13 Wildflowers We’re Winter Sowing in February

Sowing seeds is like practicing magic. You put tiny, hard things in the ground, and they turn into full-fledged plants. Though you can find wildflowers in nurseries and garden centers as potted plants, it’s much more budget-friendly to start them from seeds. You’ll grow dozens of plants for the price of one!

Seed sowing is also a wonderful way to grow in tune with your garden and the local environment. Though direct sowing is easier, winter sowing grants your seedlings more protection while they sprout. The containers keep critters out, and they insulate the seedlings so they stay alive amidst harsh frosts. 

Simply put drainage holes in the bottom of a container, leave a small hole open on top, and put soil and seeds inside. The seedlings emerge when the weather is perfect for them—they won’t need hardening off in spring because they grow with the seasons.

With your mini-greenhouses made, you’re ready to plant wildflowers! Choose from one of these 13 species we love winter sowing in February.

Showy Milkweed/Butterfly Flower

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Showy Milkweed/Butterfly Flower Seeds

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Purple Coneflower Echinacea

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Purple Coneflower Echinacea Seeds

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Bluebonnet Seeds

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Bluebonnet Seeds

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Showy Milkweed

	botanical name Asclepias speciosa
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-3’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Milkweeds are one of the best native wildflowers for planting. They help Monarch butterflies by offering habitat space, flowers, and yummy leaves for their caterpillar babies. Milkweeds are not only helpful for butterflies but also for pollinating insects like bees. With a plant or two, you’ll invite ample wildlife into your garden.

Showy milkweed is the first to make this list because of its gorgeous blooms. They fit the name, as they’re showier than most other species. A single cluster sprouts dozens of small flowers. Their pink-white petals form star shapes, creating a lovely focal point in the yard. You’ll see them sprouting in western states like California, Oregon, and Washington.

Milkweeds benefit from cold stratification, a chill period during winter. The seeds need it to dissolve their hard outer coat. Then, they can soak in water and germinate as temperatures warm in spring. Transplant sprouted seedlings into the garden after the last average frost date in your area.

Common Milkweed

	botanical name Asclepias syriaca
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2-5’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Common milkweed has smaller flower clusters than the showy kind, though they hang from the plant to form a lovely structure. This species is a better option for East Coast and Midwest gardeners, as it prefers northern regions with chilly winters. It attracts butterflies and bees, working well in ornamental, pollinator, and cottage gardens.

When sowing common milkweed, space the seeds apart so they have a foot of space between them. Plant three seeds in a single spot, and thin them after they sprout so one remains. This may mean a single container will have one plant, depending on the size. Ensure proper spacing, and the rooted seedlings will experience minimal root disturbance during transplanting.

Butterfly Flower

	botanical name Asclepias tuberosa
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2-3’
	hardiness zones 4-10

The last milkweed on this list is the butterfly flower, a gorgeous perennial with bright red-orange flowers. It thrives throughout the U.S., though it’s uncommon in the Pacific Northwest. Find it growing from California to New York! 

The butterfly flower needs some cold stratification, so it’s good for planting in February. The seeds will dissolve their hard outer shell and germinate as the days lengthen in spring. Keep their soil moist, not soggy, and place the growing containers under filtered light or partial shade until they sprout. 

Fireweed

	botanical name Epilobium angustifolium
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-5’
	hardiness zones 2-7

Fireweed sprouts after wildfires, hence the name fireweed! It grows best with minimal competition from other plants, thriving in disturbed sites with bare soil. Tall, slender stems emerge from the ground with bright pink flowers. They’re perfect for pollinators, offering resources for hungry critters. 

After planting, fireweed forms perennial stands that you can divide during autumn or spring. After successful pollination, the flowers grow pods with seeds inside. The seeds often sprout on their own after dropping in autumn, though you can collect them and winter sow them to watch the process.

Rattlesnake Master

	botanical name Eryngium yuccifolium
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 4-6’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Rattlesnake master is a type of Eryngium; it’s a close relative of sea holly and culantro. This species grows yucca-like leaves in early spring. As summer arrives, the foliage rosettes send out tall stems with clusters of flowers on them. The flowers are tight-packed globes, much like onion or garlic flowers. 

Rattlesnake master is native to open forests and prairie regions throughout the central and eastern U.S. It thrives in harsh conditions, tolerating drought, intense sunlight, and poor soil. Sow it in February with milkweeds, then plant them all together for a cheery, colorful garden design that attracts pollinators.

Dense Blazing Star

	botanical name Liatris spicata
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3-6’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Blazing stars, or gayfeathers, are some of the most beautiful wildflowers in the U.S. They thrive in open fields, meadows, and moist regions where droughts are infrequent in eastern states. Though they like consistent moisture, they grow best in well-drained soils with good drainage.

