related: Start Your Own Butterfly Garden With These 13 Alluring Plants
9. Joe-Pye Weed Has The Prettiest Mauve-Pink Flowers
Joe-Pye weed is a tall plant admired for its pretty mauve-pink flowers that bloom from mid-summer all the way through fall. It grows best in full sun to partial shade and moist soil that drains well.
This plant is appreciated for its height and ability to attract lots of beneficial insects to the garden. Its late blooms provide nectar, so you’ll see many bees and butterflies buzzing around!
10. Black-Eyed Susan Will Bring You Cheer And Joy
Black-Eyed Susan is an easy-to-grow perennial that can make any garden more cheerful with its bright yellow flowers. These pretty prairie flowers appear from mid-summer to fall and attract bees and butterflies.
These plants are super tough, only needing full sun and some watering before they’re established. They bloom for a long time and spread easily (ideal for any wildflower meadow).
Related: These 5 Stunning Black-Eyed Susan Varieties Will Create A Show-Stopping Fall Display
11. Indian Blanket Is Ideal For Dry, Sunny Spots
Indian Blanket (also known as Firewheel) is a colorful plant with red and yellow flowers that will stick around from early summer to fall. This plant is ideal for dry, sunny spots since it loves full sunlight exposure.
These plants are also drought-tolerant and deer-resistant, making them an easy pick for most gardens.
No matter which flower you pick, you’re sure to love the results. These stunning, low-maintenance blooms can thrive just about anywhere. Best of luck with your wildflower meadow!
Related: 14 Yellow Perennial Flowers That Will Liven Up Your Garden