When you’re driving, be it in your hometown or during a road trip, you likely spot a variety of beautiful flowers growing wildly on the roadside. If you’ve ever wondered what type of plant you’re spotting and wanted to grow it in your own garden, chances are you can. Wildflowers—plants that grow without any help from people—don’t just fill landscapes with color and texture, they also serve as an essential food source for pollinators, making them a perfect addition to your garden. To help you identify some of the roadside flowers growing in your area, we spoke to experts who provided several types of wildflowers that grow across each region of the United States.

Wildflowers of the Midwest

These wildflowers are native to the midwestern U.S.

Calico Aster

Calico aster (Aster lateriflorus) provides charming, delicate blooms with white petals and white or dark pink centers, says Mary Phillips, head of native plant habitat strategy and certifications at the National Wildlife Federation. This beautiful roadside flower blooms from August to October and attracts butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects.

• Zones 4 to 9 
• Size: 2 to 3 feet tall x 2 to 3 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; average to dry, well-drained soil

Rocky Mountain Penstemon

Rocky mountain penstemon (Penstemon strictus) produces vivid blue trumpet-shaped flower spikes that bloom along roadsides from May until August, says Phillips. This plant is drought-tolerant once established and is a host plant to several butterfly and moth species.

• Zones 3 to 8 
• Size: 2 to 3 feet tall x 1 to 3 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; loamy, rocky, or sandy soil

Common Milkweed

Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) features large, rounded clusters of pinkish-red flowers that are contrasted by dark green leaves. This plant has the ability to spread in ideal conditions and attracts essential pollinators, says Phillips.

• Zones: 3 to 8
• Size: 3 to 5 feet tall x 2 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun; moist, well-drained soil

Rough Blazing Star

Rough blazing star (Liatris aspera) produces whimsical fluffy purple blooms that fill gardens with color from August to October. It is drought-tolerant once established and is a larval host plant to several moth species, says Phillips.

• Zones: 3 to 8
• Size: 1 to 4 feet tall x 1 to 1.5 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil

Grayleaf Goldenrod

Grayleaf goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) boasts small, bright yellow flowers in airy clusters, says Phillips. This plant blooms from June to October and is known for attracting wildlife, like bees and butterflies.

• Zones: 3 to 9
• Size: 12 to 24 inches tall x 6 to 24 inches wide
• Care requirements: Full sun; dry, loamy to sandy soil

Prairie Blazing Star

Prairie blazing star (Liatris pycnostachya) is a stunning wildflower that’s native to prairies and bluffs throughout the central U.S., says Megan Foster, perennial and bulb expert at American Meadows. It has distinctive floral spikes packed with fluffy rose-purple blooms. “Flowers open in sequence, starting at the top, for weeks of color during the hottest part of late summer,” she says.

• Zones: 3 to 9
• Size: 24 to 60 inches tall x 12 to 24 inches wide
• Care requirements: Full sun; moist, well-draining soil

False Sunflower

False sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoide) may look similar to true sunflower, but it blooms earlier and longer, making it a must-have native in the garden, says Foster. This sunflower variety is a good choice for heavy soil.

• Zones: 3 to 9
• Size: 36 to 72 inches tall x 12 to 26 inches wide
• Care requirements: Full sun; heavy, moist soil

Purple Prairie Clover

Purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea) is a beautiful, rugged native perennial perfect for dry, sunny pollinator gardens. “On tall, wiry stems, purple blooms open in rings around dense cone-shaped heads, while narrow leaflets add fine texture to the garden,” says Foster. This plant fills gardens with long-lasting color and airy texture.

• Zones: 3 to 8
• Size: 12 to 26 inches tall x 12 to 18 inches wide
• Care requirements: Full sun; dry, well-draining soil

Yellow Prairie Coneflower

A common sight in the plains states, native prairie coneflowers (Ratibida columnifera) are famous for their distinctively tall cone in the center of each bloom that sways on thin stems, says Foster. It is a drought-tolerant plant with lemon-yellow flowers that will welcome pollinators to your yard.

