Native Gardening
ONPS is contacted several times a year with questions about planting wildflowers. Below are some guidelines, sources, and books that our members have found helpful.
Planting wildflowers
Tips for avoiding problems with city ordinances when landscaping your yard
Sources of wildflowers
Books on landscaping with and identifying wildflowers
Downloadable guide to Oklahoma Native Plants for Landscaping
Downloadable guide to Waterscaping with Oklahoma Native Plants
When to plant: Almost all perennial and many annual plants are best planted in the fall months of September, October, and November, seed is best planted in September and October. Plants can also be planted in the spring near the frost-free date.
Where to plant: Most of the wildflowers in our area require several hours of sunlight. They will usually do well in most soils as long as drainage is adequate. Those wildflowers that prefer shade will probably require alteration of the soil not discussed here.
Preparation of area: Although use of herbicides is usually not recommended, grassy areas are best treated with a glyphosate-containing herbicide. These must be applied to green vegetation, so will probably need to be applied well before seeding. Allow at least 2 weeks before seeding the area after application of the herbicide.
An alternate method would be to cover the dormant turf grass with several sheets of newspaper, cover that with a couple of inches of sand or compost or a mixture of the two.
Mow any dead vegetation as short as possible.
Seeds: Seeds, purchased from a local source, usually will be better adapted to our area. They should come with instructions on how to treat the seeds or they may be already treated since some seeds require special treatments. They may require a different planting scheme from that given above because some seeds require light exposure for germination. There are specific guidelines that need to be followed for collecting seeds in the wild.
Seeding:
Lightly rake the area. Raking deeper than ½ inch will encourage weed seeds to germinate.
Hand broadcast the seeds over the area. If you are using a mixture be sure they are properly mixed. Commercial wildflower mixtures contain flowers not native to the area so mix your own.
Lightly rake the area again to assure good seed-soil contact.
Spray the area with water.
Care: Water as needed to keep the area moist until seedlings have a couple of true leaves. There is no need for fertilizer. Of course, avoid foot traffic.
Avoiding Problems with City Ordinances when Planting Wildflowers
Here are several suggestions for avoiding problems with those people that think only a "well manicured" lawn is acceptable. Unfortunately many city ordinances and HOA bylaws restrict or prohibit "Natural" landscaping, or small scale prairie restorations. There are many ways to get around these things in a legal and aesthetically pleasing manner. In all actuality, you will be trying to defend yourself and your property from the authorities that will be responding to the complaints from the (cult of the)lawn crowd.
Do not violate any height restrictions near roads.
Take care not to violate any easement requirements.
Make the area look like a garden including hardscape.
Keep records of what is present and their care.
Keep records of all interactions with authorities.
Keep a picture record of what your garden looks like through the seasons.
If possible, Certify your garden space and place signs to inform and educate.
For identifying our native wildflowers and trees: (not all currently published)
"Lichen Field Guide for Oklahoma and Surrounding States" released in June 2021. This is a companion book to
"Lichen Study Guide for Oklahoma and Surrounding States". You can contact Sheila Strawn at sastrawn@hotmail.com for lichen workshops, presentations, or field trips. Sheila is the author, Sarah Hearn is the illustrator. Each sells for $30. Both guides can be purchased through the Botanical Research Institute of Texas at shop.brit.orgOklahoma Native Plants, for People and Pollinators, Connie Scothorn, 2024. The only current Oklahoma-specific book, it is full of maps, definitions, plant pictures and descriptions, and growing tips. Available from ONPS and many ONPN members.
The Guide to Oklahoma Wildflowers, Pat Folley, University of Iowa Press, 2011. A comprehensive guide by one of ONPS’ founding mothers, there is a summary of Families and a cross-referencing index by color, in addition to hundreds of photos and descriptions.
Roadside Wildflowers of Oklahoma, Doyle McCoy, 1981. Some of the botanical names may be dated, but with the plants grouped by color, it is an excellent tool for browsing through after a day’s hike. (out of print)
Oklahoma Wildflowers, Doyle McCoy, 1987. Some of the botanical names may be dated, but with the plants grouped by color, it is an excellent tool for browsing through after a day’s hike. He also published popular pocket guides. (out of print)
Field Guide to Oklahoma Plants, Ronald Tyrl, Terrence Bidwell, Ronald Masters, Oklahoma State University, 2002. This thick spiral-bound “encyclopedia” starts with maps and descriptions of our ethnogeography. Then, divided in Graminoids, Legumes, Forbs, and Woodies, each plant has a 2-page spread, with drawings of the plant’s parts on one page and details on names, characteristics, distribution, etc. on the other.
Forest Trees of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Forestry Service, Oct. 2015. Published for decades, this paperback has information on tree identification and a key, and provides line drawings, a description, and a map of location within the state for each species.
Plains Apache Ethnobotany, Julia A Jordan, 2008. Documents more than 110 plant species valued by the Plains Apache and preserves a wealth of detail concerning traditional Apache collection, preparation, and use for food, medicine, ritual, and material culture.
Wildflowers & Grasses of Kansas, Michael John Haddock, 2024 Revised and Expanded. Descriptions of plant parts and how to use this field guide are followed by lots of pictures and descriptions.
Tallgrass Prairie Wildflowers, Doug Ladd, 2005. Published by The Nature Conservancy, there are over 320 color photographs, descriptions of 295 species, habitat/range information, and a directory of tallgrass prairies.
Field Guide to the Common Grasses of Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska, Iralee Barnard, 2014, University Press of Kansas
An Annotated List of the Ferns, Fern Allies, Gymnosperms and Flowering Plants of Oklahoma, John and Constance Taylor, "ONPS", 1994 (out of print)
Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas, George Diggs, Barney Lipscomb, Robert O'Kennon, BRIT, 1999.88605
Native Gardening References
Many books describe planting flowers which would apply to wild flowers as well. Landscaping with natives is somewhat more problematic.
If you have suggestions, please send them for listing consideration.
Native Plant Selection Guide for Oklahoma Woody Plants, Darlene Michael, 1995
Gardening with Prairie Plants by Sally and Andy Wasawski, published by University of Minnesota Press, 2002
Oklahoma Native Plants by Connie Scothorn and Brian Patric, published by Roadrunner Press, 1999
