Years ago, after reading my first Floret book, I was so intimidated by starting flowers from seed. It seemed so tedious, difficult, and unpredictable. Now, I know that with practice, the process can be rewarding, fun, and even meditative. Growing from seed can be challenging, but with a little perseverance and experience, it gets easier each time.
Growing perennials from seed requires a bit more patience than you may be used to growing annuals. Germination may be slower, and many seeds require cold stratification, but it’s all worth it in the end. Perennial flowers provide beauty in your garden year after year.
If you’re new to starting flowers from seed, or you are creating your first perennial flower patch, keep reading! We’ll go through 15 perennials that are easy and fun to start from seed.
Seeds Featured In This Article:
Penstemon
‘Rocky Mountain Blue’ Penstemon Seeds
Yarrow
Colorado Blend Yarrow Seeds
Feverfew
Calendula
Scabiosa
Purple Coneflower
Purple Coneflower Echinacea Seeds
Anise Hyssop
Lavender
Bee Balm
Penstemon
Tubular penstemon flowers are a hummingbird favorite.
 | botanical name Penstemon spp. |
|---|---|
 | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
 | height 24-36 inches |
 | hardiness zones 9-11 |
Penstemon, also called Beard Tongue, is a drought-tolerant, US-native wildflower perfect for xeriscaping. The colorful tube-shaped flowers are beloved by hummingbirds.
This is an excellent flower for planting in large drifts, where its bright colors and large bloom spikes catch the eye. Penstemon comes in many different colors, but our favorite is blue. This rare garden hue is particularly beautiful when paired with other calming colors or when contrasted with oranges and yellows.
Penstemon seeds are easy to collect yourself from mature plants. They germinate best in cool soil and respond well to winter sowing. Incorporate penstemon into your pollinator garden, too, where it will be visited by a variety of bees.
Yarrow
This perennial yields long-lasting fern-like foliage and durable, daisy-like florets.
| | botanical name Achillea millefolium |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 2-3 feet |
| | hardiness zones 3-9 |
Yarrow comes in a wide range of colors. It is known for its ease of growing – even in poor soil conditions – and drought resistance once established. Along with these benefits, I can always count on my established patch of yarrow to be some of the first greenery sprouting up in the spring for early bouquets. They have a long vase life of up to two weeks and serve as a great bouquet filler with lots of fern-like foliage and tiny gerbera daisy-like florets.
Yarrow will self-seed and spread easily underground by rhizomes. Keep it under control by splitting clumps as needed every few years and replanting them in a new location.
Sow the tiny seeds into a strip tray, just barely sprinkling vermiculite over the top. Place the tray on a heat mat to speed up germination and water from below. Consistently harvest and deadhead to continue the blooms into the fall.
Bee Balm
Vibrant bee balm thrives in various soils and attracts pollinators.
| | botanical name Monarda didyma L. |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 1-4 feet |
| | hardiness zones 3-9 |
Bee balm is available in bold shades of pink, purple, and red in pure species form. There are also lots of fun hybrids. It has a long bloom time, multiplies easily, and tolerates most soil types as long as it’s well-draining. Pollinators love it!
Starting these from seed takes patience and requires cold stratification. If you’ve winter sown before, this is the perfect flower to try this method, as it can take a long time to germinate. Otherwise, start them indoors eight weeks before the last frost after a short period of cold stratification.
Some light is required, so don’t fully cover the seeds. Place them into moist soil and a sunny spot. Bottom water to keep from displacing seeds. They may take two to four weeks to germinate.
Feverfew
A dense daisy-like plant, feverfew attracts tiny beneficial insects with its medicinal scent.
| | botanical name Tanacetum parthenium L. |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 28-36 inches |
| | hardiness zones 5-9 |
Part of the aster family, this delightful little daisy grows densely on its stems. Nicknamed wild chamomile because of its resemblance to the popular flower, feverfew has a scent that’s a bit more medicinal and attracts the tiniest beneficial insects.
