Can You Plant Wildflower Seeds in Fall? Yes, Here's How

Spring gets most of the attention when it comes to planting seeds, but it’s definitely not your only option. Fall can actually be a great time to sow wildflowers, especially varieties that benefit from spending the winter outdoors before getting started in spring.

It also means one less thing on the spring gardening list, which somehow always gets longer than expected.

Why Plant Wildflower Seeds in Fall?

Wildflowers have been managing this without us for a very long time. Flowers bloom, seeds fall to the ground, winter comes, and those seeds wait until the conditions are right to grow.

Some perennial wildflower seeds actually benefit from spending time in cold, moist conditions. It helps break their natural dormancy and prepares them to germinate when warmer weather arrives. You may see this referred to as cold stratification.

Fall planting can also take advantage of seasonal rain and give seeds plenty of time to settle into the soil before spring.

Want to Keep It Simple? Try a Wildflower Mix

You certainly can choose individual flower varieties, but you don’t have to.

Our Bee Wildflower Seed Mix is made for pollinators and can be planted in either spring or fall. It’s an easy way to get a whole mix of flowers without buying and planting a dozen different seed packets.

The mix includes:

• Chinese forget-me-not
• Siberian wallflower
• Purple coneflower
• Mixed corn poppy
• Blue flax
• Lance-leaved coreopsis
• China aster
• California poppy
• Baby blue-eyes
• Indian blanket
• Globe gilia
• Plains coreopsis
• Sweet alyssum
• Lavender hyssop
• New England aster
• Bergamot
• Fleabane daisy
• Tidy-tips

That’s a pretty impressive amount of potential buzzing and blooming from one bag of seeds.

So, When Should You Plant?

This is where your location matters.

If you’re planting wildflower seeds in an area with cold winters, you generally want to wait until temperatures have cooled enough that the seeds won’t germinate right away. The idea is for them to spend the winter in the soil and get started when conditions are right in spring, not to sprout during a warm spell and immediately get walloped by winter.

If you live somewhere with a mild winter, your timing may be different. Check the recommendations for your growing region and the instructions for the seeds you’re planting.

There isn’t one perfect planting date for the entire country, and we’d rather tell you that than pretend there is.

Give Them a Fighting Chance

Wildflower seeds aren’t particularly fussy, but a little prep makes a big difference.

Pick a sunny spot and clear away weeds, grass and other competing plants first. You want the seeds to have good contact with the soil instead of disappearing into a layer of lawn or weeds.

Lightly rake the seeds into the soil rather than burying them deeply. If your fall weather isn’t providing much moisture, keep an eye on the area and water as needed.

Then give them some time. A freshly seeded wildflower patch isn’t especially exciting to look at in November, but that’s kind of the point.

A Little Messier Is Better for Pollinators

While we’re talking about pollinator gardens, here’s your permission to stop trying to make every inch of the yard perfectly tidy.

Many native bees nest in the ground, so leaving a little bare soil can actually be helpful. Stems and plant material left standing over winter can provide habitat for insects, too.

It’s also worth being thoughtful about pesticides. Even some organic products can affect beneficial insects, so use them carefully and only where they’re actually needed.

A healthy pollinator garden can be a little wild. We happen to think that’s part of the charm.

Plant This Fall and Give Spring a Head Start

If you’ve been looking at your seed packets thinking you missed your chance, you may not have.

A little planting this fall could mean a lot more color next year, plus food and habitat for the bees, butterflies and other pollinators that find their way to your yard.

Shop the Bee Wildflower Seed Mix →

Or explore our full collection of Pollinator-Friendly Seeds → and find the right fit for your garden.