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When to plant wildflower seeds
Plant wildflower seeds 1–4 weeks before the last spring frost in spring, or from the first fall frost to 6 weeks after it for a fall crop. That works out to zone 5b (early April to late April), zone 7a (mid March to early April) and zone 9a (early February to late February).
Wildflower seeds planting dates by zone
| Zone | Spring | Fall | wildflower seeds ready from |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4a | Apr 17 – May 8 | Sep 26 – Nov 7 | Jun 27 |
| 4b | Apr 15 – May 6 | Sep 29 – Nov 10 | Jun 25 |
| 5a | Apr 13 – May 4 | Oct 1 – Nov 12 | Jun 23 |
| 5b | Apr 7 – Apr 28 | Oct 8 – Nov 19 | Jun 17 |
| 6a | Apr 2 – Apr 23 | Oct 15 – Nov 26 | Jun 11 |
| 6b | Mar 27 – Apr 17 | Oct 19 – Nov 30 | Jun 5 |
| 7a | Mar 18 – Apr 8 | Oct 25 – Dec 6 | May 28 |
| 7b | Mar 9 – Mar 30 | Nov 1 – Dec 13 | May 18 |
| 8a | Feb 27 – Mar 20 | Nov 7 – Dec 19 | May 8 |
| 8b | Feb 16 – Mar 9 | Nov 15 – Dec 27 | Apr 28 |
| 9a | Feb 2 – Feb 23 | Nov 26 – Jan 7 | Apr 14 |
| 9b | Jan 7 – Jan 28 | Dec 10 – Jan 21 | Mar 19 |
How to plant wildflower seeds
| Plant as | seeds broadcast |
|---|---|
| Depth | Press into the surface |
| Spacing | Broadcast |
| Light | Full sun |
| Time to bloom | 60–120 days |
Fall sowing gives many native wildflower seeds the cold period they need to germinate.
Clear grass and weeds first: seed does not compete with established turf.
Rake lightly and press seed into the soil; most need light to sprout.
When to expect flowers from wildflower seeds
Annual wildflowers bloom in the first summer; perennials mostly in the second year.
Exact dates for your town: planting calendar · frost dates by state.
More flowers to plant
Begonias · Coleus · Marigolds · Zinnias · Sunflowers · Cosmos · Mums · Lantana