What is a wildflower? Depending on who you ask, you will get a different answer.

If you ask a farmer who battles these flowering plants while trying to produce an agricultural crop, he or she will quickly tell you that it is a bothersome weed. Ask a rancher who is trying to improve the habitat and provide food sources for wildlife, and the response is that these flowering annual and perennial wildflowers called forbs are excellent components that improve plant diversity and the overall health of the habitat. But, if you ask a gardener, you will quickly hear of the beautiful wildflowers in the garden.

Many wildflowers are regarded as weeds, and the biggest factor that determines this is the person’s perception of the plant’s value and where the plant is growing. A weed is simply a plant growing where it is not wanted. On the other hand, a wildflower is a weed that is growing where you want it. Fall is the best time to plant wildflower seeds.

Did you know that there are more than five thousand species of wildflowers native to Texas? We await with eagerness the emergence of our native Bluebonnets (Lupinus spp.). When fields bloom in hues of blue, Spring is heralded in. There are five species of Bluebonnets native to Texas and all are regarded as the state flower. To encourage germination the first year, scarify or scratch some of the seed. On small quantities of seed, use a knife to nick the seed coat or with larger quantities, rub the seeds with sandpaper. Another technique is to freeze the seeds overnight. Remove from freezer and pour boiling water over the seeds. Let the boiling water cool to room temperature. Once cooled, the seeds are ready to plant.

Here are a few more tips on growing wildflowers:

• The key to successful wildflower planting is to ensure good seed to soil contact. In turf areas, mow grass as low as possible without damaging the turf grass. Remove thatch and clippings and sow the seed.

• Small seeds are planted at the soil surface. If you bury the seed too deeply, the seed will expend its food reserves trying to get to the soil surface, and will most likely die in the process.

• Water initially at sowing to encourage good germination. Don’t allow seeded areas to completely dry out. Supplemental watering may be needed.

• Sun-loving wildflowers need at least six to eight hours of sunlight.

• Wildflowers do not typically need added fertilizer. You can add a slow-release fertilizer at planting, but fertilizer is not something that is needed after germination.