The Best Perennials to Start from Seed

Starting perennials from seed is a great way to inexpensively grow beautiful flowers, herbs, and other plants in your garden. Many perennials are easy to grow from seed if you follow some simple guidelines. Here are some of the best perennials to try growing from seed.

Delphinium

Delphinium, also known as larkspur, produces tall spires of gorgeous blue, purple, pink, or white flowers. Sow delphinium seeds indoors 5-10 weeks before the last frost. Barely cover the seeds with soil and keep them moist. Transplant seedlings outside after all danger of frost has passed. Space plants 1-3 feet apart in full sun or partial shade. Delphinium appreciates rich, loose soil and regular watering.

Butterfly Weed

Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) is a native wildflower with bright orange blooms that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Its long taproot makes it hard to transplant so sow seeds directly in the garden in spring after the last frost. Butterfly weed thrives in full sun and sandy well-drained soil. It tolerates heat and drought once established.

Blanket Flower

Blanket flower (Gaillardia) blossoms all summer long in fiery shades of red, orange, and yellow. Its daisy-like flowers stand out beautifully in bouquets. For early blooms, start Gaillardia seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your frost date. In warm climates, sow them directly in the garden after the last spring frost. Blanket flowers grow best in full sun and light, sandy soil.

Yarrow

Yarrow (Achillea) is an easy-care perennial grown for its lacy, aromatic foliage and flat-topped clusters of flowers. Its tiny seeds germinate readily when started indoors or sown directly outside. For fuller plants the first season, get a head start by sowing indoors 8-10 weeks before your last expected frost. Space yarrow plants 12-18 inches apart in full sun and average, well-drained soil.

Perennial Salvia

Perennial salvia produces spires of colorful flowers in shades of blue, purple, red, pink, and white. Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before your frost date. Transplant outdoors after danger of frost, spacing plants 1-2 feet apart. Perennial salvia thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. Give it afternoon shade in hot climates. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage continuous flowering.

Catchfly

Catchfly (Silene spp) is an old-fashioned cottage garden flower with frilly, poppy-like blooms Sow seeds directly in the garden in spring or fall. Catchfly germinates readily and blooms the first year. Space plants 8-12 inches apart in full sun or light shade. Catchfly appreciates well-drained, slightly alkaline soil. Cut back spent flowers to encourage reblooming.

Rose Campion

Rose campion (Lychnis coronaria) produces velvety silver leaves and magenta-rose flowers Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your frost date for earlier blooms. You can also sow them directly outside in spring Give rose campion full sun to partial shade and fertile, well-drained soil. Blooms attract pollinators to the garden all summer long.

Tickseed

Tickseed (Coreopsis) blooms abundantly in shades of yellow, orange, and red all summer and fall. Its daisy-like flowers stand up well in bouquets. For early blooms, start tickseed seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost date, or sow them directly outside after the danger of frost has passed. Space plants 12 inches apart in full sun. Tickseed tolerates heat, humidity, poor soil, and light frost.

Starting perennials from seed does take some patience, but it allows you to grow lots of gorgeous plants affordably. Try sowing some of these easy-to-grow beauties this spring!