10 Types Of Spring Wildflowers Including Photos

Spring is a time when nature starts to bloom after months of rest during the winter. It’s a favorite time of year for many as it ushers in an air of refreshing optimism and a welcome to warmer, more comfortable temperatures.

10 Types Of Spring Wildflowers Including Photos

The best way to experience spring is to take a stroll in nature. Walk through woodlands, fields, or even local parks and you will see the first wildflowers of spring starting to bloom.

Greenery and other vibrant colors start to spread across the land like a vivid cacophony of wonder. It’s a truly special time of the year for everyone.

Even in the dark, cold months of January and February, we can look forward to the blossoms of spring and remind ourselves that winter is almost at an end.

And, during fall and winter, there are beautiful wildflowers to enjoy (see our other articles on these), but the combination of vibrant hues and warmer, sunnier times make spring wildflowers many people’s favorite.

If you’re heading out for a wildlife trek, you’ll probably want to know what flowers and plants you see on your way.

We’re here to help! In today’s post, we are going to show you 10 types of spring wildflowers to look out for. You can even decide to grow some around your yard!

1 . Dooryard Violet (Viola Sororia)

The Dooryard Violet is one of the smallest types of wildflower, growing to only eight inches. It has heart-shaped leaves with little to no scent.

This is a great flower to plant in your yard as it self-seeds freely, making a thick ground cover. In spring, it will decorate the area with 1/2 to ¾-inch pale purple blooms.

2. Oxeye Daisy (Leucanthemum Vulgare)

This is one of the most popular wildflowers in the US but it is not actually native to the country. Oxeye Daisy was introduced from its native Europe but soon began to thrive in its new environment.

This fall wildflower grows from one to three feet tall and sports lobed leaves. It also boasts one to three-inch blooms with yellow centers and white petals that shoot into life during late spring through late summer.

Many farmers consider this to be a weed, however due to its sheer invasiveness. 

3. Dog’s Mercury (Mercurialis Perennis)

Native to Europe, Dog’s Mercury can be seen on woodland floors during March and April. First impressions may not wow you as this plant does not boast vivid tones and is rather unimposing.

However, in clusters, Dog’s Mercury is a charming wildflower dotted across the countryside.

Like many woodland plants, Dog’s Mercury blossoms early so it can take advantage of the most light that reaches the woodland floor. It grows up to 50 cm in height and sports smooth stems with toothed leaves that are slightly hairy on their undersides. 

4. Common Blue Violet (Viola Sororia)

The Common Blue Violet is also known as the Common Meadow Violet, Woolly Blue Violet, Purple Violet, Wood Violet, and the Hooded Violet. It is native to eastern North America and is a member of the Violaceae family.

This eye-catching wildflower is commonly found in wooded areas, along streams, and in moist meadows, growing to 25 cm in height.

It has heart-shaped leaves with scalloped edges that form a basal rosette whilst the flowers are typically blue-violet in color, but may also be white, with five petals that have distinctive darker lines that guide pollinators to the nectar-rich center. 

5. Forget-Me-Not (Myosotis Scorpioides)

You may also know this wildflower as a water forget-me-not, a mouse-ear, a mouse-ear scorpion grass, scorpion weed, snake grass, or a true forget-me-not. 

Growing up to 30 cm in height, the delicate yet beautiful forget-me-not wildflower blooms during spring, summer, and fall and requires either full or partial sun to thrive.

Native to Europe, forget-me-not wildflowers can be found in damp meadows, along streams, and in wet woodlands.

6. Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia Virginica)

Virginia Bluebells are herbaceous perennials that belong to the Boraginaceae family (Also check out Common Virginia Wildflowers).

Also known as bluebells, blue and pink ladies, or chiming bells, to name a few, these wildflowers are native to eastern North America and are known for their clusters of trumpet-shaped, pastel blue or pink flowers that bloom in early spring.

7. Bachelor’s Button (Centaurea Cyanus)

Bachelor’s Buttons, also known as Cornflowers, are annual wildflowers that belong to the Asteraceae family and bloom from late spring to late summer. They are native to Europe but have been introduced to other parts of the world, such as the U.S.

The flowers have distinctive bright blue or purple petals with a spiky center and can also be found in shades of pink, white, and red. Bachelor’s Buttons are typically pretty simple to grow and are frequently used in gardens and as cut flowers.

8. Clasping Venus’ Looking Glass (Triodanis Perfoliata)

The Clasping Venus is another annual wildflower native to North America. Belonging to the Campanulaceae family, this beautiful flower can be found in open fields, meadows, and along roadsides. 

The plant shows off small, delicate blue or purple flowers, all surrounded by distinctive clasping leaves that appear to pierce through the stem. These are one of our favorite wildflowers during spring and summer.

9. Heal-All (Prunella Vulgaris)

Other names the Heal-All wildflower comes under include Woundwort, Carpenter’s Herb, Blue Curls, and heart-of-the-Earth. It is a perennial herbaceous plant that belongs to the Lamiaceae family and is native to Europe and Asia.

The plant has square stems and produces small, tubular purple or pink flowers arranged in dense spikes. It has been used in traditional medicine for various ailments for centuries and is believed to have anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties.

10. Springbeauty (Claytonia Virginica)

We finish our list with the aptly named Springbeauty wildflower. This small, delicate, ephemeral wildflower belongs to the Portulacaceae family and is native to eastern North America.

It is mostly found within woodlands, across meadows, and along stream banks. 

Springbeauty wildflowers boast slender stems with narrow leaves. They have small, five-petaled pink or white flowers that bloom in early spring and the plant is an important early season nectar source for pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

In Summary

Spring treats us to some of the most glorious wildflowers nature has to offer. The next time you’re out for a walk in the wild, look out for these ten wildflowers and enjoy their beautiful aromas and appearance. 

Diane Peirce
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