The longest stems and most abundant blooms open during the longest days of the season. For the best vase life, harvest them when they’re still partially closed. These are perfect for dried flower crafting in everlasting bouquets, wreaths, or crowns.
Feverfew seeds should be sown indoors 5-7 weeks before the last spring frost. Light is required for germination, so press them into the growing medium and bottom water to avoid displacement. If you have a protected area to grow them in, sow them in the fall and transplant them in pots relegated to a greenhouse to overwinter. Using this method, you may see stems up to four feet tall!
Calendula
This perennial can yield continuous vibrant blooms through regular deadheading.
| | botanical name Calendula officinalis |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 8-12 inches |
| | hardiness zones 2-11, hardy in 9-11 |
Calendula seeds are larger than many flower seeds, resembling tiny seahorses, and they’re easy to work with. While in some areas, it’s considered an annual, it’s a short-lived perennial in zones 9-11. Even in cold zones, calendula readily self-seeds. Here in zone 5b, it proves its worthiness year after year. Remove older plants as they peter out and new ones are established. The bi-colored ‘Oopsy Daisy’ is a great option with the classic gerbera-daisy shape and size.
When starting indoors, no heat is needed as calendula loves cooler temperatures. Sow seeds in containers or cell trays, just one per cell, 6-8 weeks before the last frost date. When they have two or more sets of true leaves, pinch them back to promote bushy plants. Transplant them before their taproot is substantial and before the heat of summer arrives. Deadhead all season long to get continuous fluorescent blooms and taller stems.
Calendula can be planted in mass for a bold statement, in cottage gardens, or alongside veggies to help with pollination. Petals are edible and can be used to brighten up a salad, dye fabrics, or used to make anti-inflammatory salves.
Foxglove
An attractive pollinator-friendly flower, foxglove is easy to grow from seed indoors or outdoors.
| | botanical name Digitalis |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 1-3 feet |
| | hardiness zones 4-9 |
Foxglove is one of the prettiest pollinator-attracting flowers and is a breeze to care for once established. Ranging from white and cream to bright pink and purple, they feature a Dalmatian spotted runway down the center of their downward-facing blooms to entice hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. And let me tell you, it’s effective!
While many species are biennial, some come back reliably year after year. These productive perennials are easy to start from seed indoors, directly sown, or following the outdoor winter sowing method. They germinate just fine in cool temperatures. They do need light, however, so don’t cover them with soil, but rather tamp them down into your growing medium and leave them be. Water from below.
If starting the seeds indoors, keep them protected, but not on heat about 8-10 weeks before the last possible frost in the spring. Sprouting should occur in two to three weeks, and they’ll be ready to step and transplant by late spring or early summer.
Keep them harvested or deadheaded for continuous blooms. Trimming them back may result in a second flush in late summer or early fall. Cut them all the way down before winter and mulch if winters are harsh. If they’re overcrowded in the spring, simply thin out new plants that popped up from scattered seeds.
Scabiosa
This flower, with its vibrant blooms and seed pods, enhances gardens and bouquets.
| | botanical name Lomelosia caucasica |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 2-3 feet |
| | hardiness zones 3-7 |
This whimsical “pincushion” flower adds a unique flair to cottage gardens, containers, or a colorful cutting garden. It flowers in the first year and last until the first frost. In addition to the fun, ruffly flowers, it forms seed pods that can be added to fall bouquets or saved for next year’s sowing.
Harvest the flowers when they’re about halfway open for the best vase life. Plants should survive for three years or more, so planting new seeds each spring will maintain their presence.
Sow scabiosa seeds at the same time you sow calendula, about 6-8 weeks before the last spring frost. Some light is required for germination, so sprinkle vermiculite over the top of them just to secure them in place and hold in moisture. They should germinate in about 10-12 days at 65-70°F (18-21°C). Water from below to keep them from becoming displaced.
