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Wildflowers by Moisture Requirement
Most wildflowers are widely adaptable as to soil and moisture. However, the native habitat often dictates what sort of conditions are ideal for certain species. For example, the requirements for a desert wildflower from the southwest are greatly different from the woodland species from the northeast or Pacific northwest. In planning a wildflower garden or meadow, try to give your wildflowers conditions as close as you can to their native environments. Click on the choices below, and you will create a list of wildflowers for that particular moisture requirement.
 
Average | Wet | Dry | Well-drained | Arid
 
Wildflowers for Average Areas
Wildflowers that prefer or tolerate situations that are average in moisture
Common Name Botanical Name Notes
African Daisy Dimorphotheca sinuata* Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Annual 'Arroyo' Lupine Lupinus succulentus Average moisture, well-drained.
Annual Baby's Breath Gypsophila elegans Average moisture, well-drained.
Baby Blue Eyes Nemophilia menziesii Average moisture, well-drained.
Baby Snapdragon/Toadflax Linaria maroccana Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Bird's Eyes Gilia tricolor Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Bird's Foot Trefoil Lotus corniculatus Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta Average moisture, well-drained.
Blanket Flower Gaillardia aristata Average to Dry
Blazing Star (yellow) Mentzelia lindleyi Average to dry
Blue Flax Linum perenne lewisii Average moisture, well-drained.
Blue Sage Salvia farinacea Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Calendula Calendula officianalis Average moisture, well-drained.
California Poppy Eschscholzia californica Average moisture, well-drained.
Candytuft Iberis umbellata Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Chicory Cichorium intybus Average moisture, well-drained.
Chinese Forget-me-Not Cynoglossum amabile Average moisture, well-drained.
Chinese Houses Collinsia heterophylla Above average but well-drained.
Clasping Coneflower Rudbeckia amplexicaulis* Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Cornflower/Bachelor's Button (blue) Centaurea cyanus (blue) Average moisture, well-drained.
Cornflower/Bachelor's Button (multi) Centaurea cyanus (multicolored) Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus Average to Arid
Crimson Clover Trifolium incarnatum Average moisture, well-drained.
Dame's Rocket Hesperis matronalis Average to Wet
Desert Marigold Baileya multiradiata Average to arid
Drummond Phlox Phlox drummondii Average moisture, well-drained.
Eastern Red Columbine Aquilegia canadensis Average to dry
Evening Primrose Oenothera lamarckiana Average moisture, well-drained.
Farewell-to-Spring Clarkia unguiculata* Above average but well-drained.
Five Spot Nemophila maculata Average moisture, well-drained.
Forget-me-Not Myosotis sylvatica A waterside plant, so appreciates plenty of moisture.
Foxglove Digitalis purpurea Average to Wet, but well-drained
Gloriosa Daisy Rudbeckia gloriosa Average moisture, well-drained.
Godetia Clarkia amoena Average moisture, well-drained.
Golden Lupine Lupinus densiflorus Average moisture, well-drained.
Grey-Headed Coneflower Ratibida pinnata Average to dry
Hollyhock Alcea rosea Average moisture, well-drained.
Iceland Poppy Papaver nudicaule Average moisture, well-drained.
Indian Blanket Gaillardia pulchella Average to Dry
Johnny Jump-up Viola cornuta* Tolerates heavy moisture, but must be well-drained.
Lance-leaf Coreopsis Coreopsis lanceolata Average to Dry
Lemon Mint Monarda citriodora Average moisture, well-drained.
Maximilian's Sunflower Helianthus maximiliani Average moisture, well-drained.
Mexican Hat Ratibida columnaris (red) Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Missouri Primrose Oenothera missouriensis Average moisture, well-drained.
Morning Glory Ipomoea purpurea Average moisture, well-drained.
Moss Verbena Verbena tenuisecta Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Mountain Phlox Linanthus grandiflorus Needs moisture, but must be well-drained.
Nasturtium Tropaeolum nanum Average moisture, well-drained.
New England Aster Aster novae-angliae Average moisture, well-drained.
None-so-Pretty or Catchfly Silene armeria Average moisture, well-drained.
Orange Cosmos Cosmos sulphureus Average to Arid
Oriental Poppy Papaver orientale Average moisture, well-drained.
OxEye Daisy Chrysanthemum leucanthemum Average moisture, well-drained.
Pale Coneflower Echinacea pallida Average to dry
Plains Coreopsis Coreopsis tinctoria Average to Dry
Prairie Aster Aster tanacetifolius* Average moisture, well-drained.
