Ready to make your garden beautiful with some Missouri wildflowers? As the Show Me State, we’re here to show you the best native blooms — like the crested iris and the false aster — whether you’re near the Lake of the Ozarks or beyond.
To make it easy for you to find the perfect fit, we’ve divided these blooms by color. This way, you can choose the Missouri native flowers that best match your landscape.
Purple wildflowers for Missouri
Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
The purple coneflower can range from pink to purple, with distinctive droopy petals surrounding a prominent brown central cone. It thrives in various soil types and can be found in open woodlands throughout most of Missouri. If you’re looking to build a pollinator garden, this wildflower is a great option, as it attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-8
Sun: Full sun, partial shade
Soil: Prefers a fertile, loam soil. It tolerates some gravel or clay.
Duration: Perennial
Fragrance: Light, sweet, honey-like
Bloom time: May – October
Water needs: Medium
Mature height: 2 to 5 feet
Potential hazards: None
Maintenance: Low. Remove spent flowers and cut back the stems.
Prairie blazing star (Liatris pycnostachya)
The prairie blazing star brings a unique touch to any garden with its densely packed, fluffy spikes of purple flowers that give it a distinct fuzzy appearance. This wildflower is commonly found across Missouri, especially in prairies and rocky, open ground. It also attracts pollinators.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 to 9
Sun: Full sun or partial shade
Soil: Moist clay, silt, or sandy soil that’s well-drained
Duration: Perennial
Fragrance: None
Bloom Time: July – October
Water Needs: Low, does not need additional watering once established
Mature Height: 1 to 5 feet, depending on species
Potential Hazards: N/A
Maintenance Needs: Low.
Purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea)
The purple prairie clover is a standout wildflower with rose-purple flower heads perched atop wiry stems. Beyond its beauty, this plant has a taproot that helps supply fertility to the soil. It is found all over the Show Me State, except in the lowland counties of the southeastern region, and it is a favorite among gardeners.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 to 8
Sun: Full sun
Soil: Dry to mesic soil
Duration: Perennial
Fragrance: No noticeable scent
Bloom time: May – September
Water needs: Low
Mature height: 1 to 3 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide
Potential hazards: N/A
Maintenance: Low
Blue wildflowers for Missouri
Crested iris (Iris cristata)
The crested iris is a low-growing plant that serves as an excellent ground cover for Missouri gardens, especially if you have a shaded area that needs a pop of color. It has delicate blooms that range from light purple to blue. In Missouri, you can find the crested iris along streams in lowland woods in the southeastern counties.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-10
Sun: Partial sun
Soil: Moist, well-drained soils
Duration: Perennial
Fragrance: No noticeable scent
Bloom time: April – May
Water needs: Low to moderate
Mature height: 5 to 10 inches
Potential hazards: Causes discomfort if ingested by humans. Toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Discover more dangerous plants in our guide: Most Poisonous Landscape Plants for Dogs.
Maintenance: Low. Remove dying foliage in fall.
Southern blue flag (Iris virginica)
The Southern blue flag is a wetland species that blooms with blue-violet flowers accented by a yellow blotch. This plant thrives in inland swamps, marshes, and floodplains, particularly in northern and central Missouri. If you’re planning to build a rain garden, the Southern blue flag is an ideal choice.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-9
Sun: Full sun, partial sun
Soil: Acidic, wet soils
Duration: Perennial
Fragrance: Light, sweet
Bloom time: May – June
Water needs: High
Mature height: 2 to 3 feet
Potential hazards: Causes discomfort if ingested by humans. Toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.
Maintenance: Low
Shining blue star (Amsonia illustris)
Also known as the Ozark bluestar, the shining blue star is a wetland species that thrives along the banks of streams and rivers in the southern half of Missouri, especially in the Ozark region. This plant features spikes of white-blue flowers and deep green willow-like leaves that turn a stunning gold in the fall.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-9
Sun: Full sun, partial shade
Soil: Moist, loamy, well-drained soils
Duration: Perennial
Fragrance: Sweet
Bloom time: April – May
Water needs: Moderate
Mature height: 2 to 3 feet
Potential hazards: The sap can be mildly irritating.
Maintenance: Low. Cut stems back after flowering to encourage new growth.
White wildflowers for Missouri
False aster (Boltonia asteroides)
The false aster is a charming wildflower with small, daisy-like flowers that appear in broad clusters. Its petals can be white, pink, or lilac, surrounding a bright yellow central disk (that might even remind you a bit of gooey butter cake). In Missouri, it can be found in stream edges and wetlands.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-10
Sun: Full sun
Soil: Prefers medium moisture, well-drained soils but tolerates a wide range, including wet soils.
