The perennial flowers grow slowly and concentrate on building extensive root systems that will sustain them in the coming years. Underneath the weeds are numerous small flower seedlings that are evident to the experienced wildflower gardener, but not to the average citizen. For the distressed individual who recognizes only weeds, it appears to be an unmitigated disaster. Understanding the behavior of the plants in a seed mix is instrumental in developing one's expectations of its performance. There is some disagreement on the definition of native plants among botanists and ecologists.
Most plants are native to a certain region, usually encompassing many states.
They focus first on developing strong root systems. Blooming comes later, after the plant is well-established. It is not uncommon for such native perennials as purple coneflower, butterflyweed, and blazingstar to require three years to flower. This may seem like a long time to wait, but once established they will return year after year. Although there may be no record of a plant's occurrence in a certain region, that does not mean that it cannot grow and thrive there.