The Wonder of Wildflowers

ByKimmy Ortmann
March 2023 Plant Availability
March 2023 Plant Availability
Greetings,

We hope you have been staying warm and dry these last few weeks. With the heavy rainfall we’ve been experiencing throughout this fall and winter, 2023 might be shaping up to bring an especially bountiful spring in terms of wildflowers. National Geographic wrote that “2023 could be the year of the superbloom,” and California state park officials have said they are “cautiously optimistic” about the potential for an uncommonly big bloom this year! 

Historically, superbloom events have occurred in California about every decade or so when conditions are right– including above average rainfall, cool nighttime temperatures, and a well-stocked bank of seeds on the ground. It is still a bit early to gauge the chance of a total superbloom, but so far conditions are looking favorable for at least some parts of California to see abundant blooms this spring.

If you get the chance to see some of these abundant blooms, we encourage you to do so responsibly! Although wildflowers are numerous and diverse during these superbloom events, it is really important to avoid stepping on or picking our native wildflowers. Wildflowers are fragile, so stepping on them or picking them can harm or entirely remove their reproductive ability, which decreases the amount of seeds on the ground and can potentially prevent wildflowers from growing in the same spot in the future. California native wildflowers are the backbone of their ecosystems for the pollinators, beneficial insects, birds, and other small animals that rely on them, so a decrease in the abundance of these plants down the road has cascading effects on our pollinators and wildlife too.

Most of our native wildflowers in California are annuals, which have a remarkably efficient life cycle– germinating, flowering, and setting seeds in the span of only a few months (a single growing season)!
Our local annuals are uniquely adapted to our Mediterranean climate, sprouting with winter rains, blooming in spring and summer, and then producing seeds before they dry up and die in the summer heat. Thanks to this co-evolution with our climate, they usually require far less water and fertilizer, are less prone to disease, and are more tolerant of pests than non-native annuals.

California native annual wildflowers produce abundant seeds, allowing them to sprout up new individuals each spring. Their seeds are also delicious and nutritious for many bird species! Our native annuals are incredibly important for a plethora of our native pollinators too, providing nectar, pollen, and even their leaves as a source of food for species such as the endangered Mission Blue butterfly. These incredible wildflowers cater specifically to their pollinators as they have evolved particular shapes, colors, sizes, and perfectly timed flowering seasons to attract their target pollinators. They can also improve soil health, returning nutrients to the soil with each cycle of their life. They can help to prevent erosion and improve water quality too! Not to mention the vibrant colors, unique charm, and beauty of our native annuals are some of the most enchanting wonders that California has to offer. 

If you’re looking to add some of the life-supporting wonder and beauty of California native annual wildflowers to your own garden, we are excited to offer a steal of a deal for the month of March…

BUY 4 ANNUALS, GET 1 FREE!!!!!

Here are the annual wildflowers we have in stock right now 🙂

Available in 4” pots for $6.60 each!

  • This low growing, rounded annual wildflower grows about 1 foot tall x 1 foot wide
  • Its bright pink flower petals are deeply lobed and ribbon-like
  • These flowers are often visited and adored by long-tongued moths
  • In the garden, plant in a wildflower display, along borders, or in containers
  • Space 18 – 24 inches apart
  • Expect late spring/early summer blooms from May to July

Available in 4” pots for $6.60 each!

  • Grows 1.5 – 2.5 feet tall and wide
  • This special gem is endemic to California with the greatest natural distribution around the San Francisco Bay area
  • Its flowers are long lasting for an annual, lasting as long as 3 – 4 months while most annual wildflowers only last a few weeks!
  • This species loves full sun but can also handle light shade
  • Adaptable to a variety of soil types

Available in 4” pots for $6.60 each!

  • Endemic to California (found nowhere else in the world!)
  • Grows 18 – 24 inches tall
  • Pink to coral flowers bloom continuously throughout the spring and into the summer (April – July)
  • Primarily pollinated by specialist bees found in their native habitat
  • Very showy, easily grown, and readily reseeds for the following spring

Available in 4” pots for $6.60 each!

  • Baby-Blue-Eyes are easy to grow annuals with a neat mounding habit 8-12 inches high
  • Its sky blue blossoms with white centers are the hallmark of this beloved early-blooming California wildflower
  • Thrives in both dappled woodland and exposed sunny settings
  • A great option for growing in containers too!

Available in 4” pots for $6.60 each!

  • This annual is native to the deserts of California and is best known for its vibrant cobalt blue blooms that appear in late winter and spring
  • It naturally grows in sandy soils and desert-like climates, but is adaptive to other climates too
  • It grows very quickly and blooms early, reseeding itself if conditions are right
  • A favorite among bumblebees

Available in D-16 pots for $6.50 each!