Purple Coneflower Echinacea purpurea Average to Dry
Purple Prairie Clover Petalostemon purpureum* NEW Average to dry
Queen Anne's Lace Ammi majus* seeds Average moisture, well-drained.
Red Poppy (all red single) Papaver rhoeas (red) Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Red Poppy (red, pink, doubles) Papaver rhoeas (mix) Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Rocket Larkspur Delphinium ajacis* Above average but well-drained.
Rocky Mountain Bee Plant Cleome serrulata Average to arid
Rocky Mountain Pensternon Penstemon strictus Average moisture, well-drained.
Rose Mallow Lavatera trimestris Average moisture, well-drained.
Scarlet Sage Salvia coccinea Average moisture, well-drained.
Shasta Daisy Chrysanthemum maximum Average, but can tolerate wet conditions
Showy Evening Primrose Oenothera speciosa Average moisture, well-drained.
Siberian Wallflower Cheiranthus allionii Average moisture, well-drained.
Standing Cypress Ipomopsis rubra Average moisture, well-drained.
Sweet Alyssum Lobularia maritima Average moisture, well-drained.
Sweet William Dianthus barbatus Average moisture, well-drained.
Texas Bluebonnet Lupinus texensis Average moisture, well-drained.
Tidy Tips Layia platyglossa Average to dry
White Yarrow Achillea millefolium seeds Average to arid
Wild Annual Sunflower Helianthus annuus Average moisture, well-drained.
Wild Perennial Lupine Lupinus perennis Average moisture, well-drained.
Yellow Prairie Coneflower Ratibida columnaris (yellow) Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Zinnia Zinnia elegans Average moisture, well-drained.
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Wildflowers for Wet Areas
Wildflowers that prefer or tolerate situations that are wet
Common Name Botanical Name Notes
Blazing Star (yellow) Mentzelia lindleyi Average to dry
Chicory Cichorium intybus Average moisture, well-drained.
Chinese Houses Collinsia heterophylla Above average but well-drained.
Dame's Rocket Hesperis matronalis Average to Wet
Farewell-to-Spring Clarkia unguiculata* Above average but well-drained.
Forget-me-Not Myosotis sylvatica A waterside plant, so appreciates plenty of moisture.
Foxglove Digitalis purpurea Average to Wet, but well-drained
Johnny Jump-up Viola cornuta* Tolerates heavy moisture, but must be well-drained.
Pale Coneflower Echinacea pallida Average to dry
Red Poppy (all red single) Papaver rhoeas (red) Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Rocket Larkspur Delphinium ajacis* Above average but well-drained.
Shasta Daisy Chrysanthemum maximum Average, but can tolerate wet conditions
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Wildflowers for Dry Areas
Wildflowers that prefer or tolerate situations that are dry
Common Name Botanical Name Notes
African Daisy Dimorphotheca sinuata* Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Annual Baby's Breath Gypsophila elegans Average moisture, well-drained.
Baby Blue Eyes Nemophilia menziesii Average moisture, well-drained.
Bird's Eyes Gilia tricolor Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Bird's Foot Trefoil Lotus corniculatus Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Blanket Flower Gaillardia aristata Average to Dry
Blazing Star Liatris spicata Average moisture, well-drained.
Blazing Star (yellow) Mentzelia lindleyi Average to dry
Blue Flax Linum perenne lewisii Average moisture, well-drained.
Blue Sage Salvia farinacea Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa Adaptable to even arid conditions.
California Bluebell Phacelia campanularia Adaptable to even arid conditions.
California Poppy Eschscholzia californica Average moisture, well-drained.
Candytuft Iberis umbellata Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Chicory Cichorium intybus Average moisture, well-drained.
Clasping Coneflower Rudbeckia amplexicaulis* Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Cornflower/Bachelor's Button (blue) Centaurea cyanus (blue) Average moisture, well-drained.
Cornflower/Bachelor's Button (multi) Centaurea cyanus (multicolored) Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus Average to Arid
Desert Marigold Baileya multiradiata Average to arid
Eastern Red Columbine Aquilegia canadensis Average to dry
Globe Gilia Gilia capitata Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Golden Lupine Lupinus densiflorus Average moisture, well-drained.
Grey-Headed Coneflower Ratibida pinnata Average to dry
Indian Blanket Gaillardia pulchella Average to Dry
Lacy Phacelia Phacelia tanacetifolia Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Lance-leaf Coreopsis Coreopsis lanceolata Average to Dry
Mexican Hat Ratibida columnaris (red) Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Moss Verbena Verbena tenuisecta Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Mountain Phlox Linanthus grandiflorus Needs moisture, but must be well-drained.
