Planting Wildflowers in Georgia: Site Preparation, Seed Selection, and Maintenance

Planting Wildflowers in Georgia: Site Preparation, Seed Selection, and Maintenance

Wildflowers on Georgia highways (GA 400, GA 316) inspire home gardeners, but Will Corley (Griffin Experiment Station) warns they are not carefree. Weeds must be removed before planting and managed throughout summer. Beds are stunning at peak but ragged at other times.

Establishment Steps

1. Spray glyphosate to kill all vegetation in the bed.
2. Four days later, water thoroughly to sprout remaining weed seeds.
3. Spray again, wait seven more days, then sow wildflower seed.

Seed Selection

Buy mixes labeled for the South—plants adapted to heat and humidity. Typical mixes include cosmos, cornflower, Shirley poppy, butterfly weed, coreopsis. Add perennials like daylily, daffodil, Black-eyed Susan, Queen Anne's Lace for extended bloom.

Long-Term Maintenance

Annuals may self-sow, but plan to reseed every fall for maximum spring beauty.

Georgia's "Southeastern Blend"

Developed by Will Corley at UGA Griffin, this blend thrives in hot, dry summers. The Garden Club of Georgia works with GDOT to purchase seed for highway medians, funded by wildflower license plates.

MORE INFORMATION:

• Wildflower Planting and Maintenance for Georgia (some info may be outdated)
• Wildflowers for Georgia DOT (broken link)
• Wildflowers for Mississippi (similar to Georgia)
• National distributors: Stock Seed and Wildseed Farms