The dense blazing star has flowering stems full of bright, spindly purple flowers. They’re insect magnets, as they’re rich in pollen and nectar. Not only do bees love them, but moths and butterflies do too! They add decorative charm alongside native perennials like milkweed, black-eyed Susan, and purple coneflower.

Purple Coneflower

	botanical name Echinacea purpurea
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3-5’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Purple coneflower is the Midwest’s signature wildflower. Its flowers are composite, meaning a single head contains dozens of small blossoms. When bees or pollinators land on their heads, they have a plentiful dinner of multiple flowers to feast on. Adorning the central head or petals that form a ring. The native species’ blooms are purple, though cultivars and varieties offer pink, white, yellow, and orange. 

Purple coneflower seeds take a long time to germinate, which is one reason they’re perfect for winter sowing. They’ll likely sprout in 10 to 20 days, though they can take many weeks. Keep them moist in their milk jugs until they germinate, then transplant them once the danger of frost passes in spring.

Bluebonnet

	botanical name Lupinus texensis
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-2’
	hardiness zones 4-8

Bluebonnets, or Texas lupine, erupt with blue flowers in spring. They’re a widespread lupine in Texas, growing wild in open fields, meadows, and prairies. Pollinating bees love the flowers—they flock to them to receive their pollen. 

The bees open the petals to enter inside the flower. As they enter, they bump pollen into the flower’s stigma and pollinate the blossom so that seeds can form. They receive protein-rich pollen grains as rewards; they’ll eat them or take them to the hive. 

To attract bees, plant bluebonnets in enclosed containers in February. Winter sow them and they’ll emerge in early spring before outdoor seedlings. Let them grow for a few weeks, then transplant them to their final location around the last frost date. 

Bigleaf Lupine

	botanical name Lupinus polyphyllus
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 5’
	hardiness zones 3-6

Though bluebonnets are the lupines of Texas, bigleaf lupines are the lupines of the West! They grow wild throughout western states, popping up among native perennials like narrowleaf milkweed, globe gilia, and slender tarweed. 

As the name suggests, this species has large, hand-like leaves and giant flower spikes. The bright purple-white flowers stand out in the landscape and offer unique ornamental interest in pollinator gardens. To germinate, give your specimens consistent moisture and cool temperatures from February until spring.

Great Blue Lobelia

	botanical name Lobelia siphilitica
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3-4’
	hardiness zones 4-9

Great blue lobelia resembles a lupine, with tall flowering stems full of blossoms. Lobelia blossoms have three distinct petals on the lower half, distinguishing them from other species. Below the flowers are strappy leaves with toothy edges. Tough, rugged, and gorgeous, great blue lobelia is perfect for gardeners experimenting with native plants in their yard.

Unlike most other perennial wildflowers, this species flowers in late summer after most plants are through. With winter sowing, you’ll sprout seedlings that likely bloom their first year. If not, don’t worry! Protect the plants with compost through the winter and they’ll bloom next spring. 

New England Aster

	botanical name Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3-7’
	hardiness zones 4-8

American asters need help! Native stands are declining, and growing them in your yard is an easy way to boost local populations. New England asters originate from the East Coast and forests further inland, though there are dozens of other American asters for U.S. gardeners.

Choose the Douglas aster on the West Coast, or the broad-leaved aster in the South. American aster seeds benefit from cold stratification, so winter sow them in February and you’ll have ready seedlings by springtime.

Varileaf Phacelia

	botanical name Phacelia heterophylla
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-4’
	hardiness zones 4-9

Varileaf phacelia is a close relative of lacy phacelia, a common cover crop in industrial farming. This species offers nutritious pollen and nectar to bees and butterflies. It’s a magnet for insects and works well in pollinator, native, or ornamental gardens. This upright type thrives among other low-growing wildflowers.

Unlike lacy phacelia, you’ll want to leave this species in place. It’s perennial, and it’ll emerge from the ground in spring. If it doesn’t emerge its seeds will sprout and replace the plant with new ones. 

Like milkweed, varileaf phacelia appreciates a month of cold stratification. Keep the seedlings in their containers with covers until the last frost, then transplant them into their final locations. 

Showy Tarweed

	botanical name Madia elegans
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-6’
	hardiness zones 6-11

Showy tarweed, or common madia, is indeed showy! Its bright red-centered flowers have yellow petals adorning them, creating bright bullseye marks for pollinators. The sticky leaves and stems grow low to the ground, and the flowers emerge on tall-reaching stems.

Unlike most plants on this list, the showy tarweed is an annual wildflower. Its seeds fall to the ground when ripe and germinate into new seedlings for the next year. Collect some seeds for winter sowing, and leave plenty of seedheads so they reseed themselves in your garden.