15 flowers that are easy to grow from seed (2023)

If you usually buy your flowers from the nursery, this year is a great time to switch things up and grow from seed! You'll save money, see your seedlings from start to finish, and have plenty of plants to fill your garden.

Growing from seeds doesn't have to be difficult. With some basic knowledge and a few tools to start with, anyone can successfully grow their own beautiful flowers to line their spring flower beds. In fact, sowing seeds and charting their growth is a great activity to do with kids and there are a number of different ways you can do it!

In this article, you'll learn what you need for a basic seed-starting setup, as well as some of the most important onesbeginner friendly flowers to grow from seed. So let's go! Your new flower garden starts now!

Flowers to direct seed

Sow the seeds of the following flowers straight into your outdoor garden beds! Many of them germinate better after a period of cold winter temperatures called "cold stratification." Keep in mind that all of these flowers can also be grown indoors, but their germination rates can be affected if you start indoors.

Sweet Williams

	botanical name Nelke Bearded
	plant type shrub
	sun requirements full sun
	hardiness zones 3-9
	where to plant Direct sow outside from November to February

Sweet Williams are a profusely flowering cottage garden favorite. These colorful little flowers reseed themselves. Plant them once and you'll likely have them in the garden for years! They will grow into a pretty fringed flower bed over time ranging from hot pink to soft blush.

Sweet Williams flowers bloom all summer and last for weeks when cut for the vase. If you prefer to grow them indoors, plant the seeds near a sunny window or under light 6-8 weeks before your last frost. With these flowers, which smell slightly of cloves, you can easily bring a lot of color into the garden!

sunflowers

	botanical name Helianthus annuus
	plant type Yearly
	sun requirements full sun
	hardiness zones 4-9
	where to plant Direct sowing after the last frost

Sunflowers are pollinators' favorites and produce delicious seeds! They come in a variety of interesting shades, flower shapes, and sizes. Classic 'Helianthus annuus' grows between 2 and 10 feet tall, depending on conditions.

cultivation of sunflowersIs simple. Kids love planting their big seeds and watching them take to the skies. Native to the United States, these beauties are tolerant of drought, game pressure, and poor soil.

They can be sown indoors and transplanted if you want earlier flowering. However, no-till gives better results as they have a long taproot that does not respond well to transplanting.

Malve

	botanical name Alcea Rosa
	plant type Biennale
	sun requirements full sun
	hardiness zones 3-9
	where to plant Direct sow in early spring 2 weeks before the last frost

Hollyhocks add dramatic vertical garden color. Each tall stalk can grow up to 10 feet tall, and her large, showy flowers open over a long period of time. Plant them near the house or along a fence to provide support.

Hollyhocks grow easilyand do not need attention once ripe. They are biennials, which means they focus on growing their roots, stems and leaves in the first year and flower in the second.

Once they bloom, you can harvest the seeds or have them sown yourself. They are re-seeded and will give you a gorgeous patch of constant blooms for years to come.

Lance-leaved Coreopsis

	botanical name Coreopsis lanceolata
	plant type shrub
	sun requirements full sun
	hardiness zones 3-9
	where to plant Direct sowing from November to February

This cheerful wildflower is native to parts of Canada and the United States. It requires cold stratification, so you can sow directly in November. Masses of flowers with ridged, pale yellow petals (sometimes with a maroon base) grow on an upright, attractive plant.

Coreopsis attracts beneficial insects to the garden that will eat unwanted pests. It is low maintenance and self-seeding, making it a snap to fill a garden bed or pot with lots of sunny garden color. Plant in full sun.

Blue wood aster

	botanical name Symphyotrichum cordifolium
	plant type shrub
	sun requirements Full sun to part shade
	hardiness zones 3-8
	where to plant Direct sowing from November to February

Blue wood aster grows into a 3 foot tall bushy shrub covered in small lavender star shaped flowers. It blooms in late summer or early fall, adding color when many of the other blooms begin to fade.

TheUS nativegrows well in partial shade and even tolerates dry conditions once established, making it a perfect choice for difficult garden sites.

It is abutterfly host plantand supports many specialized bees that can only feed on its nectar. It will spread, so plant it in a spot where you want a lavender streak!

Penstemon Digitalis

	botanical name Penstemon Digitalis
	plant type shrub
	sun requirements Full sun to part shade
	hardiness zones 3-8
	where to plant Direct sowing from November to February

Penstemon digitalis or foxglove beardtongue is the beautiful wild cousin of the garden foxglove. It has similar inflorescences with pretty tubular flowers that are loved by hummingbirds. Sow Penstemon digitalis in autumn to late winter and you will flower by early summer!

The snow-white flowers are tinged with pink. They are long-lived and look beautiful when planted en masse. Penstemon is tough. It will endure drought, clay soil and harsh sun. It can be evergreen in southern climates.

Bradbury Bee Balm

	botanical name Monarda Bradburiana
	plant type shrub
	sun requirements Full sun to part shade
	hardiness zones 5-8
	where to plant Direct sowing from November to February

This flower belongs to the mint family that spreads easily and forms pretty clumps of ivory to blush blooms. It is native to the eastern US but will grow anywhere with plenty of sun and medium to dry soil.

The fluffy, jagged flowers are unusual and sometimes speckled with purple. They contrast well with the dark green foliage of the plant. Some gardeners like to harvest it to make mint tea. Plant 'Bradbury's Bee Balm' in an informal area where it will have some room to spread out.

Black-eyed Susans

	botanical name Rudbeckia hirta
	plant type shrub
	sun requirements full sun
	hardiness zones 3-10
	where to plant Direct sowing 2 weeks before the last frost

Black-eyed Susansare a longtime favorite with golden yellow daisy-like flowers and deep brown centers. Some have an attractive burgundy red center bloom. The plants grow to about 3 feet tall and have lance-shaped, flaky leaves.

