The window is open to plant wildflowers

This is the last window before spring to plant annual wildflowers from seed or plants. Thus far, the fall has been temperate and soils are still warm. Potential for seedling growth is still good. If you miss this planting window, the next opportunity is February and March.

Many people are not familiar with the exquisite beauty of our native wildflowers and how easy they are to grow. They naturally germinate in the fall with the first rains, grow slowly over the winter and then bloom in the spring, benefiting from cool conditions. Some species bloom in early February, like baby blue-eyes (Nemophila), while others bloom in April and May, such as the Desert Bluebells (Phacelia) and farewell-to-spring (Clarkia).

After blooming and setting seed, as the weather warms and soil dries, plants die. You can collect seed for fall planting, or if conditions are right, plants will seed themselves in your garden.

A number of brilliantly hued and exquisitely delicate wildflowers make good garden subjects. In this column, I will focus on two species: the bluebells (Phacelia) and farewell-to-springs (Clarkia).

If you like blue flowers, the robust tansy-leaved Phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia) is grown worldwide for bee-fodder. It grows to 3 feet and makes a great cut flower. An easier plant for small gardens is Phacelia grandiflora. It closely resembles Phacelia tanacetifolia, except plants are 18 inches tall and have upward facing large violet-blue flowers. Both are fragrant.

The two most brilliantly colored species are the sticky phacelia (Phacelia viscida) and the desert bluebell (Phacelia campanularia). Both are a brilliant, saturated royal blue. The flowers are upward facing and about 1-inch wide. The sticky Phacelia is about 2 feet tall and wide and is well branched. It tolerates some shade.

The desert bluebell, contrary to its name, prefers to grow in fertile soils with regular water. It grows to about 14 inches tall in a broad plant with attractive burgundy edged foliage. The blues combine beautifully with California poppies of every color.

Farewell-to-springs are the last wildflower to flower, usually in May, and are some of the longest blooming. All are drought tolerant. A number of exquisite species perform beautifully in gardens. Occurring on roadside banks, the bright pink, startlingly beautiful staghorn clarkias (Clarkia concinna) billow like carefully styled butterflies. Their unique form and bright color are an incongruous sight on roadsides next to Wohler Bridge in Healdsburg.

Another clarkia that is a celebration of the superlative is Clarkia bottae. It has translucent pink poppy-like petals. Both of these clarkias form small, dense bushes to about one-foot tall and about 18 inches wide. They should be placed so they can be easily admired.

Another amazingly beautiful clarkia is the ruby chalice clarkia (Clarkia rubicunda). It is a slightly taller plant, to 2 feet and more upright. Their blooms also are poppy-like but held on longer stems. They are deep pink with deep magenta petal bases and ruby colored stems.

Elegant clarkia (Clarkia unguiculata) is the tallest of the clarkias, to about 3 feet. Its pink, magenta or peach blooms flutter on strong stems and are striking massed. They make long-lasting cut flowers.

All of these wildflowers are easily grown by seed sown in a bright greenhouse or broadcast in weed-free conditions. All need regular water or rain to germinate and grow. Plants from broadcast seed will not need additional water if rains are regular. All benefit from compost.

Plants can sometimes be found at well-stocked area nurseries, or from Annie’s Annuals nursery in Richmond-San Pablo (anniesannuals.com). The website is an excellent resource for information. Larner seeds in Bolinas, and LeBallister’s seeds in Santa Rosa also have a good selection of wildflowers.

The most opulent of all is not a wildflower, but another amazingly beautiful cool season annual flower to plant now: the breadseed or peony poppy (Papaver hybridum). Unless you live on the coast, this is the last window to plant as it does not grow well from a spring planting. Plants are available now from Harmony Farm Supply and a number of nurseries.

An upright 3 feet tall, this poppy has gorgeous frilled, striking, blue-green leaves. The huge stain-like flowers come in single, semi-double and fully double forms. Some have fancy fringed petals. Blooms are pink, crimson, burgundy and grape, solid or bicolored crimson. Each bloom is a study in perfection. They won’t disappoint.

Kate Frey’s column appears every other week in Sonoma Home. Contact her at katebfrey@gmail.com, freygardens.com or on Twitter @katebfrey.