Orange Cosmos Cosmos sulphureus Average to Arid
Pale Coneflower Echinacea pallida Average to dry
Plains Coreopsis Coreopsis tinctoria Average to Dry
Prairie Aster Aster tanacetifolius* Average moisture, well-drained.
Purple Coneflower Echinacea purpurea Average to Dry
Purple Prairie Clover Petalostemon purpureum* NEW Average to dry
Queen Anne's Lace Ammi majus* seeds Average moisture, well-drained.
Red Poppy (all red single) Papaver rhoeas (red) Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Red Poppy (red, pink, doubles) Papaver rhoeas (mix) Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Rocky Mountain Bee Plant Cleome serrulata Average to arid
Rocky Mountain Pensternon Penstemon strictus Average moisture, well-drained.
Scarlet Flax Linum grandiflorum rubrum Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Scarlet Sage Salvia coccinea Average moisture, well-drained.
Shasta Daisy Chrysanthemum maximum Average, but can tolerate wet conditions
Showy Evening Primrose Oenothera speciosa Average moisture, well-drained.
Standing Cypress Ipomopsis rubra Average moisture, well-drained.
Tidy Tips Layia platyglossa Average to dry
White Yarrow Achillea millefolium seeds Average to arid
Wild Annual Sunflower Helianthus annuus Average moisture, well-drained.
Yellow Prairie Coneflower Ratibida columnaris (yellow) Adaptable to even arid conditions.
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Wildflowers for Well-drained Areas
Wildflowers that require situations that are well-drained
Common Name Botanical Name Notes
African Daisy Dimorphotheca sinuata* Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Annual 'Arroyo' Lupine Lupinus succulentus Average moisture, well-drained.
Annual Baby's Breath Gypsophila elegans Average moisture, well-drained.
Baby Blue Eyes Nemophilia menziesii Average moisture, well-drained.
Baby Snapdragon/Toadflax Linaria maroccana Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Bird's Eyes Gilia tricolor Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Bird's Foot Trefoil Lotus corniculatus Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta Average moisture, well-drained.
Blanket Flower Gaillardia aristata Average to Dry
Blazing Star Liatris spicata Average moisture, well-drained.
Blazing Star (yellow) Mentzelia lindleyi Average to dry
Blue Flax Linum perenne lewisii Average moisture, well-drained.
Blue Sage Salvia farinacea Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Calendula Calendula officianalis Average moisture, well-drained.
California Bluebell Phacelia campanularia Adaptable to even arid conditions.
California Poppy Eschscholzia californica Average moisture, well-drained.
Candytuft Iberis umbellata Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Chicory Cichorium intybus Average moisture, well-drained.
Chinese Forget-me-Not Cynoglossum amabile Average moisture, well-drained.
Chinese Houses Collinsia heterophylla Above average but well-drained.
Clasping Coneflower Rudbeckia amplexicaulis* Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Cornflower/Bachelor's Button (blue) Centaurea cyanus (blue) Average moisture, well-drained.
Cornflower/Bachelor's Button (multi) Centaurea cyanus (multicolored) Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus Average to Arid
Crimson Clover Trifolium incarnatum Average moisture, well-drained.
Dame's Rocket Hesperis matronalis Average to Wet
Desert Marigold Baileya multiradiata Average to arid
Drummond Phlox Phlox drummondii Average moisture, well-drained.
Eastern Red Columbine Aquilegia canadensis Average to dry
Evening Primrose Oenothera lamarckiana Average moisture, well-drained.
Farewell-to-Spring Clarkia unguiculata* Above average but well-drained.
Five Spot Nemophila maculata Average moisture, well-drained.
Forget-me-Not Myosotis sylvatica A waterside plant, so appreciates plenty of moisture.
Foxglove Digitalis purpurea Average to Wet, but well-drained
Globe Gilia Gilia capitata Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Gloriosa Daisy Rudbeckia gloriosa Average moisture, well-drained.
Godetia Clarkia amoena Average moisture, well-drained.
Golden Lupine Lupinus densiflorus Average moisture, well-drained.
Grey-Headed Coneflower Ratibida pinnata Average to dry
Hollyhock Alcea rosea Average moisture, well-drained.
Iceland Poppy Papaver nudicaule Average moisture, well-drained.
Indian Blanket Gaillardia pulchella Average to Dry
Johnny Jump-up Viola cornuta* Tolerates heavy moisture, but must be well-drained.
Lacy Phacelia Phacelia tanacetifolia Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Lance-leaf Coreopsis Coreopsis lanceolata Average to Dry
Lemon Mint Monarda citriodora Average moisture, well-drained.
