If you’re like us, you love wildflowers. Winter, spring, and summer boast the most wonderful wildflowers nature has to offer but today, we’re all about fall wildflowers.
Wildflowers grow naturally and are often thought of as romantic. And, although they are “wild,” they can be a perfect addition to any native yard or garden.
Wildflowers can transform backyards but they must be native to the specific region and area so they can support the ecosystem.
When out in nature this fall, you will surely see an abundance of beautiful wildflowers. The only challenge is knowing exactly what you’re looking at. Well, we are here to clear things up for you.
In today’s post, we will be showing you 10 types of fall wildflowers to look out for on your fall walks. And, depending on where you live, you may be able to include some around your home.
We have also included pictures with each wildflower so you can study them when you come across a certain flower in the wild.
1. Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia Hirta)
Black-Eyed Susan is regarded as one of the most common types of native wildflower in the US, only behind the annual sunflower. This flower tends to grow around one to three feet in height and has hazy, slender, pointed foliage.
It has a cone-shaped eye that is dark brown and surrounded by two to four inch diameter flowers with yellow petals.
It is known for hosting silvery Checkerspot butterflies and Emerald moths, as well as being a food course for goldfinches and other seed-eating birds.
2. Anemone
A genus of over 150 species of flowering plants, the anemone wildflower belongs to the family Ranunculaceae. It is native to temperate zones in regions throughout the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
Anemone is closely related to Clematis, Pulsatilla, and Hepatica both phytochemically and morphologically. Various species of the anemone wildflower generally thrives in partial shade.
Examples of such species include wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa), anemone hybrids (Anemone x hybrida), grapeleaf anemone (Anemone tomentosa), and meadow anemone (Anemone canadensis).
3. New England Aster
The New England Aster is a classic fall native wildflower. This plant is unique to many other fall wildflowers as it has a cool blue or purple color to its flowers, unlike the usual golden orange and yellow shades you find with many fall wildflowers.
New England Aster flowers are much like daisies with thin petals and start to bloom from August until October (for more flowers that look like daisies, read here). To thrive, they require sun and moist, well drained soil.
4. Close Bottle Gentian
Seeing purple wildflowers in fall is a majestic sight to behold. The Close Bottle Gentian is a perfect example. It is native to the Northwestern regions of the US and Canada and is typically found in swampy areas and flood plains.
This is without doubt a showy fall wildflower with its flower clusters close up within a deep purple corolla, but these can sometimes be white.
5. Goldenrod
Next up is another yellow fall flower that is actually an amalgamation of various species. Goldenrod wildflowers are mostly seen in meadows and disturbed areas.
They are known for their golden flower spikes that grow like feathers and as great attractors of pollinators, such as the endangered Monarch butterfly.
Many confuse Goldenrod with ragweed as they both bloom at the same time. That is why Goldenrod tends to have a bad reputation with many believing it gives them an allergic reaction.
In truth, ragweed is usually the cause of reactions but Goldenrod takes the fall more often than not.
6. Coneflower (Echinacea Purpurea)
As you can see, the Coneflower is one of the most beautiful purple wildflowers in the world. Not only is it exquisite to look at, but it is also used for medicinal purposes.
It is a perennial and boasts fuzzy, wedge-shaped leaves and blooms from midsummer until mid-fall.
The Coneflower grows four-inch daisy blooms that face downwards and can reach between two and four feet tall. Its petals typically sweep towards the ground, whereas its brown and orange spiky cone points toward the sky.
This plant attracts soldier beetles that eat unwelcome insects. It also attracts finches who love its seeds.
7. Turtlehead
There are numerous species of Turtlehead wildflowers and they all grow at different times. Most of these plants produce flowers like snapdragons from late summer until early fall.
This wildflower is a perennial and grows low and clumped to the ground. It grows mostly in boggy regions but is known to thrive in partial shade and moist soil.
8. Cosmos
Stunning and colorful, Cosmos wildflowers are native to Mexico and Southwestern states. Its daisy-like blooms are incredibly delicate and can come in various colors, including orange, yellow, red, pink, and white.
Cosmos wildflowers adapt very well to many types of environments, including outside their native environment.
9. Tickseed Sunflower
Here we have a breathtaking yellow wildflower. The Tickseed Sunflower is one of the most common sights across meadows and fields during fall, blanketing the landscape with its joyful golden hue.
A member of the Aster family, this wildflower looks like a daisy and blooms from August until October. It grows very well over many regions and areas and is able to thrive in moist soils.
10. Asclepias
A genus of herbaceous, perennial, flowering plants, Asclepias blooms in the summer and lasts until mid-fall. It is known as a milkweed due to its milky sap and although considered a nuisance by many, there’s no mistaking how pretty its flowers are.
The milky substance it exudes contains cardiac glycosides, known as cardenolides, and this occurs because of damaged cells.
In Summary
We hope you have enjoyed our selection of fall wildflowers. Save this post for the next time you’re enjoying nature and see how many you can spot.
I love sharing my experiences with individuals in this community, and I enjoy sharing some of the best tips I have learned over the years caring for my own garden at home.
In my articles, you will find the best flowers, most fragrant flowers you can plant in your garden, how to care for your favorite plants, informative guides and how-tos so you can have the best backyard in town!
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