• Zones: 3 to 8
• Size: 12 to 36 inches tall x 12 to 18 inches wide
• Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil

Zinnia

Zinnias (Zinnia elegan) are a favorite in the garden thanks to their beautiful color. “Growing rapidly from seed, zinnias will bloom and bloom, giving you a full-bloom field plus all the cut flowers you can gather, from early summer right up until frost,” says Foster. “Since Zinnias are all annuals, they will give a huge season-long one-year show. But in fall, you can easily gather the seeds from your favorites for planting next spring and share them with your friends.”

• Zones: 3 to 8
• Size: Depends on variety
• Care requirements Full sun; dry, fertile, well-draining soil

Wildflowers of the South

These wildflowers are native to the southern U.S.

Annual Phlox

Annual phlox (Phlox drummondii) is a native wildflower with sticky leaves and dainty blooms that come in a range of colors, including white, pink, red, and plum, says Jared Barnes, horticulturist and host of The Plantastic Podcast. In addition to being beautiful, annual phlox also attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.

• Zones: 2–11
• Size: 12 to 20 inches tall x 12 inches wide
• Care requirements: Full sun; dry, well-draining soil

Evening Primrose

Evening primrose (Oenothera speciosa) is a beautiful wildflower you’ll find growing in the South. “In Texas, we see roadsides covered with pink evening primrose in early spring,” says Barnes. “After a cold winter, their cheerful, delicate flowers are a welcome sight. It will often bloom for two to three months.” Evening primrose can be an aggressive grower, but drier soils or competition from other plants help keep it in check. 

• Zones: 5 to 8
• Size: 12 to 20 inches tall x 30 to 36 inches wide
• Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; dry, well-draining soil

Texas Bluebonnet

Texas bluebonnet (Lupinus texensis) is the epitome of a roadside wildflower. “Countless people flock to see them bloom along Texas roadsides,” says Barnes. “I love watching bees work the flowers in the spring, where the white dot will change to pinkish-purple after pollination.” Looking for a variety tolerant of wetter, acidic soils? Try Lupinus subcarnosus.

• Zones: 2 to 8
• Size: 12 to 18 inches tall x 12 to 18 inches wide
• Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil

Lanceleaf Coreopsis

Lanceleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata) produces brilliant yellow petals that look cheerful roadside, as well as in your backyard. “The flowers seem to capture the golden rays of the sun and radiate them,” says Barnes. “On gray days, their sunny appearance can put a smile on your face.  It tolerates deer and drought.”  

• Zones: 4 to 9
• Size: 2 feet tall x 2 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun; moist-to-dry soil

Baby Blue Eyes

Baby blue eyes (Nemophila phacelioides) is a lovely spring wildflower that forms carpets of periwinkle blue along roadsides, says Barnes. “It is more tolerant of wetter and shadier conditions and will self-sow with abundance,” he says.

• Zones: 6 to 8
• Size: 12 to 18 inches tall x 12 to 18 inches wide
• Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; moist soil

Blanketflower

Perennial blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata) adds vibrant, cheerful color to any sunny garden where it will bloom from late spring through fall, says John Langer, wildflower seed expert at American Meadows. “Growing less than 2 feet tall, blanketflower is a great option to use in the front borders of a wildflower garden.”

• Zones: 3 to 10
• Size: 18 to 24 inches tall x up to 24 inches wide
• Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil

Showy Milkweed

As the name implies, showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) produces showy pink-and-white clusters of blooms from early to late summer. “A close relative of common milkweed, this is an essential native host plant for the monarch butterfly and provides special value for other butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds as well,” says Langer.

• Zones: 3 to 8
• Size: 12 to 36 inches tall x 12 to 18 inches wide
• Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil

Prairie Aster

Prairie aster (Machaeranthera tanacetifolia) is a mounding, low-growing annual wildflower that can spread up to 3 feet in diameter. “Bright electric blue-purple flowers with yellow centers and fern-like leaves make this an attractive choice for the home garden or meadow planting,” says Langer. “Not a true aster, this native species blooms much earlier in the summer with a fairly long bloom season.”

