10 very easy perennials to sow
our selection of foolproof plants!
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Sowing is a technique that allows you to obtain a large number of plants at a relatively low cost. It requires a bit more patience than propagation by cuttings or division, or buying plants directly in buckets… But what satisfaction to see the little seedlings appear after a few weeks (or months) of waiting! Sowing perennial flower seeds will enable you to create large flower beds for a budget much lower than purchasing plants in buckets. Annuals and biennials are often obtained by sowing, but you can also sow perennial plants. These have the advantage of staying in place for several years, which reduces maintenance and costs for the flower beds… Many perennial flowers can be obtained by sowing. Here, we present those that seem the easiest to us! However, if you want more options, discover all our perennial flower seeds.
In practice, you can harvest seeds from your plants after flowering, (discover our tips for making your own seeds!), or buy them directly. Then choose a pot or a seed tray, fill it with good potting soil, place the seeds, and cover them with a thin layer of substrate. Lightly press down and water gently. Then place the pot in a bright location and keep the substrate slightly moist until germination.
Aquilegias
Columbines offer delicate, colourful flowers that droop towards the ground between May and July. Their beautifully divided foliage is also appreciated. Despite their fragile and very light appearance, columbines are hardy and robust young plants that are easy to grow.
You can sow them in spring after placing the seeds in the refrigerator for two to three weeks, or you can sow them before winter, as the seeds require a cold period to germinate. Prepare a pot, sow the seeds, and then cover them very lightly with just a bit of soil: light encourages their germination. All you need to do then is wait and water occasionally. Columbines can take a year to start flowering. However, once established, they tend to self-seed naturally and can become naturalised!
Perennial flax
Perennial flax, Linum perenne, offers a very delicate and light summer flowering in soft blue, and bears small, very fine, evergreen leaves. It is low-maintenance and easy to grow.
Sow the seeds directly in the ground at the beginning of spring. We recommend choosing a sunny location on well-draining soil. Flax can thrive in difficult, poor soils, and it tolerates drought well. You can sow them in combination with other flowers for a wildflower effect! Flax does not live very long but tends to self-seed spontaneously.
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Gaura lindheimeri
Gaura is a short-lived perennial, appreciated for its very airy effect: it displays numerous tall stems, from which a multitude of white or pink flowers are suspended. It is easy to cultivate, requires little maintenance, and tolerates dry and poor soils well. Moreover, if you do not remove the faded flowers, it will tend to self-seed.
To plant it in your garden, you can sow the seeds in spring directly in the ground, or a little earlier under cover (at the end of winter).
The great daisy
The great daisy, Leucanthemum x superbum, is recognised by its large white and yellow heads… which resemble daisy flowers, but are much larger! It thrives in full sun, in well-drained, fertile soil.
Sow the seeds in late winter or early spring, under cover. Once established, the great daisy requires very little maintenance.
Hollyhocks
Hollyhocks, Alcea rosea, impress us with their tall upright stems bearing large flowers, often pink. They are perennial or biennial plants, flowering in summer.
You can sow them in summer, either in pots or directly in the ground. The seeds are quite large, making them relatively easy to handle and sow. For more details, you can read Michael’s article on sowing hollyhocks.
Gaillardes
Gaillardias impress with their very bright summer flowering, featuring warm colours! They thrive in full sun, in well-drained soil.
Sow them in spring in a seed tray or pot that you will place in a sheltered location. It is also possible to sow them directly in the ground as soon as there is no longer a risk of frost.
Rudbeckias
With their stunning yellow flowers, rudbeckias are perfect for brightening up summer borders. Their flowering is both intense and vibrant. They thrive in full sun.
We recommend sowing the seeds in spring, under cover. Very similar to rudbeckias, echinaceas are also easy to propagate by sowing.
Coreopsis
Coreopsis offer a long, bright summer flowering period. The flowers are often bright yellow, sometimes marked with dark red at the centre. They are robust and easy to grow. Ensure to plant them in well-draining soil (they do not like moisture), and if possible, in full sun. You can sow the seeds in late winter under cover, or after the last frosts, directly in the ground.
Lupins
Lupins are short-lived perennials, but they tend to self-seed. They are appreciated for their upright flower spikes, bearing flowers in soft shades of pink, white, and blue, as well as for their finely cut, highly decorative foliage. They do not like calcareous soils.
Sow the seeds directly in open ground. You will then need to wait a year before seeing them flower.
Lychnis coronaria
Garden lychnis offers a long flowering period, often in purplish-pink, which beautifully contrasts with its tomentose, silver-grey foliage. It tolerates drought well, as well as poor and challenging soils.
Sow in spring, under cover, or directly in the ground at the end of summer.
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