Rudbeckia hirta is another host plant for butterflies. Like many locals, he spreads out a bit when the conditions suit him. No-till in full sun in fall through late winter, and look forward to lots of cheerful golden blooms!

Shrubby St. John's Wort

	botanical name Fertile Hypericum
	plant type Biennale
	sun requirements Full sun to part shade
	hardiness zones 3-8
	where to plant Direct sowing from November to February

Did you know you can grow hardy shrubs from seed? Shrubby St. John's Wart is easy to grow, forming a 4 foot tall shrub studded with bright yellow flowers. Individual flowers are small, but they appear in such a proliferation that the bush in the garden has a visual impact.

The real stars are the distinctive, fluffy golden stamens that add interest to the flowers. St. John's wort likes full sun. Hares and deer avoid it, while it is an important source of nectar for many domestic beneficial insects.

Commonly used as a herbal remedy,Shrubby St. John's Wortmakes a nice and easy low hedge when several are planted in a row.

Hungarian bread seed poppy

	botanical name Papaver somniferum
	plant type Yearly
	sun requirements full sun
	hardiness zones 7-10
	where to plant Direct sowing from November to February

The delicate, papery flowers of the Hungarian breadseed poppy are stunning in the garden, especially when planted in large numbers. Outdoors, these hardy seeds can be strewn directly into the soil from November to February. They can even be thrown on the snow!

The large blue-green leaves look almost like the beginning of a head of lettuce when they begin to sprout. Soon, long stalks will produce large buds that open in white, lavender, or deep purple, with distinctive dark centers.

Best of all, breadseed poppies have beautiful ornamental seed pods that stand out in garden beds. They can be harvested to replant next year.

Nasturtium

	botanical name A bigger trophy
	plant type Yearly
	sun requirements Full sun to part shade
	hardiness zones 9-11
	where to plant Sow directly outdoors 1-2 weeks after the last frost

In my book, nasturtiums are a must-have for the garden, with their huge lily pads and colorful blooms. Nasturtium is not only easy to grow, but alsooffers benefitsas a companion plant. Nasturtium attracts beneficial insects and makes the calcium in your soil more accessible to other plants.

Thewhole plant is edibleand has a delicious peppery flavor that is popular in salads. To plant nasturtiums, sow the seeds directly into the garden (about ½ inch deep) about 2 weeks after your last frost.

They thrive on neglect, so once established, only water when the soil is dry. Soon you will have a rainbow of blooms!

‘Purple Sensation’ Allium

	botanical name Garlic Hollandaise
	plant type flowering perennial
	sun requirements Full sun to part shade
	hardiness zones 4-9
	where to plant Sow directly outdoors from November to December

'Purple Sensation' Allium is easy to grow from seed planted directly outdoors in autumn. In spring they shoot up and produce showy balls of over 50 deep purple flowers. They come back every year and produce lots of seed heads to propagate your plants for free!

Allium is beautiful and useful in the garden. They give off a mild onion odor (they belong to the onion family) that is imperceptible to humans but repels aphids and Japanese beetle larvae.

These whimsical plants are often grown from bulbs, but can be grown from seed just as easily. An easy way to add showy blooms to your garden beds!

Flowers to start indoors

Plant these seeds in seed trays or small pots with drainage. Keep them under grow lights or by a sunny window. To speed up germination, provide moisture by covering the pots with plastic wrap and uncovering when sprouts appear.

strawflower

	botanical name Xerochrysum bracteatum
	plant type Delicate perennial
	sun requirements full sun
	hardiness zones 8-10
	where to plant Plant indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost

If you love colorful, long-lasting blooms, everlasting flowers are a must. They look a bit like fluffy daisies, with stiff, papery petals that last forever.

Everlasting flowers come in a rainbow of colors, with warm reds, oranges, pinks and yellows being the most popular. They add a lot of interest and light color to the garden.

Everlasting flowers are easy to grow from seed. Plant them indoors 4-6 weeks before your last frost date and transplant directly into the garden after temperatures reach 70℉. They will bloom all summer through early fall and make great cut flowers!

China-Astern

	botanical name Kallistephus chinensis
	plant type Yearly
	sun requirements full sun
	hardiness zones 2-11
	where to plant Plant indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost

Chinese asters look amazing in itContainers with other flowers. They fill a large pot nicely and have sturdy 3-5 inch buds. Chinese asters don't need much water and will last about 10 days in a vase.

They came in many flower styles and colors, but I prefer the large pink peony flowers of 'Rose Quartz Mix'. Whatever color palette you prefer, there's a China Aster for you!

These grow easily from seed when planted in small pots indoors. Keep them evenly moist and transplant the seedlings when the threat of frost has passed.

„Cupcake Blush“-Kosmos

	botanical name Kosmos bipinnatus
	plant type Yearly
	sun requirements full sun
	hardiness zones 2-11
	where to plant Plant indoors 5-7 weeks before the last frost

Kosmosare a breeze to grow and offer a lot of aesthetic value for little effort. They have delicate, fern-like foliage and large flowers that soar above 2-foot-tall plants. Plant them indoors 5-7 weeks before your last frost and transplant them to the garden in early spring.

'Cupcakes Blush' is a unique variety with large, pale pink flowers and an inner ring of tufted petals that look like cupcake liners.

For a bushier, more productive plant, grow them about 8 inches tall and then pinch back the growing tips just below a set of leaves. Soon you will have more branches and more flowers!

Kosmosoften reseed in the garden, so watch out for their little sprouts next spring.