Duration: Perennial
Fragrance: No noticeable scent
Bloom time: August to September
Water needs: Low to moderate
Mature height: 5 to 6 feet
Potential hazards: None known
Maintenance: Average. You can control the plant height to avoid flopping by cutting back stems in late spring to early summer.
White turtlehead (Chelone glabra)
The white turtlehead is a distinctive plant that features dense clusters of two-lipped white flowers that stand out with their unique shape. As the name suggests, these blooms resemble turtle heads emerging from their shells. This plant is more common in Southeast Missouri and the St. Louis area.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-8
Sun: Partial sun
Soil: Prefers organically rich, medium to wet soils
Duration: Perennial
Fragrance: Very subtle scent
Bloom time: August to October
Water needs: Average to high
Mature height: 2 to 3 feet
Potential hazards: None known
Maintenance: Low. Cut back at the end of the season.
Foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis)
Imagine yourself enjoying a plate of toasted ravioli outside with friends and family, surrounded by the beauty of the foxglove beardtongue in your garden. This plant features tubular flowers that range from white to pale pink atop rigid stems. It is found throughout Missouri, except for a few counties in the northwest.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-8
Sun: Full sun
Soil: Prefers fertile, well-drained loam, clay loam, or sandy soil
Duration: Perennial
Fragrance: No noticeable scent
Bloom time: April to June
Water needs: Low to moderate
Mature height: 3 to 5 feet
Potential hazards: None known
Maintenance: Low. Cut back in late autumn or early spring to promote growth.
Orange wildflowers for Missouri
Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Butterfly milkweed is undoubtedly one of the best perennials for Missouri landscapes in full sun. This vibrant plant contains clusters of orange flowers that bloom during summer, attracting monarch butterflies and other pollinators. In Missouri, it thrives in a variety of dry and rocky environments, open woods, glades, prairies, fields, and roadsides throughout the state.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-9
Sun: Full sun
Soil: Well-drained soils
Duration: Perennial
Fragrance: Sweet
Bloom time: June to August
Water needs: Low
Mature height: 1 to 2 feet
Potential hazards: Milkweed is poisonous. Do not eat it and avoid touching it.
Maintenance: Low
Michigan lily (Lilium michiganense)
Despite its name, the Michigan lily is native not only to Michigan but also to some parts of Missouri. This plant is one of the most different-looking among the species on our list, with its striking orange flowers that face downward, covered in purple speckles, resembling the skin of a tiger.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-8
Sun: Full sun, partial sun
Soil: Humus-rich, moist, and well-drained soils
Duration: Perennial
Fragrance: Subtle, sweet
Bloom time: June to July
Water needs: Moderate
Mature height: 2 to 5 feet
Potential hazards: Toxic to cats. Learn about more plants that are dangerous to cats in our guide: Common Indoor and Outdoor Plants Poisonous to Cats.
Maintenance: Low. Cut back leaves and stems after they turn yellow.
Spotted touch-me-not (Impatiens capensis)
The spotted touch-me-not is a tall plant with pendant gold-orange flowers adorned with red flecks (almost like unique handmade earrings). These blooms also serve as an important source of nectar for pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Widespread across Missouri, this plant is most commonly found near the banks of streams.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-11
Sun: Partial sun, shade
Soil: Humus-rich wet soils
Duration: Annual, but a prolific self-seeder
Fragrance: No noticeable scent
Bloom time: June to September
Water needs: Average to high
Mature height: 2 to 5 feet
Potential hazards: None known
Maintenance: Low
Yellow wildflowers for Missouri
Celandine poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum)
The celandine poppy is another Missouri native perennial wildflower that can be perfect for your garden. It features bright yellow flowers, and it is perfect for shaded gardens or planting along a shady path. The celandine poppy is most commonly found in central and southeast Missouri, but it is so popular that you might spot it statewide.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
Sun: Partial sun, shade
Soil: Medium to wet soils
Duration: Perennial
Fragrance: Sweet
Bloom time: April to June
Water needs: Moderate to high
Mature height: 1 to 2 feet
Potential hazards: Every part of this plant is poisonous.
Maintenance: High. Needs watering often or it will go dormant.