• Zones: 5 to 10
• Size: Up to 3 feet tall x 3 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-draining, rocky or sandy soil

Black-Eyed Susan

Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is a beloved native wildflower that’s known for its daisy-like yellow blooms that attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators during its long bloom season. “Its seeds are a favored food source of migrating songbirds in winter,” says Ali Mills, horticulturist at American Meadows.

• Zones: 3 to 9
• Size: 12 to 36 inches tall x 12 to 24 inches wide
• Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-draining

Scarlet Sage

Scarlet sage (Salvia coccinea) is a perennial native wildflower. “Scarlet sage boasts stunning spikes of bright red, tubular flowers arranged in dense clusters atop tall stems,” says Mills. “Its nectar-rich flowers are hummingbird favorites.”

• Zones: 4 to 10
• Size: 12 to 24 inches tall x 24 inches wide
• Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-draining

Wildflowers of the Northeast

These wildflowers are native to the northeastern U.S.

New England Aster

New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) produces native daisy-like flowers ranging from purple to pink each fall. “A native wildflower, New England aster is a crucial late-season nectar source for monarch butterflies during their fall migration, providing essential sustenance as they journey south,” says Mills.

• Zones: 3 to 8
• Size: 5 to 6 feet tall x 2 to 3 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; average to moist soil

White Trillium

White trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) is a beloved woodland wildflower that puts on a beautiful show every spring. “Each large bloom shifts from snow white to shell pink, and finally to a dark rose as the flower fades and the tree canopy closes,” says Mills. “Requiring patience but worth the wait, white trillium will slowly spread to form dense colonies of ephemeral beauty in dappled shade gardens.”

• Zones: 4 to 8
• Size: 12 to 14 inches tall x 12 inches wide
• Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; average to moist soil

Blue Cardinal Flower

Blue cardinal flower (Lobelia siphilitica) is a showy native that blooms from summer to early fall. “Tall spires of deep blue to violet flowers provide an important nectar source for late-season pollinators,” says Mills. “Easy to grow, blue cardinal flower will multiply when given the chance, forming attractive colonies in gardens, meadows, or woodland gardens.” 

• Zones: 3 to 9
• Size: 36 inches tall x 12 to 18 inches wide
• Care requirements: Partial sun; well-drained soil

Eastern Red Columbine

Eastern red columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) is a favorite native wildflower that blooms profusely each spring with delicate red-and-yellow flowers that nod high above finely textured foliage, says Mills. “Bumblebees and hummingbirds love to visit eastern red columbine, and it easily self-sows to create stunning colonies and more blooms for future seasons,” she says.

• Zones: 3 to 8
• Size: 12 to 36 inches tall x 12 inches wide
• Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-drained soil

Butterfly Weed

Native butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) boasts long-lasting clusters of small, flat-topped flowers, crowned with a yellow corona. It blooms from June through August and is a great addition to a butterfly garden. “Butterfly weed is an important nectar source for monarch butterflies, and its leaves provide essential food for developing monarch caterpillars,” says Mills.

• Zones: 3 to 8
• Size: 24 inches tall x 12 to 26 inches ide
• Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; average to dry soil

Common Yarrow

Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) produces flat-topped clusters of tiny white flowers with pale pink centers, says Phillips. It has a delicate and airy appearance that will add a whimsical charm to your garden. It has the ability to spread in ideal growing conditions and is drought-tolerant once established.

• Zones: 3 to 9
• Size: 2 to 3 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; dry, loamy to sandy soil

Whorled Milkweed

Whorled milkweed (Asclepias verticillata) forms clusters of white to greenish-white blooms that show off from May to September, says Phillips. This plant is a larval host to the monarch caterpillar and is an essential pollinator plant for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

• Zones: 3 to 9
• Size: 1 to 3 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; moist to dry well-drained soil

Purple Coneflower

Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) produces vibrant lavender or rosy-purple petals that droop slightly downward and bloom from May to September, says Phillips. Like most wildflowers, purple coneflower attracts butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects. It performs best with a minimum up six to eight hours of direct sun.

• Zones: 3 to 9
• Size: 2 to 5 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; tolerates most types of soil

Wildflowers of the West

These wildflowers are native to the western U.S.

