Five Maine Native Wildflowers for Wildflower Gardens

A drive down a country road in Maine reveals multi-colored wildflowers growing in ditches, along roadsides and in open fields. Growing these native flowers in wildflower gardens creates a blanket of color unmatched by cultivated varieties. Although there are many suitable wildflowers in Maine, I have chosen my personal favorites to share with you today. If you are planning a Maine wildflower garden consider these delightful plants to add color throughout the year.

None of the selected flowers are a protected species, and all grow freely throughout the state. It is however, advised that you only transplant native wildflowers that are doomed to destruction due to road construction or other building projects. Many can be purchased from specialty nurseries or seed companies that have grown the plants for sale and do not harvest wildflowers from the wild. You, of course, are free to use your own judgment on whether digging up wildflowers poses a risk to depleting them in your area. If you choose the later, always seek permission from the land owner and take precautions to prevent damaging the environment or depleting natural sources of wildflowers.

Ditch Lilies, or Orange Lilies, are often confused with tiger lilies. Ditch lilies are a wild day lily that thrives along roadsides and on sunny knolls. They produce a tall spikes lined with bright orange to yellowish blooms above tall, spiky foliage. New flowers open daily, facing outward, and close the next day. Blooms open from the bottom of the stem and progress upward. Blooming lasts for several weeks as these hardy plants show off their 4 to 6 inch blooms. Tiger lilies produce a cluster of blooms atop a slender plant with foliage that look a bit like the leaves on a pineapple. Petals curl backward to reveal the characteristic dark spotted center.

Once established, ditch lilies spread by swollen underground roots. Within a few year's time, the clump doubles or triples in size, creating a show of color in early to mid-summer. Ditch lilies require little care, but do benefit from occasional watering.

Buttercups appear in late spring to early summer just in time to welcome daisies. These glowing little flowers add a golden ray of sunshine to Maine wildflower gardens. Although the petals drop quickly, new blooms open daily on the branching foliage, providing a display of color for a week or two. Maine children enjoy holding the tiny flower beneath the chin and observing for the reflective glow of gold. As the story goes, if the buttercup reflects gold it means you like butter, if it does not, you don't. I'm not sure of the significance of this practice, but it has kept children entranced for generations.

Wild Daisies cover fields and adorn Maine roadsides in early summer. These hardy plants thrive in nearly any soil and are drought tolerant. Much like the Shasta daisy, except for their smaller size, daisies sway gently in the summer breeze attracting butterflies and bees. Bright white petals and yellow centers make daisies an ideal companion for brilliant golden buttercups or purple vetch. As a cut flower, daisies are long lasting and complement nearly any flower. Tucked into a vase with pink roses and blue forget-me-nots, daisies create a down-home feel to any room.

Black-eyed-Susan's brighten the Maine countryside in late summer with their bright orange petals and dark centers. Sometimes referred to as yellow daisies or--as my father so affectionately called them-- "bull's eyes". Perhaps my love of black-eyed-Susan's is influenced by his memory, but they are attractive flowers. These long-lasting flowers are ideal as cut flowers as they remain bright and fresh for a week or two in a vase. Paired with Queen Anne's Lace, black-eyed-Susan's are a must have for Maine wildflower gardens.

Purple Asters line roads and fill Maine fields with color in late summer, signaling the close of summer and approach of fall. Although they are called purple asters, these frilly daisy-like flowers actually range in color from pale pink to lavender and shades of deep purple. As a cut flower, purple asters create fullness to wildflower bouquets, as their dense foliage produces blooms along multi-branched stems. These delicate looking flowers are actually quite hardy and tolerate poor or sandy soil. Add purple asters to Maine wildflower gardens to add a splash of color to the fall landscape.

Creating a Maine wildflower garden in your backyard brightens the landscape and creates color throughout the year. Plant Maine wildflowers along fences, on slopes or in areas where soil is unsuitable for cultivation. Once established wildflower gardens practically take of themselves, creating flowing waves of color and attracting butterflies and other flying insects to your yard.

Source:
Wildflowers of the US