Transplanting Wildflowers from the Wild into Your Garden

Wildflowers can introduce the look of wild, native beauty to your yard, as long as you follow some simple steps for transplanting wildflowers from their natural wild into your garden. Starting flowers from seeds takes time and results are not guaranteed. Taking an established plant from the wild offers a much better chance of success if done correctly.

Before taking any wildflower, make sure it is not an endangered plant and that it is not growing in a national forest, as harvesting in either situation is illegal. If the flower is on private land, make sure you obtain permission from the landowner before taking anything.

Step 1 - Find a Specimen

Locate the wildflower you want to add to your garden. Make sure to find an appropriate location from which to take the flower. Be careful to observe the natural habitat of the wildflower, because you will need to recreate the environment as closely as possible, including the soil type. Find more than just one area where the flower grows so you can compare the environments. Mark the spot of the flower so you can easily find it again. Make sure the wildflower is not something that will take over your entire yard and be hard to control.

Step 2 - Consider the Timing

Wildflowers are best transplanted when they are not in bloom. Flowers that bloom in the spring are best harvested in the fall. Fall blooming flowers are best harvested in the fall.

Step 3 - Prepare the Wildflower's New Environment

Make sure you have a spot picked out in your garden that closely resembles the wildflowers natural habitat. Consider light, neighboring plants, moisture and soil type. Add some compost if the flower grows in rich soil. Dig a hole large enough to accommodate the flower and a good sized chunk of dirt that will come with it.

Step 4 - Harvest the Wildflower

When the flower is past its blooming season, it is time to harvest. Using a spade, cut into the soil around the wildflower. Make sure you take as much area around the plant as possible. This ensures that the roots are not damaged, and that the wildflower get to bring as much of its home soil with it as possible. Make sure to clear away any grass or weeds that come up with the flower and soil. Place the dirt and flower into your transporting container.

Step 5 - Plant the Wildflower

Once you have the new wildflower home, get in the ground as soon as possible. Place the flower with its dirt into the hole you prepared. Make sure the plant is level so that it grows straight up out of the ground, and not at an angle. Pack soil around the plant firmly, but not too densely.

Step 6 - Water the New Addition

Once the wildflower is planted, give it a thorough watering. You will need to keep it moist for several days as it makes its environment transition. You should be able to tell if the transplant was successful in just a few days by the health of the leaves and stems.