Missouri primrose (Oenothera macrocarpa)
The Missouri primrose, or glade lily, is an ephemeral beauty that graces your garden with large, fragrant, lemon-yellow flowers. These blooms open in the late afternoon for night pollination by moths and wither by the next day. This plant thrives in Missouri’s glades, bluffs, and rocky prairies, but it is cultivated statewide.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-7
Sun: Full sun
Soil: Prefer dry to medium, well-drained soils
Duration: Perennial
Fragrance: Citrus
Bloom time: May – August
Water needs: Low to moderate
Mature height: 6 inches to 1 foot
Potential hazards: None known
Maintenance: Low
Missouri black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia missouriensis)
Also known as the Missouri coneflower, the Missouri black-eyed Susan produces many yellow flowers with ray-like petals surrounding a dark brown cone. This wildflower is a magnet for pollinators. It is found throughout the Ozarks on limestone and dolomite glades and in rocky prairies.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-8
Sun: Full sun
Soil: Average, dry to medium, well-drained soils
Duration: Perennial
Fragrance: No noticeable scent
Bloom time: June – October
Water needs: Low to moderate
Mature height: 2 to 3 feet
Potential hazards: None known
Maintenance: Low
Red wildflowers for Missouri
Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
The cardinal flower is an excellent choice for a shade garden, thriving best in moderate shade. However, if you have rich, organic soil, this plant can also tolerate full sun. It blooms with striking red flower spikes in late summer. In Missouri, the cardinal flower is typically found in wet sites and is often seen along Ozark streams.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-9
Sun: Full sun, partial sun
Soil: Medium to wet, rich soils
Duration: Perennial
Fragrance: None
Bloom time: July to September
Water needs: High
Mature height: 2 to 4 feet
Potential hazards: Toxic to dogs, cats, and horses
Maintenance: Low. Deadhead to encourage rebloom.
Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
The columbine is a unique and eye-catching plant for both humans and hummingbirds. It has red tubular flowers with a touch of yellow. It can thrive in sun and shade, as long as the soil is average to moist. The columbine is grown statewide in Missouri, but it can mostly be found on limestone or dolomite ledges in the Ozarks and in moist woodlands.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 to 8
Sun: Full sun or partial shade
Soil: Clay, silt, or sandy soil that’s well-drained, moist, dry-ish
Duration: Perennial
Fragrance: N/A
Bloom Time: April to May
Water Needs: Weekly or whenever the soil is completely dry
Mature Height: 2 to 3 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide
Potential Hazards: Moderately flammable/risk of fire
Maintenance Needs: Low. Faded flowers need to be removed to promote additional bloom.
Royal catchfly (Silene regia)
The royal catchfly dazzles with clusters of 5-petaled red flowers that bloom in the summer. Its name comes from the sticky calyx on the flowers, which can trap small insects. This flower can be grown all over Missouri, although it is uncommon along the southern edge of the Unglaciated Plains.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-8
Sun: Full sun, partial sun
Soil: Moderately fertile, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils
Duration: Perennial
Fragrance: No noticeable scent
Bloom time: July to August
Water needs: Low
Mature height: 3 to 4 feet
Potential hazards: It is unknown whether this plant is toxic. Another species in the same genus (Silene acaulis) is, so be careful.
Maintenance: Low
FAQ about Missouri wildflowers
Why choose native wildflowers?
Native wildflowers are already adapted to the local climate and soil conditions, making them low-maintenance and reducing the need for chemicals. In addition, they have significant environmental value, as they are beneficial to pollinators and local wildlife.
What are the native spring flowers in Missouri?
Missouri has a variety of beautiful native spring flowers that add vibrant colors to the landscape. From the list we presented, the flowers that bloom in spring are:
- Purple coneflower
- Purple prairie clover
- Crested iris
- Southern blue flag
- Shining blue star
- Foxglove beardtongue
- Celandine poppy
- Columbine
Tip: Check out other Missouri plants in our article: Missouri Native Plants for Your Landscape.
What are Missouri’s planting zones?
Missouri is located in planting zones 5b to 8a, with the majority of the state falling into zone 6b. Generally, the farther north you go, the colder the plating zone (5b or 6a), and the farther south, the warmer the zone (7b or 8a). To learn more, check out our guide on the Planting Zones of Missouri.
Call a professional
If you’d rather spend your time enjoying a boat ride on the Lake of the Ozarks than planting wildflowers, consider calling a local professional. They have the expertise to care for your Missouri wildflowers, ensuring your garden thrives without all the effort on your part.
Main Image Credit: F. D. Richards | Flickr | CC BY-SA 2.0