Oriental Poppies
Caution is needed when transplanting oriental poppies due to their taproot.
| | botanical name Papaver orientale |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 1-3 feet |
| | hardiness zones 3-9 |
Native to Asia, oriental poppies make quite a statement when planted in mass in large, sloped fields or along paths. This is due to their striking colors and whimsical nature. They easily reseed, but if you want to start a new patch, any gardener can start them from seed.
Poppies don’t always transplant well due to their large taproot. If you choose to start seeds indoors or in a greenhouse, do so in peat pots to decrease the risk of transplant shock.
Poppies are a great option for winter sowing or sowing seeds in prepared garden beds in the fall. They’ll be naturally protected by garden debris, old leaves, and possibly snow. They break dormancy when spring arrives. Some growers have success with the winter sowing in milk jugs method. Just transplant seedlings before their taproot grows too large for best success.
Blue Grama Grass
This can be sown by broadcasting seeds with straw cover or mixed with sand.
| | botanical name Bouteloua gracilis |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 12-14 inches |
| | hardiness zones 5-9 |
Blue grama is one of the shortest ornamental grasses with a unique flowering phase. Its wispy blue-green leaves grow in bunches, typically in the heat and high elevations. These plants prefer dry climates. The brown seed pods form horizontally at the tops of the blades of grass, offering a funky, almost cartoon-like eyelash shape. They even look attractive after they go to seed, turning a bright tan color.
Some people use Blue Grama as an alternative to traditional grass in warmer climate areas. For a lawn alternative, broadcast the seeds and cover them with straw for protection. Some seed companies include this grass in wildflower mixes because it’s slow to spread and may not germinate at the same rate. However, if you want to plant clumps to accent colorful flowers in your garden, starting indoors from seed is best.
Sow seeds, sprinkle vermiculite over the top, and wait the 7-10 days it will take for them to germinate, keeping the soil moist from below. Once established, Blue Grama is drought-resistant and has very low maintenance overall. Keep weeds down and spot water as needed while establishing.
Rudbeckia Triloba
Cheerful Rudbeckia triloba grows wild or cultivated, perfect for bouquets or wild gardens.
| | botanical name Rudbeckia triloba |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height Up to 5 feet |
| | hardiness zones 3-9 |
It doesn’t get more cheerful than this dense, larger-than-life, miniature black-eyed-Susan perennial. Named for its three-leaved branches, it can be found growing wild but also can be cultivated and used as a bouquet filler or to accent a wild backyard garden along a border.
Seeds should be chilled before sowing for 30 days. They’ll germinate in about ten days on a heat mat, or you can direct sow them in the spring when the soil can be worked. Alternatively, winter sow these for a natural chill. Give them about two feet to spread out and weed the area regularly to keep the competition down while they establish.
After being harvested, newly opened flowers may look wilted but perk back up quickly when rehydrated.
Creeping Phlox
When scattered as seeds, this plant effortlessly blankets areas.
| | botanical name Phlox stolonifera |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 3 inches |
| | hardiness zones 3-9 |
This flowering ground cover comes in shades of white, pink, and purple, all more gorgeous than the next. Its lush, bright green foliage makes an attractive cover before and after bloom time. It will keep your ground safely covered through the winter months with no special attention needed.
Though it’s not typically recommended to scatter seeds out in the garden, you can do it with creeping phlox. After about two years, at full maturity, it will have crept its way through rocks and cracks and filled in nooks and crannies, blanketing over the area.
Creeping phlox will come back stronger every year and naturally suppresses weeds. It’s perfectly safe for kids and animals, but watch out because bunnies love it.
Purple Coneflower
To grow purple coneflowers successfully, sow seeds indoors prior to the final spring frost.
| | botanical name Echinacea purpurea |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 2-5 feet |
| | hardiness zones 3-10 |
This cartoon-like flower attracts lots of pollinating bees and adds a special shade of lilac to the garden. It complements tall ornamental grasses, bee balm, and other bright, cutting flowers well.
