The 10 Easiest Flower Seeds to Grow for Beginner Gardeners

Flowers can brighten up any garden with their vibrant colors and lovely scents While some flowers may seem intimidating to grow from seed, there are many easy options even for beginner gardeners When starting out, it’s wise to begin with flowers that germinate quickly and grow vigorously.

Below are 10 of the easiest flower seeds to plant directly in your garden or start indoors. These beauties require minimal work yet deliver outstanding results.

1. Nasturtiums

Nasturtiums are one of the simplest annual flowers to grow from seed. They germinate quickly, within 7-12 days, and bloom heavily all summer long. Nasturtiums come in shades of red, orange, yellow, and cream. The edible flowers and leaves have a delightful peppery taste.

These fast-growing vines can be trained to climb or left to spill gracefully. Plant the large seeds 1 inch deep and 12 inches apart. Keep them consistently watered. Nasturtiums grow in full sun to part shade and in most soil types.

2. Sweet Alyssum

Sweet alyssum is beloved for its sweet, honey-like fragrance and carpet of tiny white flowers. This easy-care annual grows only 8 inches tall but spreads 12-18 inches wide.

Its rapid growth habit makes it perfect to fill gaps. Sweet alyssum thrives in full sun with moderate water. Sow seeds directly in the garden in spring after the last frost. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage more flowers.

3. Calendula

Also called pot marigold calendula produces an abundance of brightly colored blooms in shades of yellow, orange, and peach. These cheerful annuals are simple to start from seed either indoors or direct sown.

Calendula is drought tolerant and self-seeds readily. The edible flowers add color and flavor to salads. Give them full sun to light shade and sow new seeds every few weeks for continuous blooms.

4. Pansies

Pansies are a favorite cool weather annual to plant in early spring or fall. Their colorful, smiling faces add charm to containers and borders. Sow pansy seeds 10-12 weeks before your last frost date and transplant seedlings outside 4-6 weeks later.

Pansies need moist, nutrient-rich soil and do best in partial shade where summers are hot. Cut back spent blooms to encourage more flowers into fall.

5. Sunflowers

Few flowers capture summer’s essence like majestic sunflowers. Their towering stems and bright yellow petals never fail to impress. Many types of sunflowers are easy to direct sow after the last spring frost.

Give them full sun, rich soil, and consistent water. Most varieties grow 5-12 feet tall! For earlier blooms, start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before your final frost date.

6. Marigolds

Marigolds are hardy annuals that bloom vibrantly all season until frost. The bold flowers come in shades of yellow, orange, red, and white with single or double blooms.

Both French and African marigolds are easy to grow from seed and make great border or container plants. Sow them directly in the garden after danger of frost. Deadhead spent blooms to prolong flowering.

7. Petunias

A summertime favorite, petunias are available in a fantastical range of colors and patterns. Improved hybrids mean they are much easier to grow than grandparents’ finicky varieties. Both spreading and upright types work well.

Start petunia seeds indoors 10-12 weeks before your last frost since they take a bit longer to germinate. Move seedlings outside after hardening off. Give them full sun and fertile, well-drained soil.

8. Poppies

Poppies smack you with their vibrant colors and delicate tissue paper blooms. Many types happily reseed so you’ll enjoy their beauty year after year. Direct sow poppy seeds in your garden in fall or early spring.

Poppies thrive in poor, dry soil with full sun exposure. Protect young plants from heavy rains that can damage their foliage. Simple beauty with little fuss!

9. Zinnias

Few flowers can match zinnias for their explosive color and endless blooms. These hardy annuals thrive in hot, dry conditions. Zinnias grow quickly from seed and begin flowering within 8-10 weeks.

Direct sow after your last spring frost or get a head start indoors. Give them full sun and average soil. Cut zinnias frequently to encourage more blooms.

10. Cosmos

Cosmos brighten up any garden with their daisy-like blooms in lovely shades of pink, magenta, white and orange. Their fine, ferny foliage adds texture and interest. Cosmos grow rapidly from seed and tolerate most soils.

Direct sow cosmos seeds in spring after danger of frost. Give them full sun to part shade and keep soil moist. For earlier flowers, start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before your last frost date.

Growing Flower Seeds Has Many Benefits

When starting a flower garden, planting seeds offers many advantages over buying bedding plants from the nursery. You gain greater variety, it’s more economical, and you can be sure the plants are not harboring any diseases.

Growing flowers from seeds also allows you to delight in each stage of their development. You’ll gain a sense of pride watching your seedlings sprout and flower.

The flowers above represent some of the easiest varieties to plant. Focus on quick-growing annuals when first starting out. In no time at all, you’ll have the confidence to expand your repertoire.

Even if you’re an experienced gardener, keep these fast and fabulous bloomers in mind when planning your flower beds and containers next season. Their vivid colors and carefree growing habits will ensure success for gardeners at every level.