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A lawn may look pretty, but it makes little sense from an ecological point of view. On the other hand, a colorful flower meadow is much more valuable, especially for the starving world of insects. We present 37 suitable perennial flowers and their seeds.

In a nutshell

  • native, robust wild perennials are ideal
  • almost all need a sunny location
  • Mix seeds of suitable species and sow directly outdoors
  • no preference necessary
  • Light germinates, therefore do not cover with soil

Types from A - E

Field Scabious (Knautia arvensis)

Source: AnRo0002, 20220525Knautia arvensis3, edited from Plantopedia, CC0 1.0
  • Perennial / annual: perennial flowers
  • Growth height: 30 to 100 centimeters
  • Location: sunny
  • Soil: dry to fresh, calcareous
  • Flowering period: May to August
  • Flowers: violet-blue, similar to scabious
  • Features: bee friendly

Notice: The widespread species from the teasel family (Dipsacaceae) is very undemanding in terms of soil and should not be missing from the seeds: its flowers attract numerous insects.

Perennial Flax (Linum perenne)

  • Perennial / annual: perennial flowers
  • Growth height: 30 to 60 centimeters
  • Location: sunny
  • Soil: dry, well drained, moderately nutritious
  • Flowering period: June to August
  • Flowers: sky-blue cup flowers
  • Features: bee friendly

Notice: The species is also known as perennial flax.

Barbara weed (Barbarea vulgaris)

  • Perennial / annual: biennial
  • Growth height: 30 to 90 centimeters
  • Location: sunny
  • Soil: prefers nitrogenous soils
  • Flowering period: May to July
  • Flower: yellow grape flowers
  • Specialties: edible, slightly pungent leaves

Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)

  • Perennial / annual: perennial flowers
  • Growth height: 80 to 180 centimeters
  • Location: sunny to semi-shady
  • Soil: fresh to moist, rich in nutrients
  • Flowering period: June to August
  • Flower: purple-pink flower panicles
  • Special features: valuable bee pasture

German chamomile (Matricaria recutita)

  • Perennial / annual: annual, self-sowing
  • Growth height: 30 to 50 centimeters
  • Location: sunny
  • Soil: normal garden soil
  • Flowering period: May to August
  • Flowers: white cup-flowers
  • Specialties: known medicinal plant

Sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis)

  • Perennial / annual: biennial to perennial
  • Growth height: 40 to 150 centimeters
  • Location: sunny
  • Soil: undemanding, but rather dry
  • Flowering period: July to September
  • Flower: yellow butterfly flowers
  • Special features: insect-friendly, medicinal plant

Types of F - J

Dyer's chamomile (Anthemis tinctoria)

  • Perennial / annual: perennial flowers
  • Growth height: 30 to 60 centimeters
  • Location: sunny
  • Soil: dry, sandy, mineral
  • Flowering period: June to September
  • Flower: bright yellow cup-shaped flowers
  • Special features: formerly used as a dye plant

Notice: The species, also known as dyer's dog chamomile, is very suitable for rock gardens.

Daisy (Bellis perennis)

  • Perennial / annual: perennial flowers
  • Growth height: 5 to 20 centimeters
  • Location: sunny
  • Soil: rich in nutrients, permeable
  • Flowering time: March to November
  • Flowers: white cup-flowers
  • Special features: particularly long flowering period

Tip: The daisy, also known as daisy, grows almost everywhere and almost always blooms - even in mild winters.

Viper Bugloss (Echium vulgare)

  • Perennial / annual: biennial wild perennial
  • Growth height: 60 to 80 centimeters
  • Location: sunny
  • Soil: dry, sandy
  • Flowering period: June to September
  • Flower: bright blue flower spikes
  • Special features: valuable insect pasture

Tip: Once you have spread the seeds of the native wild perennial, they reliably self-seed and come back again and again.

Hawkweed (Hieracium aurantiacum)

  • Growth height: 10 to 30 centimeters
  • Location: sunny
  • Soil: lean, dry
  • Flowering period: June to July
  • Flowers: orange-red bowl flowers
  • Special features: excellent bee pasture

Notice: The native perennial with the pretty flowers spreads out like a carpet.

Horn clover (Lotus corniculatus)

Source: AnRo0002, 20220515Lotus corniculatus1, Edited from Plantopedia, CC0 1.0
  • Perennial / annual: perennial perennial
  • Growth height: 30 to 50 centimeters
  • Location: sunny
  • Soil: sandy to loamy
  • Flowering period: May to September
  • Flowers: yellow, umbel-like
  • Special features: valuable food plant for insects

Notice: Once you have spread the seeds, the plants will reliably self-seed.

