IN THE WILD (Part 3)

California Poppy

Also known as the golden poppy, this became California’s state flower in 1903 and April 6th has been officially deemed California Poppy Day. The beautiful cup-shaped yellow and orange flowers can grow up to 2 inches (5cm) across and 1 foot (30cm) tall.

Shasta Daisy

This white and yellow flower is the most recognizable of all the daisy family. A classic perennial, it grows freely in the wild, blooming in the summer and the fall, making it the perfect addition to any low maintenance garden.

Fivespot

Closely related to baby blue eyes, fivespot is also a Californian native. These unique flowers can bloom and thrive in almost any climate and, due to their low-lying nature, they make excellent groundcover in any garden.

Coneflower

This prairie wildflower gets its name from the shape of its flower, with its petals angling away from the center to form a cone shape. Coneflowers grow in dry areas and were once widely used by Native Americans for medicinal purposes.

Cornflower

A member of the daisy family, this cornfield-growing flower has vibrant baby blue petals. Considered a weed in the wild, the cornflower almost became extinct after farmers introduced weed killers to their crops.

Candytuft

This European native is highly adaptable to most climates, but it is a flower that needs some care to ensure long and frequent flowering in spring and fall. Usually white, the candytuft can sometimes bloom pink or pale purple colors.

Chicory

A member of the dandelion family, this woody perennial grows bright blue flowers and is used as a coffee substitute in the southern United States. Wild chicory has a bitter taste but can be a delicious addition to pastas once cooked.

Fennel

A member of the carrot family, this wildflower is considered an herb and is highly aromatic. There are many uses for fennel, which range from medicinal to culinary. It is also the primary ingredient in absinthe.

Bee Balm

This beautiful flowering plant is an American native, popular with gardeners due to its fragrant smell and ability to attract pollinators of all kinds. A member of the mint family, it can be ground up to make essential oils and seasonings.

Sage (Mealy Blue)

This perennial can grow up to 3 feet (90cm) tall and has beautiful pale purple flowers that grow down its stalk, an irresistible attraction to all kinds of pollinators, from bees to hummingbirds.