We love wildflowers for a variety of reasons. There’s nothing lovelier than a colorful meadow in the countryside. Forests, wetlands, and seascapes all feel elevated with the presence of wildflowers. Even those pops of vibrant color stubbornly thriving in vacant lots in the city paint a beautiful scene. However, there is so much more to these tiny flowers besides their beauty. Wildflowers are an essential part of our ecosystem.
Wildflowers Essential Role in Healthy Ecosystems
Colorful wildflowers attract hummingbirds and beneficial insects such as bees and butterflies. They enjoy the nectar and collect pollen on their bodies as they move from one plant to another. The pollen dust transfers to new plants as the insects continue on their way, pollinating new plants and allowing them to flourish. Pollination is essential for plant production in fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Without it, our human food supply would be greatly diminished.
Wildflowers provide food and shelter for birds, insects, and other animals. Birds use wildflower foliage as nesting areas. Small mammals, insects, and amphibians also utilize the foliage as protection from other animals.
Humanity’s Connection with Wildflowers
For centuries, native wildflowers (plants here before European settlement) have been used in many ways. Indiginous and early settlers alike foraged wildflowers for use in tea and food recipes, as well as medicinal purposes and ceremonies. Wildflowers are also symbolic, used as both ink and as subject in stories and lore. They’ve even been used as a currency!
In A Naturalist’s Book of Wildflowers, author Laura C. Martin states, “The indigenous people of North America found medicines in the woods and fields, plains, and deserts where they lived.” Amid our days of modern medicine, several wildflowers have been shown in studies to be complementary health resources found in teas, essential oils, and tinctures. Always do your research with these resources before experimenting.
Are wildflowers thriving in today’s environment?
Sadly, some wildflower varieties are in trouble. Common milkweed, which is an important food source for Monarch butterflies, is in decline. As a result, the migratory Monarch butterfly has recently been placed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) endangered red list. IUCN states, “Native populations, known for migrating from Mexico and California in the winter to summer breeding grounds, have shrunk by 22% and 72% over the past decade. Pesticides and herbicides used in intensive agriculture kill butterflies and milkweed, the host plant that the larvae of the monarch butterfly on which they feed.”
Non-native invasive species (also known as exotics) are wild plants brought to North America for their beauty or by accident. Unfortunately, many of these non-native species are out-competing and smothering our native wildflowers. Invasive plants also secrete chemicals into the ground, prohibiting the growth of native wildflowers. Plants such as Japanese knotweed, oriental bittersweet, and garlic mustard are just a few to mention.
How can I support wildflower growth?
Wildflowers are, well, wild! But there are things you can do to promote wildflower growth on your property. You can find wildflower seeds for purchase online or through your local conservation resources. When choosing backyard plants, look for native, local varieties that will attract pollinators.
Creating a pollinator garden is an easy way to entice wildlife to your backyard and rebalance your yard’s natural ecosystem. And think twice before you scoop up fall’s leaf litter! It plays an essential role in your backyard’s ecology. Find out more about the importance of leaf litter.
Let’s do our part to protect wildflowers by creating unique wildflower gardens this season!
Written by Yvonne Dwyer
Master Naturalist and OPL Content Contributor
“It is truly an honor for me to be a contributor to One Planet Life. By sharing my experiences and lifetime of learning, I hope to inspire conservation, sustainability, stewardship, and awareness of enjoying the natural wonders of the world for the wellbeing of people and the planet.”
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