St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum)

John's wort, Hypericum perforatum
  • Growth height: 30 to 70 centimeters
  • Location: sunny
  • Soil: normal garden soil
  • Flowering period: June to August
  • Flowers: golden yellow cup flowers
  • Special features: bee-friendly, well-known medicinal plant

Damsel in the Green (Nigella damascena)

  • Perennial / annual: annual, self-seeding
  • Growth height: 40 to 50 centimeters
  • Location: sunny to semi-shady
  • Soil: moderately nutritious
  • Flowering period: June to September
  • Flower: blue, white or pink
  • Special features: many varieties in different colors

Types of K - M

Carthusian carnation (Dianthus carthusianorum)

  • Perennial / annual: perennial wild perennial
  • Growth height: up to 60 centimeters
  • Location: sunny
  • Soil: sandy, permeable
  • Flowering period: June to September
  • Flower: purple cup flowers
  • Special features: ideal for rock gardens

Notice: In Austria, the species is also known as stone carnation.

Corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas)

Papaver rhoeas
  • Perennial / annual: annual
  • Growth height: 50 to 60 centimeters
  • Location: sunny
  • Soil: sandy to moderately nutritious, dry
  • Flowering period: May to July
  • Flower: red cup flowers
  • Special features: valuable nectar or pollen plant

Notice: The well-known corn poppy not only grows in fields and along wild edges, but also in flower meadows. There, the bulging fruit capsules reliably seed themselves.

Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria)

  • Growth height: 40 to 50 centimeters
  • Location: sunny
  • Soil: lean
  • Flowering period: June to August
  • Flower: yellow
  • Special features: bee-friendly, native wild perennial

Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus)

  • Growth height: 40 to 70 centimeters
  • Location: sunny to semi-shady
  • Soil: rich in nutrients, permeable
  • Flowering period: June to October
  • Flower: bright blue
  • Special features: valuable bee pasture

Cuckoo campion (Lychnis flos-cuculi)

  • Perennial / annual: perennial wild perennial
  • Growth height: 10 to 60 centimeters
  • Location: sunny
  • Soil: fresh, humic to sandy-humic
  • Flowering period: May to July
  • Flowers: pink panicles
  • Special features: ideal for the edge of the pond

Catchfly (Silene noctiflora)

  • Perennial / annual: annual
  • Growth height: 30 to 100 centimeters
  • Location: sunny
  • Soil: lean, dry
  • Flowering period: June to September
  • Flower: pale pink cup flowers
  • Special features: Leaves and young shoots are edible

Notice: Although this species is not perennial either, it reliably reproduces itself via numerous trained seeds and therefore keeps coming back.

Types of N - R

Evening primrose (Oenothera biennis)

Source: AnRo0002, 20220729Oenothera biennis2, Edited from Plantopedia, CC0 1.0
  • Perennial / annual: biennial
  • Growth height: 50 to 100 centimeters
  • Location: sunny
  • Soil: dry, well drained
  • Flowering period: June to September
  • Flowers: yellow cup flowers
  • Features: bee friendly

Notice: The bright yellow flowers of the evening primrose only open in the evening hours.

Oxeye (Buphthalmum salicifolium)

Source: C T Johansson, Buphthalmum salicifolium-IMG 3584, Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • Perennial / annual: perennial flowers
  • Growth height: 50 to 60 centimeters
  • Location: sunny to semi-shady
  • Soil: lean, stony to clayey
  • Flowering period: June to September
  • Flowers: golden yellow cup-flowers
  • Special features: native nectar or pollen plant

Notice: The pretty flower is also known as the gold marguerite because of its attractive blooms.

Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare)

  • Growth height: up to 130 centimeters
  • Location: sunny
  • Soil: fresh
  • Flowering period: July to September
  • Flowers: yellow button flowers
  • Special features: valuable bee and insect pasture

Red clover (Trifolium pratense)

  • Perennial / annual: perennial flowers
  • Growth height: 15 to 60 centimeters
  • Location: sunny
  • Soil: fresh, nutritious, deep
  • Flowering period: June to August
  • Flower: pink flower balls
  • Special features: valuable forage plant for insects and other animals

Marigold (Calendula officinalis)

  • Perennial / annual: annual
  • Growth height: up to 60 centimeters
  • Location: sunny to off-sun
  • Soil: sandy to loamy, moderately nutritious
  • Flowering period: May to October
  • Flower: yellow or orange flower heads
  • Specialties: known medicinal plant

Notice: Marigolds also seed themselves: if you are not careful, individual specimens can quickly become a whole carpet of marigolds.

Red Campion (Silene dioica)

  • Perennial / Annual: biennial perennial
  • Growth height: up to 90 centimeters
  • Location: sunny to semi-shady
  • Soil: rich in nutrients, fresh to moist
  • Flowering time: April to October
  • Flower: red or pink cup flowers
  • Special features: ideal for the edge of the pond

Types of S - V

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

  • Growth height: 30 to 50 centimeters
  • Location: sunny
  • Soil: fresh, rich in humus
  • Flowering period: June to August
  • Flowers: white umbelliferous flowers
  • Special features: spreads widely

Notice: In addition to the native wild species, there are now various cultivated forms that bloom in different colors. 'Paprika', for example, blooms bright pink, 'Terracotta' orange-yellow. 'Pretty Belinda' even glows in shades of purple.

Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis)

Source: AnRo0002, 20220619 Saponaria officinalis1, Edited from Plantopedia, CC0 1.0
  • Perennial / annual: perennial
  • Growth height: up to 80 centimeters
  • Location: sunny
  • Soil: rich in humus
  • Flowering period: June to September
  • Flowers: white or pink cymes, slightly fragrant
  • Special features: multiplies / spreads via rhizomes

Tip: These perennial flowers are valuable, native nectar or pollen plants that should not be missing on any flower meadow.

Centaury (Centaurium erythraea)

  • Perennial / annual: biennial
  • Growth height: 20 to 30 centimeters
  • Location: sunny to semi-shady
  • Soil: dry to fresh, humic
  • Flowering period: June to September
  • Flower: pink
  • Special features: not quite uncomplicated

Types of W - Z

Sweet Sweet Clover (Melilotus albus)

  • Perennial / annual: biennial
  • Growth height: 30 to 150 centimeters
  • Location: sunny
  • Soil: undemanding, moderately dry
  • Flowering period: June to October
  • Flower: white
  • Special features: valuable insect host plant, together plentiful

Meadow knapweed (Centaurea jacea)

  • Perennial / annual: perennial wild perennial
  • Growth height: 30 to 60 centimeters
  • Location: sunny
  • Soil: lean, low in humus
  • Flowering period: June to September
  • Flower: purple, similar to cornflower
  • Features: bee friendly

Tip: In autumn, this species retreats to its underground rhizomes for the winter. Above ground, the faded plant can be cut off close to the ground.

Meadow Bellflower (Campanula patula)

  • Perennial / annual: biennial
  • Growth height: 25 to 60 centimeters
  • Location: sunny
  • Soil: sandy-humic, fresh
  • Flowering period: May to July
  • Flowers: light violet bell-shaped flowers
  • Special features: valuable bee pasture, sows itself

Meadow Marguerite (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum)

Meadow daisies, Chrysanthemum leucanthemum
  • Perennial / annual: perennial
  • Growth height: up to 60 centimeters
  • Location: sunny
  • Soil: normal garden soil
  • Flowering period: May to June
  • Flowers: white cup-flowers
  • Special features: bee pasture

Tip: This native wild perennial propagates easily by self-sowing, but can also be divided and then planted separately.

Meadow sage (Salvia pratense)

  • Perennial / annual: perennial flowers
  • Growth height: 40 to 60 centimeters
  • Location: sunny
  • Soil: lean, sandy, calcareous
  • Flowering period: June to August
  • Flower: Whorls of flowers in violet, pink; blue or white
  • Special features: valuable native nectar or pollen plant

Meadow cranesbill (Geranium pratense)

Source: Tree in the park, meadow cranesbill.Teck nature reserve.Germany.BadenWürttemberg.Esslingen district, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Growth height: 60 to 70 centimeters
  • Location: sunny
  • Soil: normal garden soil
  • Flowering period: June to July
  • Flowers: violet-blue cup flowers
  • Special features: richly flowering, insect-friendly (especially bees and bumblebees)

Wild cardoon (Dipsacus sylvestris)

  • Growth height: 150 to 200 centimeters
  • Location: sunny
  • Soil: rich in humus and nutrients, fresh to moist
  • Flowering period: June to August
  • Flowers: violet or blue spadix flowers
  • Special features: valuable native nectar or pollen plant, medicinal plant

Wild carrot (Daucus carota)

  • Perennial / annual: biennial
  • Growth height: up to 100 centimeters
  • Location: sunny
  • Soil: sandy, likes lime
  • Flowering period: June to October
  • Flowers: white umbelliferous flowers
  • Special features: valuable, native nectar or pollen plant (especially for butterflies)

Wildflower (Chrysanthemum segetum)

  • Perennial / annual:
  • Growth height: up to 70 centimeters
  • Location: sunny to semi-shady
  • Soil: normal garden soil, rather dry
  • Flowering period: June to October
  • Flowers: yellow cup-flowers
  • Special features: native arable weed with a particularly long flowering period

frequently asked Questions

How do you mix the seeds correctly?

First of all, choose different types of flowers that are suitable for the intended location. The meadow flowers do not have to be perennials, even self-seeding, annual species reliably come back every year. Mix the seeds in a bowl. Information is also printed on the seed bags as to how many seeds can or should be spread on one square meter.

How do I prepare the soil for the flower meadow?

Prepare the soil for the flower meadow just as you would if you wanted to create a new lawn. Dig the designated area spade-deep, crumble the clods of earth as finely as possible and carefully level the ground. If necessary, the floor can also be improved, e.g. B. with sand or humus. The seed mixture is sown directly on the prepared soil, lightly raked and kept moist. Pulling it forward on the windowsill is not necessary.

When is the right time for sowing?

Ideally, you should create the wildflower meadow in autumn, since most of the native wild perennials presented here need a longer cold period to break the germination inhibition. However, you can also spread purchased seeds in spring, ideally with mild temperatures from March. In addition, such a meadow can be created for the entire growing season until October.

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Garden plants