Wildflower habitats support biodiversity and provide food sources, ground cover, and homes for insects, birds, reptiles, and small mammals.

Solitary bees don’t live in hives and often curl up in wildflowers to sleep at night. By growing native species of flowers, you provide shelter to pollinating garden friends.

In full bloom, wildflowers contribute an array of garden benefits. Insects that flourish in wildflower habitats pollinate the foods we eat and grow in veggie patches.

Flowers planted at the ends of raised beds or garden rows attract crucial pollinators, ensuring greater summer harvests. Including these varieties also improves soil biology and prevents erosion.

Keep in mind, it’s important that only regional native species like California poppies sunflowers, and purple owl clover should be cultivated in San Diego gardens.

The introduction of non-natives can quickly become invasive and damage delicate ecosystems.

Planting varieties that haven’t evolved locally can compete with native species for water, disrupt insect and bird migrations, and interfere with the general symbiosis of our environments.

Check with your favorite nursery or the Master Gardener Association of San Diego County to determine the best varieties for your space.

Bring home a slice of the spectacular blooms that paint our hillsides each spring and know that you’ll be contributing to an environment teeming with life. Wildlife species large and small will thank you.

Tags
No items found.
About the Contributor
No items found.