First performed by the Canadian band Skylark, it has been covered by many artists and more recently has been sampled in a number of hip hop songs.

Edwards composed "Wildflower" after reading a poem by Richardson; the song was included on the band's demo tape.

Barry De Vorzon, by 1972 an established music business name, heard the demo tape and was convinced that the song would be a big hit.

After the demo was rejected by several studios, an executive at Capitol Records signed the band and the song—with Donny Gerrard doing the vocal—was included on their eponymous first album.

[4] Total sales of the single exceeded one million copies, and it was included on their second album as well, at the request of Capitol Records executives who sought to capitalize on the song's success.