Advantages and disadvantages of wildflower planting

«You belong in the wildflowers,» and it’s true! If you love the garden or nature, wildflower professionals abound. Carefree, beautiful and useful plants, planting wildflowers in gardens is nothing new. Colourful, hardy and low-maintenance, wildflowers seem very simple when it comes to planting a garden or a large field, and in most cases they are. However, wildflower planting has serious drawbacks if it is not done properly. We will explore the different reasons for planting wildflowers and learn more about the disadvantages of planting wildflowers as well.

Benefits of wildflower planting

Natural and low maintenance . As wildflowers are normally native plants of the region, they require virtually no maintenance in the garden. They are already accustomed to the environment, so very little care is required. If you are a busy gardener, and you are not today, or even a little lazy, this is a sure reason to plant wildflowers.
Attractive for beneficial insects . Wildflowers help to encourage bees and other important pollinators in the area. You cannot eat fruits or vegetables without pollination. That is why planting wildflowers in the garden, even among foodstuffs, is a good way to ensure a good harvest. As an added bonus, these native plants will attract other beneficial insects that can help defend against bad insects that might otherwise feed on your crops.
Food source for wildlife (and for us too) . Wildflower plants on the landscape help provide food and shelter for many types of birds and other wildlife. But that’s not all. We humans also use a lot of them. From the seeds or tubers we eat to the oil, dyes, or fibre for the products we need, wildflowers are important.
They have both medicinal and vegetal virtues . Nearly 80% of medicines or herbal products have properties found in wildflower plants. Many have been used for centuries. Take, for example, conifer flowers (echinacea) or chamomile. Both of these plants have been used for their past and present plant properties, and are especially popular in the form of tea.
Wild flower plants are beautiful . One of the best reasons to add these plants to your garden is probably the simple fact that they are simply beautiful. Wildflowers can even solve problems and unsightly areas on your property. They make your surroundings beautiful, making you and everyone else happy.
Good for the environment . Because plants absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen, being surrounded by many native wildflowers helps promote cleaner air. In addition, planting wildflowers will increase the diversity of plants and animals in the environment.

Disadvantages of wildflower planting

Environmental disadvantages of wildflower planting . Although there are few disadvantages to planting wildflowers, the most obvious is the accidental introduction of non-native species. Wildflowers are so pleasant because they are supposed to fit into the environment, require little maintenance and provide lots of pollen and nectar for local pollinators. But knowing which wildflowers are native to your area requires some research. If you plant the wrong seeds, you are introducing plants that do not adapt to your environment. This could mean that they simply won’t thrive, or that their flowers won’t be compatible with pollinators in your area. In the worst case, they will thrive, but at the expense of other native plants, taking over and spreading throughout the delicate ecosystem.
Reasons not to plant wildflowers from seed mixtures Why is it so difficult to know which wildflowers you are planting? Most of the time, wildflower seeds are sold as mixtures, often based on a theme like Shade Loving or Pollinator Friendly, and are sold all over the country or even the world. If you plant a packet of seeds containing California poppies and you live in California, you will have no problem. However, if you live in the southeastern United States, you are introducing an invasive weed. In addition to this problem, many seed mixtures don’t even indicate their contents correctly, so you can plant invasive flowers without realizing it.

To what extent are the reasons for planting wildflowers justified?

Wildflowers are a great idea, but ONLY if they are planted responsibly. Avoid seed mixtures and plant only those flowers that you know are adapted to your area. They are wildflowers, after all – they should be as natural as possible. So, in general, planting wildflowers in the garden is a great thing to do. Don’t forget to do your homework ahead of time and reaffirm which species are native to your area, or at least those that are unlikely or unlikely to get out of control. In most areas, your local extension office can help you with this.