wildflower

American  

[wahyld-flou-er] / ˈwaɪldˌflaʊ ər /

Or wild flower

noun

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

2. the plant itself.

---

Etymology

Origin of wildflower

First recorded in 1790–1800; wild + flower

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

US singer Billie Eilish, whose "Wildflower" scored the Grammy for Song of the Year, said she felt grateful for the award.

From Barron's • Feb. 2, 2026

Billie Eilish, winning song of the year for Wildflower, added her voice.

From BBC • Feb. 2, 2026

Rule of thumb: Wildflower blooms are triggered by warming temperatures, so desert areas will see blooms earlier than higher elevations.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 2, 2025

In May, the region is flush with blooms, evidenced by the White Salmon Wildflower Festival.

From Seattle Times • May 10, 2023

No small piece has more admirers than this sweet and merry little "Wildflower."

From The Sculpture and Mural Decorations of the Exposition A Pictorial Survey of the Art of the Panama-Pacific international exposition by Perry, Stella George Stern