  • Low-growing annual herb reaching 2-10 inches tall and spreads 8-18 inches wide (makes an excellent ground cover!)
  • This species blankets many coastal bluffs and open fields with large spreads of blooms from March until May
  • Flowers resemble tiny yellow daisies, and are variable in appearance across subspecies and climate
  • Can grow in just about any type of soil and reseeds profusely with enough moisture
  • Returns year after year on undisturbed sites

Available in 4” pots for $6.60 each!

  • Wind poppy is a very colorful annual!
  • Its flowers are a vibrant, rich orange that is darker than the California poppy
  • These large ethereal flowers sit atop a long stem, appearing to float above its surrounding vegetation
  • You can expect it to bloom between March and April
  • In the wild, this species re-seeds best after a fire
  • This species has a preference for partial shade and is tolerant of a variety of soils

Available in 4” pots for $6.60 each!

  • This annual blooms profusely with bright yellow flowers from 6 – 12 inches tall with the warmth of spring
  • It is happiest producing a carpet of color in moist meadow gardens
  • This species is very attractive to the lovely and endangered Checkerspot butterfly and goldfinches

Available in D-16 pots for $6.50 each!

  • This small but mighty showy annual wildflower grows up to 1.5 feet tall and makes a colorful addition to a dry meadow as it flowers throughout the spring
  • A common companion of the California Poppy
  • Adds nitrogen to the soil to the benefit of other plants in the community

Available in 4” pots for $6.60 each!

  • 2 feet tall x 1 foot wide
  • This annual grows quickly and blooms heavily with blue-purple flowers from late winter to late spring
  • Its 3 foot root system makes it a great option for bank stabilization
  • As with many of our native annuals, this species self sows for the following growing season
  • Hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies collect nectar from the flowers and birds eat the seeds

Available in 4” pots for $6.60 each!

  • Creamcups are related to poppies and are a delight to see in the early spring
  • Creamcups are named after their flowers which have a delicate white to yellow color
  • They are a lovely companion to popcorn flower, goldfields, bird’s eye, and arroyo lupines

Available in D-40 pots for $7.70 each!

  • Common sunflower is a fast-growing annual herb that can reach heights of 9 feet tall
  • Its large sunny flowers appear from late summer to fall and rotate throughout the day to face the sun
  • It grows best in full sun with dry/light water conditions
  • You can harvest the seeds in late fall to start a new crop for the next year!

Available in 4” pots for $6.60 each!

  • This native annual herb grows 2 feet tall x 1 foot wide
  • It produces tons of sweetly scented yellow daisy-like flowers in late summer and early fall
  • A pollinator powerhouse, this provides an abundant nectar source after spring flowers are long gone
  • A fantastic drought tolerant choice for any sunny garden!

Available in 4” pots for $6.60 each!

  • This beloved annual grows about 1 foot tall and displays beautiful bi-colored purple and white blooms from mid-spring to early summer
  • Its flowers are adored by bees and is a larval host plant for the Checkerspot Butterfly
  • It is known to self-sow and is best spaced a foot apart

Available in 4” pots for $6.60 each!

  • This short growing annual is only about 1 foot tall
  • It’s dainty brilliant magenta to rose colored flowers show early in the season from February to May and mostly open in the afternoons
  • This species grows in meadows, woodland, and grassland habitats as well as various grassy spots along the California coast
  • Its leaves are edible and delicious in a summer salad

Available in 4” pots for $6.60 each!

  • Also called “Poached Egg Plant,” this low-growing annual meadow flower blooms from March to July
  • Well adapted to poorly draining soils of vernal pools and meadows, but is also occasionally found in drier environments
  • Popular as an ornamental plant, with fragrant yellow cup-shaped flowers and white tipped petals that make wonderful cut flowers
  • This species self-seeds vigorously, capable of forming a seasonal weed-suppressing groundcover
  • Promotes natural aphid control by attracting aphid-eating hover flies!

Available in 4” pots for $6.60 each!

  • Blue Field Gilia is an annual wildflower that grows 6 inches – 2 feet tall and a little less than a foot wide
  • Its spherical clusters of purple flowers are rich in nectar, providing food for many pollinators
  • Looks beautiful combined with the moon glow poppy or Azalea flowered monkey flower
  • Native to much of western North America from Alaska to northern Mexico
  • Grows in many habitats in full sun and part shade, especially in sandy or rocky soils

Available in 4” pots for $6.60 each!

  • Tomcat clover is a common annual that grows 6 – 24 inches tall
  • It looks like a typical clover but with extra long leaves
  • It is an especially great choice for bird gardens and butterfly gardens, but is truly a sweet addition to any sunny garden
  • This annual is particularly attractive for the Orange Sulphur and Bay Checkerspot butterflies
  • Expect blooms in the spring through the summer
Stay Safe, ‘Bee’ Well, and Go Natives!

Happy Planting! From all of us at The Watershed Nursery. 
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