10 Best Flowers to Grow From Seed for a Vibrant, Budget-Friendly Garden
Growing the garden of your dreams can be expensive, especially if you’re planting plugs or gallon plants from your local nursery. A budget-friendly way to produce the same impact is by growing flowers from seed. Seed packets are typically sold at a lower price point than live plants, and many varieties grow during the season they were planted in. While you may have to wait longer for flowers grown from seed to reach maturity, especially when growing perennials, the cost is often worth the wait. Ahead, we’re sharing the best flowers to grow from seed, according to plant experts.
Sunflower
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Sunflowers are beloved for their cheerful blooms that come in various bright colors, from their iconic yellow to orange, pink, and burgundy. “Sunflowers grow very rapidly, producing the popular blooms just a couple months after planting,” says Damon Abdi, assistant professor of landscape horticulture at Louisiana State University. “Easy to grow from seed, sunflowers can provide a range of sizes and unique looks to the landscape in almost no time.”
- Zones: 4 to 8
- Size: 1 to 15 feet tall x 1 to 3 feet wide
- Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil
Morning Glory
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Morning glory (Ipomoea) is a vining plant that produces flowers in shades of pink, purple, blue, and lavender. “Morning glories offer a unique form and aesthetic flowers in the landscape,” says Abdi. “With its unique vining habit, growing from seed will allow the plant to find its footing naturally in the landscape.”
- Zones: 2 to 11
- Size: 10 feet tall x 6 feet wide
- Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-drained soil
Sweet Alyssum
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Sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima) has a mounding, spreading form that looks beautiful in the garden or in containers. “Use it as a ground cover to provide showy, low-growing flowers in the landscape,” says Abdi. Not only is sweet alyssum easy to grow from seed, but doing so allows it to embrace its own natural spreading form in the garden, he says.
- Zones: 5 to 9
- Size: 3 to 10 inches tall x 2 to 4 inches wide
- Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-drained soil
Luna Hibiscus
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Luna hibiscus (Hibiscus ‘Luna’) is a bushy plant with large, saucer-like flowers that stand out in the garden. “Flower colors are often seen in reds, whites, pinks, and at times, a swirl of a couple colors,” says Abdi. “Luna hibiscus is easy to grow from seed, rapidly growing and flowering in just a few weeks.”
- Zones: 5 to 9
- Size: 2 to 3 feet tall x 2 feet wide
- Care requirements: Full sun; tolerates a range of soil conditions
Zinnia
Zinnias (Zinnia spp.) add elegance to any garden. “Their bold, daisy-like blooms in a variety of colors offer a dazzling display that will continue to bloom all summer long,” says Patti Stefanick, propagator and grower at Longwood Gardens. “Zinnias grow quickly and bloom within weeks, making them ideal for direct sowing.”
- Zones: 2 to 11
- Size: 3 to 3 feet tall x 2 to 3 feet wide
- Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil
Petunia
Whether in hanging baskets or flower beds, velvety petunia’s (Petunia spp.) trumpet-shaped blooms drape gracefully in waves of season-long color. “Once established, petunias are very resilient summer bloomers,” says Stefanick. “The ‘Wave’ series was developed to spread in the landscape. These low-growing plants can sprawl up to 2 feet across.”
- Zones: 2 to 11
- Size: Varies depending on variety
- Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil
Cosmos
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Cosmos (Cosmos) have feathery foliage and daisy-like blooms in shades of pink, white, and magenta. “Cosmo seeds germinate quickly and easily, tolerate a variety of soil conditions, and flourish with minimal care,” says Stefanick. “Plant in the back of a flower garden bed for added height. Cosmos also make great cut flowers.”
- Zones: 2 to 11
- Size: 3 to 4 feet tall x 2 to 3 feet wide
- Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil
Nasturtium
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Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) is a hero in the garden, adding vibrant color and repelling harmful insects. “Nasturtiums bring a playful touch of sophistication to garden beds with their bright, jewel-toned blooms in hues of yellow, red, and orange,” says Stefanick. “Their trailing vines that continuously produce flowers add a touch of effortless beauty. Nasturtium seeds germinate easily with minimal care.”
- Zones: 2 to 11
- Size: 12 to 18 inches tall x 12 to 18 inches wide
- Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-drained soil
Marigold
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Similar to nasturtium, French marigolds (Tagetes patula) are a pest-repelling plant that grows in vibrant shades. “French marigolds are beloved for their bright and varied colors, ranging from yellow to orange to burgundy,” says Sarah Smith, grower at Longwood Gardens. “French marigolds are ideal for borders and containers with their shorter heights. Easy to sow from seed, these will bloom from summer through autumn.”
- Zones: 2 to 11
- Size: 6 to 12 inches tall x 6 to 12 inches wide
- Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil
Rudbeckia Hirta ‘Cherry Brandy’
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A variety of black-eyed Susans, Rudbeckia hirta ‘Cherry Brandy’ showcases velvety, deep red petals with a dark maroon center. “Its sunflower-like form and warm hues make for a captivating statement in the garden or as a cut flower,” says Megan McGlinchey, propagator and grower at Longwood Gardens. “It reliably self-seeds each year, easily germinates, and is incredibly hearty. Start indoors about six to eight weeks before planting outside.”
- Zones: 2 to 11
- Size: 1 to 2 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wide
- Care requirements: Full sun; moist, clay, loam, and sandy soil
