A thriving wildflower meadow

Making a wildflower meadow requires a large field—something you’re not likely to have in a backyard garden. But familiar garden plants with wildflower roots can make a mixed planting in any sunny border or corner, with all the colour, scents and butterflies of meadow gardening. Try plants from this list of ornamental grasses and hybrid perennials, placing them in an informal arrangement wherever space is available, and you’ll have a bit of wildflower meadow from early summer to frost.

• 'Elijah Blue' blue fescue (Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue')
  Zone 4
• 'Grandiflora' coreopsis (Coreopsis verticilata 'Grandiflora')
  Zone 4
• 'Karl Foerster' feather reed grass (Calamagrostis xacutiflora 'Karl Foerster')
  Zone 4
• 'Karat' ox eye (Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra 'Karat')
  Zone 4
• 'Goldsturm' coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm'
  Zone 4
• 'Kim's Knee High' echinacea (Echinacea purpurea 'Kim's Knee High')
  Zone 4
• 'Kobold' blazing star (Liatris spicata 'Kobold')
  Zone 3
• 'Marshall's Delight' beebalm (Monarda 'Marshall's Delight')
  Zone 3
• 'Purple Dome' spiderwort (Tradescantia Andersoniana Group 'Purple Dome')
  Zone 3
• 'Sapphire Blue' sea holly (Eryngium 'Sapphire Blue')