If you live in Missouri, My Home Park has over 25 low maintenance, pre-designed gardens that bring together diverse sets of native plant species produced by expert, organic growers who draw on diversified gene lines.
Missouri, the “Show Me State,” contains a beautiful range of landscapes, from the Ozark Mountains rolling hills to the vast grassy plains of its northern regions. This midwestern state is home to a rich collection of ecosystems has given rise to a rich array of native plants. For example, both the state flower (the Hawthorn Blossom, Crataegus punctata) and perennial garden favorite Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) can trace their roots back to Missouris native soils. In this post, Ill introduce you to a handful of Missouris native plants that you might have success cultivating in your own yard. Whether your garden basks in sunlight, enjoys dappled shade, or nestles under a dense tree canopy, theres a Missouri native plant ready to flourish in your landscape. But before we dive in…
Missouri is home to a stunning variety of wildflowers that bloom from early spring through late summer. Roughly 1500 species of wildflowers can be found across the Show-Me State, bringing vibrant color to meadows, prairies, woodlands, and roadsides. Let’s explore some of the most popular wildflowers found in Missouri.
Spring Wildflowers
Spring in Missouri brings a wave of delicate beauties like Virginia Bluebells, Rue Anemone, and Dutchman’s Breeches.
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Virginia Bluebells – This early spring wildflower grows in floodplains and produces clusters of blue, trumpet-shaped blooms. The nodding flowers appear before the leaves emerge.
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Rue Anemone – A low-growing woodland flower with five white petal-like sepals and yellow stamens. It blankets shaded slopes and ridges in spring.
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Dutchman’s Breeches – Named for their upside-down, puffy white pants-like flowers, this fern-like plant thrives in moist wooded ravines and valleys
Other spring wildflowers include Bloodroot, Spring Beauty, Violet Wood Sorrel, and Blue Phlox.
Summer Wildflowers
The prairies and meadows of Missouri come alive in summer with colorful species like Black-Eyed Susan, Purple Coneflower, and Partridge Pea.
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Black-Eyed Susan – This sun-loving wildflower has yellow petals with a dark brown or purple center. It grows in fields, open woods, and along roadsides.
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Purple Coneflower – Known for its medicinal properties, this drought-tolerant plant has purple, daisy-like flower heads perched atop stiff stems.
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Partridge Pea – A prairie plant with yellow pea-like flowers It fixes nitrogen in the soil and provides nectar for pollinators The seed pods explode, flinging seeds when ripe.
Other popular summer blooms are Butterfly Milkweed, Wild Bergamot, and Bee Balm.
Fall Wildflowers
As summer fades, goldenrods, asters, and gentians light up the fields.
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Goldenrods – This diverse group of yellow-flowered plants provides a vital late season food source for bees, butterflies, and birds.
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Asters – A variety of these classic fall-blooming flowers can be found, with colors ranging from white to pink to purple.
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Gentians – Missouri is home to several gentian species like the Bottle Gentian, with its cobalt blue, bottle-shaped flowers.
Rare & Endangered Wildflowers
While Missouri has an abundance of wildflower species, some are quite rare. These include the Ozark Hellbender Flower and Missouri Bladderpod, found only within small regions of the state. Conservation efforts help protect the rarest species.
Wildflower Viewing Recommendations
Some of the best places to enjoy wildflowers in Missouri include state parks, nature preserves, glades, prairies, and along the countless hiking trails that traverse the state.
Popular spots include Ha Ha Tonka State Park in the Ozarks, where spring ephemerals flourish.Rock Bridge Memorial State Park hosts rare columbines and orchids. For prairie flowers, visit Shaw Nature Reserve or Marais Temps Clair.
No matter where you explore in Missouri, a floral spectacle awaits. Respect wildflowers by not picking them so others can enjoy their beauty. With so many wildflowers calling Missouri home, you’ll find new treasures in bloom each season.
What are Native Plants?
Missouris indigenous flora that we celebrate today â as might be promoted and protected by the Missouri Prairie Foundation (link) or Missouri Native Plant Society (link) â are the progeny of ancient plants that populated this lower Midwest region long before the first European explorers set foot on this land. Over the millennia, these plants have evolved unique traits that equip them to flourish in Missouris varied climatic zones, from the northern plains to the Ozark Mountains, all while serving as vital sanctuaries for native wildlife.
Integrating Missouris many native wildflowers and plants into your garden or landscape does more than add regional flair; it offers direct ecological benefits to local wildlife and promotes natural diversity. Many of these native wildflowers and native grasses are hardy and adaptable, resilient in the face of drought, requiring little in the way of fertilization, and generally low-maintenance. Choosing the right native plants for your Missouri native gardens can elevate both its aesthetic appeal and its environmental impact, transforming your outdoor space into a haven for both beauty and biodiversity.
Why are Native Plant Species Important?
There has been an ongoing and incredible loss of animal life worldwide over the past 150 years. This is a tragedy that has affected almost every major group of wildlife, including the many bees, butterflies, birds, and other beneficial pollinators that allow our natural world to function. A leading driver of this crash is land mismanagement: as humans, on private land, weve spent far too long removing the native trees and herbaceous perennial plants our local wildlife needs and replacing them with non native species that do little or nothing to help. This has lead to the near-extirpation of especially sensitive biomes, including Missouris prairies and other native grasslands.
By contrast, the trees, shrubs, grasses, and flowers that are native to their areas are especially well-adapted to provide food sources and shelter for many beneficial insects, birds, and other wildlife. These plants also tend to cycle nutrients into the soil more efficiently, and retain more storm water, than any kind of turf grass. Many species of native plants can survive in poor soil conditions and are drought tolerant and deer resistant once established which also makes them a great choice for most gardeners. Simply by adding some Missouri native plants to our garden beds or other landscaping efforts, we can directly help to reduce atmospheric CO2, create fertile soil, and reestablish a healthy local ecosystem.
Nature: Wildflowers in Missouri
FAQ
When should I plant wildflower seeds in Missouri?
The ideal time is: after the ground has thawed and before the spring rains, when the weather is cool. Seed can be broadcast by hand.
What are the tall purple wildflowers in Missouri?
19. Ironweed – Vernonia baldwinii – Blazing purple in open fields in July and August often when nothing else is blooming. Stems can be 2′ to 5′ in height.
What are the first flowers to bloom in Missouri?
Many early spring wildflowers are delicate shades of white: dogtooth violets, Dutchman’s breeches, spring beauty, white trillium and violets (which have white and blue varieties). There are also blues and purples: spiderwort, wild sweet William and Jacob’s ladders. Pinkish wild geraniums are an exciting find.
What is the rarest flower in Missouri?
Titan Arum/Corpse Flower
Commonly known as a titan arum, or “corpse flower,” it is a large, fast-growing plant in the Aroid family.