Are wildflowers native plants?
“Wildflowers” can mean native plants but more often it can also mean any plant that grows “wild” without the help of people. It can also mean a plant that may be a native to another area but not native to Montana. If you purchase a commercial wildflower seed mix the seeds rarely are from Montana’s natives. Makers of these mixes want your garden to be successful; consequently the seeds in the mix may come from plants that germinate easily and quickly. These mixes produce beautiful results the first year with declining results the following year, often leaving your planted area with only a few aggressive exotic species. Some mixes have invasive weeds, such as baby’s breath, ox-eyed daisy or purple loosestrife, as their main ingredients. Be a good consumer read the list of ingredients on the back of the seed packet. If there is not list of ingredients be cautious about purchaing the packet of unknown seeds.