Wild Blueflax

Wild blue flax (Linum lewisii) is a native wildflower with tall stems that give way to beautiful clusters of pale purple-to-blue flowers. “Blooming from late spring to mid-summer, this species supports a wide range of pollinators early in the growing season,” says Langer.

• Zones: 3 to 9
• Size: 36 inches tall x 30 inches wide
• Care requirements: Full sun; sandy soil

Farewell-to-Spring

An attractive wildflower with cup-shaped showy pink flowers, farewell-to-spring (Clarkia amoena) provides special value to native bee species, says Langer. This salt-tolerant species does well in seaside conditions and blooms through late summer.

• Zones: 2 to 11
• Size: 1 to 4 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wide
• Care requirements: Part shade; sandy soil

Western Columbine

Western columbine (Aquilegia Formosa) has striking red-and-yellow flowers that branch above this adaptable native wildflower. “Perfect to plant in dappled shade or poor soils, this plant is suitable for even the most difficult Pacific Northwest garden conditions, and is easy to grow from seed,” says Langer.

• Zones: 3 to 9
• Size: 36 inches tall x 18 inches wide
• Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; wide range of soil

Fireweed

Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium) is a beautiful addition to any garden or meadow. “Native fireweed presents towering spikes of bright magenta-pink flowers throughout the summer,” says Langer. It’s easy-to-grow and is an important food source for pollinators.

• Zones: 2 to 7
• Size: 3 to 5 feet tall x 1 to 3 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil

Russell Lupine

Russell lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus) is one of the tallest lupine species, producing a variety of attractive pillars of blooms in shades of pink, purple, yellow, red, or salmon, says Langer. Its height makes it perfect for planting in garden borders and cut gardens. It can be invasive in the Northeastern U.S., so plant with caution.

Zones: 4-8
Size: 5 feet tall x 2 to 3 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun to part shade; cool, moist soil

Rocky Mountain Blue Columbine

As the name implies, rocky mountain blue columbine (Aquilegia caerulea) is a perennial wildflower found throughout the Rocky Mountains, says Langer. “Columbine performs well in a variety of garden and landscape applications, blooming in summer with beautiful bi-colored white and blue flowers,” he says. “In climates prone to hotter summers, plant columbine in a location that is protected from the afternoon sun.”

• Zones: 3 to 8
• Size: 7 to 36 inches tall x 18 inches wide
• Care requirements: Partial shade; rich, well-drained soil

Wild Bergamot

Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) provides clusters of pink to lavender blossoms. “Its aromatic, minty-smelling leaves can also be used to make bee balm Tea,” says Langer. “This wildflower is known to attract a wide range of bees, butterflies, and even hummingbirds.” What’s more, this type of wildflower is highly deer-resistant.

• Zones: 3 to 8
• Size: 4 to 5 feet tall x 2 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; moist, well-drained soil

Prairie Coneflower

Prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) is a highly drought-tolerant perennial native wildflower. “Prairie coneflower produces hat-like blooms on long leafless stalks,” says Langer. “The flowers range from bright yellow to brownish-red and are a great source of nectar for butterflies and bees.”

• Zones: 3 to 9
• Size: 23 inches tall x 18 inches wide
• Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil

Rocky Mountain Bee Plant

Rocky Mountain bee plant (Cleome serrulata) is a very large, long-blooming native annual wildflower with attractive, showy blooms in a range of pink hues, says Langer. “Adding this lovely beneficial wildflower to your garden space can help support a wide range of native bees and butterflies,” he says. “Some find the odor of bee plant to be unpleasant—consider choosing planting sites away from patios or outdoor living spaces.”

• Zones: 3 to 8
• Size: Up to 4 feet tall x up to 4 feet wide
• Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil

Smooth Blue Aster

Smooth blue aster (Symphyotrichum laeve) blooms from late summer through fall and produces beautiful small pale lavender flowers with bright yellow centers. “It is an essential late-season food source for pollinators,” says Langer. “Its low-maintenance characteristics and naturalistic look make it a favorite in meadows and native wildflower gardens.”

• Zones: 4 to 8
• Size: 24 to 48 inches tall x 12 to 24 inches wide
• Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil