wildflower

American  

[wahyld-flau-er] / ˈwaɪldˌflaʊ ər /

Or wild flower

noun

• wildflowers
  plural

1. the flower of a plant that normally grows in fields, forests, etc., without deliberate cultivation.

2. the plant itself.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• wildflowers
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of wildflower

First recorded in 1790–1800; wild + flower

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Explanation

Blossoming plants that flourish without anyone having deliberately planted them are wildflowers. The tiny daisies, spiky blue lupine, and yellow California poppies you see along the side of the highway are all wildflowers. The thing wildflowers have in common is that they're flowering plants which grow wild, spreading freely in open fields, meadows, forests, or dunes. While many wildflowers are native plants that have thrived in a particular region over generations, some are cultivated plants which spread from people's yards and gardens into wild areas. The next time you see little purple asters along a hiking trail, or clumps of seaside goldenrod near the beach, you'll know you're looking at wildflowers.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

wildflower wildflowers

It gives money to farmers who have turned parts of their land over to schemes such as planting hedges, creating wildflower margins and protecting the soil.

From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026

Within 10-15 years, the former arable field had developed into a species-rich wildflower meadow.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 23, 2026

Research led by Professor Carl Sayer at UCL Geography has found that abandoned farmland can recover naturally and develop into a diverse wildflower meadow, raising questions about some conventional methods used in habitat restoration.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 23, 2026

The trust said investments had been made to "boost the diversity" of nature and wildlife in the area and that it had planted new wildflower hay meadows across the site to create homes for wildlife.

From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026

The Gap appears almost gentle, carpeted with trees, rolling hills, and the occasional gold burst of a wildflower meadow.

From "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir

These favorable conditions allowed seeds that had remained inactive in the dry soil to germinate, producing an extraordinary variety of wildflowers across the landscape.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026

His environmental projects include turning over some land to wildflowers to support nature, including birds and insects.

From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026

Bumblebees are not just one of the best-loved sights of the British summer, they are also vital pollinators, helping sustain wildflowers and some of the crops we rely on.

From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026

This hike through Yosemite National Park features meadows, wildflowers and epic views.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026

While we fill the buckets, Ann walks to where some wildflowers are growing and picks a small bouquet of yellow, purple, and white.

From "Blood on the River" by Elisa Carbone

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