SOIL: Most wildflower seed planting requires only scratching the top ¼” of soil with a steel rake. When working with extremely compacted soil, however, prepare for planting by spading and turning the soil to a depth of approximately three inches. Too much soil disturbance will expose weed seeds and allow them to germinate. Soil amendments such as fertilizer or compost are not essential and should only be added sparingly. Too much of these amendments will cause leafy growth at the expense of flowers.
TIME TO PLANT: Optimum soil temperatures needed for germination vary depending on species. Spring-blooming annuals such as poppies, lupines, and bluebells should be planted October
through December. Summer-blooming annuals such as kallstroemia and devil’s claw can be planted in late spring or early summer. Perennials started from seed vary in timing of planting. Penstemons, oenotheras and blackfoot daisy germinate more readily in the fall. Summer growers such as datura germinate in late spring to early summer.
SOWING: After the soil is prepared, level the bed with a rake to create an even surface on which to sow the seeds. The planting will look most natural if the seed is broadcast rather than planted in rows.
Toss the seed evenly over the prepared beds. Very small seeds can be mixed with sand, and then sown, in order to broadcast them more evenly. Some hard coated seeds, such as lupine, will benefit from being soaked overnight in water, and then sown. Read package instructions for any other seed which may need some treatment prior to sowing. After sowing, rake the seeds in lightly and cover them with a thin layer
of soil, compost or a soil and sand mixture. A light cover of decomposed granite is one of the best mulches available for tiny wildflower seeds. Remember, seed planted too deeply can be a cause of poor germination.
WATERING: Water the seeds daily with a fine mist sprayer, keeping the bed evenly moist until the seedlings emerge. Once the seedlings emerge, water every other day, keeping a careful watch on the small plants and not allowing them to dry out. As temperatures cool, the frequency can be extended but how often seedlings need water will depend on the temperature and soil. Once the plants are showing
4 – 5 leaves and are well established, a deep watering once or twice a week will suffice. For maximum seed production, continue watering until the flowers finish blooming.
THINNING: Annuals often come up in dense clusters or with a wide variety of grasses and other plants. It is advisable to thin the seedlings as soon as possible, cutting with scissors if they are too small or too
tightly spaced, in order to prevent root damage. Weed often, and regularly, to prevent too much crowding and competition for a better bloom.
BIRDS: Birds are attracted to freshly seeded wildflower beds. Bird netting is easy to use in areas that are small. Another method is to spread a mulch of dried leaves or shredded palm fronds over the bed. When using mulch, check every few days for emerging seedlings and be sure to remove the mulch as soon as the seedlings appear.
SEED COLLECTION: If you wish to collect seed from the wildflowers for sowing next year, clip the seed heads when most of the seed is mature. Most seed heads turn brown or dark as they begin to ripen, but watch carefully so that the fruit is not so ripe that it splits and disperses seed. Spread the seeds in one layer on a tray or paper towels in a warm, dry place until they have dried completely. Once separated from the chaff, seed can be stored in an airtight container in a cool dry place.
Some Suggested Wildflowers for the Phoenix Area
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Spring Bloom
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Yellow cups (A)
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Camissonia brevipes
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Desert bluebells (A)
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Phacelia campanularia
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Lacy phacelia (A)
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Phacelia tanacetifolia
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Mexican gold poppy (A)
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Eschscholzia mexicana
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California poppy (A)
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Eschscholzia californica
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Bladderpod (A)
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Lesquerella gordonii
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Emory’s Rock Daisy (A)
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Perityle emoryi
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Chia (A)
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Salvia columbariae
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Thistle (P)
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Circium neomexicanum
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Purple mat (A)
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Nama hispidum
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Baby blue eyes (A)
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Nemophila menziesii
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Sand verbena (A)
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Abronia villosa
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Esteve’s pincushion (A)
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Chaenactis stevioides
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Desert lupine (A)
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Lupinus sparsiflorus
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Succulent lupine (A)
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Lupinus succulentus
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Parry penstemon (P)
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Penstemon parryi
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Owl’s clover (A)
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Castilleja exserta
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(Orthocarpus purpurascens)
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Paintbrush (P)
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Castilleja chromosa
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Prickly stars (A)
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Eriastrum diffusum
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Firewheel (A)
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Gaillardia pulchella
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Fragrant evening primrose (P)
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Oenothera caespitosa
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Pale evening primrose (A)
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Oenothera pallida
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Globemallow (P)
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Sphaeralcea ambigua
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Brittlebush (P)
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Encelia farinosa
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Goodding’s verbena (P)
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Glandularia gooddingii
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(Verbena gooddingii)
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Bluedicks (P)
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Dichelostemma pulchellum
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Summer Bloom
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Trailing windmills (P)
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Allonia incarnata
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Golden dyssodia (P)
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Thymophylla pentachaeta
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(Dyssodia pentachaeta)
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Arizona poppy (A)
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Kallstroemia grandiflora
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Coyote gourd (P)
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Cucurbita digitata
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Buffalo gourd (P)
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Cucurbita foetidissima
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Sacred datura (P)
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Datura wrightii
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Devil’s claw (A)
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Proboscidea parviflora
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Desert marigold (P)
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Baileya multiradiata
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Blackfoot daisy (P)
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Melampodium leucanthum
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Mexican hat (P)
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Ratibida columnifera
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Chocolate flower (P)
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Berlandieria lyrata
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Southwestern pricklypoppy (P)
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Argemone pleiacantha
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Desert blue eyes (P)
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Evolvulus arizonicus
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Desert senna (P)
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Senna covesii
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(A) Annual
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(P) Perennial
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