10 Wildflowers to Look For in Summer
What better way to spend a summer’s day than a nature walk amidst fragrant blossoms? Let our list inspire you to explore the color show that Mother Nature has to offer in summertime. Find out where these wildflowers grow, and see how many you can spot on your next hike.
Centaurea cyanus is known by several names, like cornflower and bachelor’s button. This flower has a beautiful blue color that was a favorite of famed Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer. Today it is a Crayola crayon color as well as an HTML color name. The color is defined as a medium to light blue that contains very little green.
Plains coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria) is an annual flowering plant common to Canada, the United States, and China. Plains coreopsis grows along roadsides and agricultural fields. Plains coreopsis is cultivated in gardens and prefers well-drained sandy soils. The blossoms can be made into mahogany dye.
Leucanthemum vulgare is a very adaptable perennial herb native to Eurasia, commonly known as Oxeye daisy. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant. Oxeye daisy is a common weed in lawns and crop plants. It is also considered an invasive species in some areas in the world.
Common blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata) is native to the Rocky Mountains and other parts of the northwestern United States. This wildflower is also a popular garden perennial due to its large blooms that appear from early spring through fall. It attracts butterflies and its seeds are favored by goldfinches.
Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) is a perennial herbaceous plant that grows from 2-6 feet tall. Showy, red flowers bloom May through October. Named for its red flowers that are similar to a Cardinal’s robe, these blossoms attract hummingbirds to the garden. Its fruits are blue and foliages change color in fall. Prefers sun to partial shade with moist soil. Perfect for wet areas.
Garden cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) is a herbaceous annual plant often cultivated as an ornamental in temperate regions. Due to its self-sowing ability, Garden cosmos can grow on the same spot for several years, even though it is an annual. Not surprisingly, this quality also made it an invasive species in certain areas of the world.
Common chicory is used in a variety of culinary applications around the world, most commonly with coffee. It is occasionally also added during the beer-brewing process to inject a coffee-like flavor. The leaves can be boiled or eaten raw in salad or with pasta. Common chicory is also a simple livestock fodder. In European folklore, the small blue flowers could be used to magically open locked doors.
The Wild carrot is a common flowering plant with light, delicate flowers. Originally native to Europe and Asia, it has also spread to North America and Australia. Studies of historical paintings suggest that the Wild carrot was cultivated in Turkey, Spain, and North Africa for centuries.
New england aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) is a flowering plant native to North America. It is widely cultivated for ornamental horticulture and as a garden plant. There are over 70 cultivars of New england aster.
Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is an herb native to North America that flourishes in prairie environments or open wooded areas. The Purple coneflower makes a good addition to a flower bed or garden because its blooms last the whole summer and attract pollinators such as bees and hummingbirds.