Sow seeds 8-10 weeks before your last spring frost and step them up into larger containers about five weeks later when they have true leaves. They’ll be ready to harden off in a few more weeks and should be transplanted in the early or late summer. Winter sowing or direct sowing, when spring temperatures are fluctuating, may stimulate germination.
Divide them in the future if they become crowded. Give them about two feet to spread out. Unlike some other echinacea species, these have easy-to-move roots rather than a large taproot.
Common Mallow
Start common mallow indoors in late winter or transplant it for potential first-year flowering.
| | botanical name Malva sylvestris |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 2-4 feet |
| | hardiness zones 4-8 |
Mallow is sure to start conversations with its bright pinkish-purple, heart-shaped petals, and dark, contrasting stripes. Add it to an existing cottage garden with something fun and unique, such as globe thistle, or alongside other types of mallow that range from white and light pink to striking magenta and violet.
This perennial isn’t picky about soil fertility, but it must be well-draining. It needs cold stratification, so some growers direct sow in the fall and let the seeds germinate right in their garden beds. If you do this, simply thin mallow as needed. Give them three to four feet in between so they can expand and receive ample sun and airflow.
Once you have an established patch of mallow, it should reseed itself and provide you with years of continuous blooms. If sowing seeds indoors to get a jumpstart on the year, start them in late winter or very early spring. If transplanted early enough, you may see blooms in the first year.
Anise Hyssop
Harvest anise hyssop before full pollination for optimal vase life.
| | botanical name Agastache foeniculum |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 2-4 feet |
| | hardiness zones 3-8 |
I added anise hyssop seedlings a few years back to my perennial cut flower patch, and they have been going steady with little maintenance. Germination occurs with access to light and grows well in cell trays until transplant. Only a little space is needed for a productive and high-yielding patch. Prune them back to the ground in late fall and optionally cover them with straw where winters are harsh.
Weed suppression and watering during dry spells are a must with anise hyssop. Pay more attention to them during their first year of becoming established. In subsequent years, rain may provide enough water. A layer of compost every few years will keep the soil well-draining.
Pollinators adore anise hyssop. It has many uses and looks incredible in bouquets. Harvest for bouquets or edible flower use before the purple flower has been fully pollinated and becomes fluffy for the best vase life and flavor. Use the leaves for a lovely tea or simple syrup. The lavender-colored flower and dark green and purple leaves will entice anyone around with their sweet and minty licorice aroma.
English Lavender
Starting lavender from seed requires patience due to a month-long germination process.
| | botanical name Lavandula angustifolia |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 2-3 feet |
| | hardiness zones 5-8 |
Some gardeners may try to scare you away from attempting to start lavender plants from seed, but hear me out. It may take a little more patience and time, but starting lavender from seed is not only possible, it’s less expensive and more rewarding!
Lavender isn’t as delicate as I used to think, contrary to how it may look. While seeds take up to a month to germinate and the plant takes even longer to bloom, it’s worth the wait. These seeds require a period of cold stratification, so if you have experience with winter sowing, lavender responds quite well to this method.
Alternatively, keep the seeds outside in a greenhouse or a cold basement for several weeks before sowing them and putting them on heat to germinate. Some growers swear the secret to high germination rates is to freeze them before thawing and sowing to simulate a realistic winter.
Our lavender plants are quite tolerant of recent fluctuating floods and drought years. They produce heavily all summer long and survive our Zone 5b winters. I cover my plants each fall with organic straw to protect the root system, and each summer, they come back strong and healthy.
Final Thoughts
If you were previously intimidated by starting perennials from seed, I hope you see just how fun, rewarding, and easy it can be. Like most things in gardening, trial and error is key, so don’t become discouraged if you don’t succeed on the first try. Happy seeding!
