You can find wildflowers just about anywhere! Look for wildflowers at your local park, in your backyard, in fields and forests, and along roadsides. Not only are they nice to look at, but can be food for wildlife, including pollinators.

Learn more in the Conservationist for Kids pollinator issue (PDF). Wildlife may eat the leaves, flowers, seeds or stems.

Below are some species of native wildflowers:

• butterfly weed–orange flowers, found in dry fields throughout summer
• wild blue lupine–blue/purple flowers, found in dry, sandy areas from late spring to summer
• selfheal–light purple flowers, found on lawns, fields, and roadsides from late spring to fall
• black-eyed susan–yellow/orange flowers, look in dry to moist open areas from summer to fall
• jack in the pulpit–green and purple striped hood, grows in moist woods from spring to early summer

Want to know more about a certain species? Look up specific wildflowers on the New York Flora Atlas website.

Try planting wildflowers in your backyard. Choose native species (PDF) whenever possible. Short on extra space? Use a container.

Photo of wild blue lupine by Marcelo del Puerto.