Filling your garden with color doesn’t have to mean spending a fortune at the nursery. Many beautiful, long-blooming flowers are easy to grow straight from seed. With just a little prep and the right timing, you can grow a lush garden from scratch.
These ten flowers are beginner-friendly, low-maintenance, and many will return year after year by self-seeding.
1. Columbine (Aquilegia spp.)
Type: Perennial
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Bloom Time: April to May
Notes: Cold stratification needed; sow in fall or winter. Great for woodland or cottage-style gardens. Attracts pollinators.
2. Pansy (Viola spp.)
Type: Annual or short-lived perennial
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Bloom Time: April to October
Notes: Prefers cooler temps. Sow in early spring or fall. Wide variety of cultivars and colors.
3. Lupine (Lupinus spp.)
Type: Perennial
Sun: Full sun
Bloom Time: May to July
Notes: Soak seeds before planting. Blooms usually appear in the second year. Improves soil by fixing nitrogen.
4. Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus)
Type: Annual
Sun: Full sun
Bloom Time: May to September
Notes: Fragrant flowers, great for cutting. Soak seeds before sowing. Prefers cooler summers and regular picking to prolong bloom.
5. Poppy (Papaver spp.)
Type: Annual or perennial
Sun: Full sun
Bloom Time: June to August
Notes: Direct sow in early spring. Scatter seeds on the surface—light helps with germination. Will naturalize over time.
6. Coneflower (Echinacea spp.)
Type: Perennial
Sun: Full sun to light shade
Bloom Time: June to August
Notes: Drought-tolerant and supports pollinators. Choose native species or hardy cultivars for best results.
7. Moss Rose (Portulaca grandiflora)
Type: Annual
Sun: Full sun
Bloom Time: June to frost
Notes: Succulent ground cover. Needs well-draining soil. Flowers open during the day and close at night.
8. Zinnia (Zinnia elegans)
Type: Annual
Sun: Full sun
Bloom Time: June to frost
Notes: Very easy to grow and heat-tolerant. Great cut flower. Available in a wide variety of forms and colors.
9. Morning Glory (Ipomoea spp.)
Type: Annual
Sun: Full sun
Bloom Time: June to October
Notes: Fast-growing vine. Soak seeds before sowing. Self-seeds readily—can become invasive if not monitored.
10. Common Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
Type: Annual
Sun: Full sun
Bloom Time: July to August
Notes: Iconic tall flower. Direct sow after last frost. Produces seeds that attract birds and can be saved for replanting.
Quick Tips for Direct Sowing:
- Prepare a sunny site and enrich soil with compost.
- Follow seed packet instructions for depth and spacing.
- Water consistently during germination.
- Deadhead to encourage more blooms and save seeds for next year.
Why Grow Flowers from Seed?
- More affordable than buying starts
- Greater variety of plants
- Many will reseed and return each year
- Satisfying and fun to grow your garden from scratch