Maximilian's Sunflower Helianthus maximiliani Average moisture, well-drained.
Mexican Hat Ratibida columnaris (red) Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Missouri Primrose Oenothera missouriensis Average moisture, well-drained.
Morning Glory Ipomoea purpurea Average moisture, well-drained.
Moss Verbena Verbena tenuisecta Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Mountain Phlox Linanthus grandiflorus Needs moisture, but must be well-drained.
Nasturtium Tropaeolum nanum Average moisture, well-drained.
New England Aster Aster novae-angliae Average moisture, well-drained.
None-so-Pretty or Catchfly Silene armeria Average moisture, well-drained.
Orange Cosmos Cosmos sulphureus Average to Arid
Oriental Poppy Papaver orientale Average moisture, well-drained.
OxEye Daisy Chrysanthemum leucanthemum Average moisture, well-drained.
Pale Coneflower Echinacea pallida Average to dry
Plains Coreopsis Coreopsis tinctoria Average to Dry
Prairie Aster Aster tanacetifolius* Average moisture, well-drained.
Purple Coneflower Echinacea purpurea Average to Dry
Purple Prairie Clover Petalostemon purpureum* NEW Average to dry
Queen Anne's Lace Ammi majus* seeds Average moisture, well-drained.
Red Poppy (all red single) Papaver rhoeas (red) Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Red Poppy (red, pink, doubles) Papaver rhoeas (mix) Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Rocket Larkspur Delphinium ajacis* Above average but well-drained.
Rocky Mountain Bee Plant Cleome serrulata Average to arid
Rocky Mountain Pensternon Penstemon strictus Average moisture, well-drained.
Rose Mallow Lavatera trimestris Average moisture, well-drained.
Scarlet Flax Linum grandiflorum rubrum Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Scarlet Sage Salvia coccinea Average moisture, well-drained.
Shasta Daisy Chrysanthemum maximum Average, but can tolerate wet conditions
Showy Evening Primrose Oenothera speciosa Average moisture, well-drained.
Siberian Wallflower Cheiranthus allionii Average moisture, well-drained.
Standing Cypress Ipomopsis rubra Average moisture, well-drained.
Sweet Alyssum Lobularia maritima Average moisture, well-drained.
Sweet William Dianthus barbatus Average moisture, well-drained.
Texas Bluebonnet Lupinus texensis Average moisture, well-drained.
Tidy Tips Layia platyglossa Average to dry
White Yarrow Achillea millefolium seeds Average to arid
Wild Annual Sunflower Helianthus annuus Average moisture, well-drained.
Wild Perennial Lupine Lupinus perennis Average moisture, well-drained.
Yellow Prairie Coneflower Ratibida columnaris (yellow) Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Zinnia Zinnia elegans Average moisture, well-drained.
Back to top
 
Wildflowers for Arid Areas
Wildflowers that prefer or tolerate conditions that are arid
Common Name Botanical Name Notes
African Daisy Dimorphotheca sinuata* Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Baby Snapdragon/Toadflax Linaria maroccana Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Bird's Eyes Gilia tricolor Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Bird's Foot Trefoil Lotus corniculatus Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Blanket Flower Gaillardia aristata Average to Dry
Blazing Star Liatris spicata Average moisture, well-drained.
Blazing Star (yellow) Mentzelia lindleyi Average to dry
Blue Sage Salvia farinacea Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa Adaptable to even arid conditions.
California Bluebell Phacelia campanularia Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Candytuft Iberis umbellata Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Chicory Cichorium intybus Average moisture, well-drained.
Clasping Coneflower Rudbeckia amplexicaulis* Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Cornflower/Bachelor's Button (multi) Centaurea cyanus (multicolored) Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus Average to Arid
Desert Marigold Baileya multiradiata Average to arid
Globe Gilia Gilia capitata Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Indian Blanket Gaillardia pulchella Average to Dry
Lacy Phacelia Phacelia tanacetifolia Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Mexican Hat Ratibida columnaris (red) Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Moss Verbena Verbena tenuisecta Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Orange Cosmos Cosmos sulphureus Average to Arid
Pale Coneflower Echinacea pallida Average to dry
Red Poppy (all red single) Papaver rhoeas (red) Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Red Poppy (red, pink, doubles) Papaver rhoeas (mix) Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Scarlet Flax Linum grandiflorum rubrum Adaptable to even arid conditions.
Scarlet Sage Salvia coccinea Average moisture, well-drained.
White Yarrow Achillea millefolium seeds Average to arid
Yellow Prairie Coneflower Ratibida columnaris (yellow) Adaptable to even arid conditions.

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