Last updated on March 27th, 2024 at 10:22 pm.
Wildflowers in Missouri are a fleeting but unforgettable part of the landscape, primarily gracing us with their presence from spring through late summer. I believe there’s something truly magical about spring when the once dormant parks, hiking trails, and even our own backyards burst into a riot of colors, thanks to these natural beauties.
These vibrant, eye-catching wildflowers, easily spotted in their natural surroundings, can also be nurtured in our gardens. Despite their “wild” label, it simply means they grow spontaneously in the region, untouched and unmodified by human hands, adding a touch of the untamed to our cultivated spaces.
These plants are, without a doubt, some of the easiest plants for your garden. Not only that, based on your preferences, there is a wide variety to choose from as Missouri has been blessed with a vast diversity of wildflowers. There are wildflowers in different colors and blooming seasons. All you need to do is pick some wildflower seed packets or head to your local nursery to get started with your wildflower journey.
In this blog, we will discuss the stages your plant will go through once you plant the Missouri Wildflowers by seed so you can take care of your wildflowers in the best way possible.
Table of Contents
Seed Stage: Nature’s Tiny Packages
Before sowing seeds, it is important to plan well about where to plant, how many seeds to plant, and when to plant.
Pick an area (or even a flower pot) that receives 3 to 4 hours of sunlight and has good soil drainage. Checking this is easy if anything is growing in that area, even if it is grass and weed; the area will support the growth of Native Missouri wildflower seed blends.
To know how many seeds you should take, measure the square feet of area and check the instructions provided in the “Key features” section of the product pack.
Also, if you are looking for an ideal season to plant is after the last frost (I’ve been told to wait until after Mother’s Day in Spring), as well as early fall. The tail end of the rainy season is recommended as well and you just need to make sure that the ground is neither too hot nor too cold for seedlings to grow.
Prepare the soil of the area by removing existing growth from the area, digging up the area, turning the soil, and raking out the debris before you spread the seeds.
Once you are done, mix your Missouri native wildflower seeds with sand in 1:8 proportion to help them spread out better. After scattering the seeds, make sure to compress them into the soil either barefoot or with shoes on or with the help of cardboard or plywood pieces. Give the area a gentle soaking as you water them after compressing.
Germination and Early Growth
Seed germination is the first step of the wildflower lifecycle. Usually, it takes time for Missouri native wildflower seeds to germinate. The wildflower seeds can lie dormant in the soil for years while the underground part of the seeds are still alive, waiting for the right conditions like suitable soil temperature and moisture level to grow. It is important to water them daily to help them grow and get nourishment. When the desired conditions for seeds to grow are met, they begin to sprout.
You can also start this process indoors in small starter trays.
The root system is the first part to generate from the seed to take in water and nutrients from the soil. Next, the plant starts producing leaves. These leaves, unlike seed leaves that sprouted before, are true leaves that are used for photosynthesis.
Vegetative Growth and Maturation
During this stage, the plant produces more leaves. The leaves become bigger and develop a more complex internal vein network, which allows them to take in more sunlight, create more energy, and meet the needs of the plant. In this vegetative growth stage, all the plant parts develop to support the next stage of the lifecycle.
Budding and Blooming Spectacle
The next stage after vegetation is budding. It is the stage when the plants start bud formation. The buds grow larger and more noticeable until they are ready to bloom. When the bud is ready, it blooms into beautiful, colorful flowers, which are aesthetic and make your garden look beautiful.
Pollination Partnerships
This is an important stage in Missouri wildflowers as this stage not only increases the beauty of your garden but is essential for pollination and producing seeds to continue the life cycle. The flower’s bright colors and scents attract pollinators such as bees, beetles, wasps, flies, birds, butterflies, etc., and help transfer the pollen from one flower to another, facilitating the plant’s reproduction process.
Seed Production and Dispersal
Once the flowers are pollinated, the plants enter the seed production stage. The flower petals fall off, leaving behind seed heads or pods. The pods and insides protect these seeds until they are released. When these seeds fall on the ground, they are often carried by the ants as food. The ants eat the pods but leave the hard seeds. The food and nutrients in the seed support the seeds that go dormant until favorable conditions of growth, marking the beginning of the new cycle.
Seasonal Adaptations
Wildflowers in Summer:
Wildflowers are at their best in summer. However, your patch can look different depending on the seeds you have sown. During summer, it is important to keep watering your wildflower plants. If your wildflowers are potted or in a container, you will need to water them just about every day (unless it rains).
Wildflowers in Autumn:
After summer, the wildflowers start preparing themself for winter. During this time, the flowers wither and produce seeds, providing you with more seeds that you can collect and sow somewhere else.
Wildflowers in Winter:
In this season, the plants become dormant and conserve their energy. The plants are naturally strong and can survive the weather. However, you can buy wrappings or horticulture fleece if you want to protect your plants in frosty weather.
Wildflowers in Spring:
You can find trails of wildflowers in bloom, which is a sight to see in spring. Also, the new plants grow and sprout again. You can remove the old growth or dead plants, if any, to make sure that new plants have enough space and light.
Wildflower Trails in Missouri
Growing wildflowers in your garden can be a fulfilling and rewarding experience. The beauty of Missouri wildflower trails are a popular attraction and are must-see sights of nature. If you are visiting Missouri, we at Travel in Missouri would like to recommend a few wildflower trails you can visit to enjoy the blooms in nature through the spring, summer and early fall seasons.
Central Missouri
- Rudolf Bennit Conservation Areain Clark, Missouri
- Spring Creek Gap Conservation Areain Vichy, Missouri
- Burnt Mill Cave Conservation Area (17 miles west of Camdenton and 3.2 miles southeast of Climax Springs).
- Big Buffalo Creek Conservation Areain Cole Camp, Missouri
Northeast Missouri
- Julian Steyermark Woords Conservation Area in Hannibal, Missouri
- Engelmann Woods Natual Areain Labadie, Missouri
- Busch Conservation Area Fallen Oak Trailin St Charles, Missouri
- Union Ridge Conservation Area
Northwest Missouri
- Burr Oak Woods Nature Centerin Blue Springs, Missouri
- Bluffwoods Conservation Areain St Joseph, MO
Southeast Missouri
- Millstream Gardens(halfway between Fredericktown and Arcadia, off of Highway 72)
- Amidon Memorial Conservation Areain Fredericktown, MO
- Twin Pines Conservation Education Centerin Winona, Missouri
- Cape Girardeau Nature Center in Cape Girardeau, MO
If you are a nature person who enjoys the calm and beauty of flower fields and finds calm and peace in nature. These wildflower trail sights could be your must-see attractions when planning your trip to Missouri.
References Used:
- https://www.americanmeadows.com/content/wildflowers/how-to/wildflower-seed-planting-instructions
- https://www.highcountrygardens.com/content/wildflower-seeds/planting-wildflowers
- https://growtherainbow.com/blogs/news/from-seed-to-blossom-understanding-the-lifecycle-of-wildflowers
- https://growwild.kew.org/championing-nature/wildflowers/how-to-grow-wildflowers/looking-after-your-wildflowers
- https://www.visitmo.com/articles/a-guide-to-spring-wildflowers-in-missouri
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