Five wildflower species occupy less than 1,000 cm2 in this photo taken on the eastern slope foothills of the Canadian Rocky Mountains in late July. Pink: Alberta wild rose; white: Western yarrow; blue: Bluebells showing both pink (immature) and blue (mature) stages; yellow:Arnica cordifolia (heart-leaved arnica); and red: Red paintbrushWildflowers of Western AustraliaWildflowers are blooming in April in a field in central Texas nearLake Grapevine.Wildflowers inDeath Valley National Park
Awildflower (orwild flower) is aflower that grows in the wild, rather than being intentionally seeded or planted. The term implies that the plant is neither ahybrid nor a selectedcultivar that is any different from thenative plant, even if it is growing where it would not naturally be found. The term can refer to the whole plant, even when not in bloom, and not just the flower.[1]
"Wildflower" is an imprecise term. More exact terms include:
native species naturally occurring in the area (seeflora)
invasive species that out-compete other plants, whether native or not
imported (introduced to an area whether deliberately or accidentally)
naturalized (imported, but come to be considered by the public as native)
In the United Kingdom, the organizationPlantlife International instituted the "County Flowers scheme" in 2002; seeCounty flowers of the United Kingdom for which members of the public nominated and voted for a wildflower emblem for theircounty. The aim was to spread awareness of the heritage of native species and about the need for conservation, as some of these species are endangered. For example,Somerset has adopted thecheddar pink (Dianthus gratianopolitanus),London therosebay willowherb (Chamerion angustifolium) andDenbighshire/Sir Ddinbych inWales the rare limestone woundwort (Stachys alpina).
^Wild flowers can be found in deserts, forests,meadows, and fields."wildflower". RetrievedDecember 5, 2014.Wildflower, noun. Any flowering plant that grows without intentional human aid.
^Pauline Pears (2005),HDRA encyclopedia of organic gardening, Dorling Kindersley,ISBN978-1-4053-0891-5
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