The Top 10 Best Perennials to Start From Seed

Starting perennials from seed can be very rewarding. Not only is it more economical than buying starter plants, but you get the satisfaction of nurturing your plants from seeds to maturity. While some perennials can be tricky to start from seed, many are quite easy if you follow a few simple guidelines. Here are 10 of the best perennials to get your seed-starting adventures going:

1. Penstemon

With their tubular flowers in shades of pink, purple, red, and blue, penstemons are popular perennials for backyard gardens. They are easy to start from seed indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost. Penstemon seeds need light to germinate so just press them into the soil surface and keep moist. Young plants can go in the garden after all danger of frost. Give them full sun and fertile, well-drained soil.

2. Echinacea (Coneflower)

Coneflowers are tough, drought-tolerant perennials that attract butterflies and make great cut flowers. Their large daisy-like blooms come in shades of purple, pink, white, orange, and yellow. Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost, covering them lightly with soil. Move young plants to the garden after the danger of frost has passed. Site them in full sun with average to poor soil.

3. Rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susan)

A garden staple, black-eyed Susans produce an abundance of cheerful daisy-like flowers from midsummer into fall. Direct sow seeds outdoors in spring or start indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost. Give seedlings full sun and moist, well-drained soil. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage reblooming.

4. Lavender

Known for its sweet fragrance and pretty purple flowers, lavender thrives in hot sunny spots with well-drained soil. Start seeds 10-12 weeks before your last spring frost, allowing 3-4 weeks for germination. Barely cover with soil and keep moist. Move seedlings outside after danger of frost. Clip flower spikes often to promote bushy, compact growth.

5. Coreopsis

Coreopsis offers big, showy daisy blooms that attract butterflies and make terrific cut flowers Sow seeds directly in the garden in spring or start indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost Give young plants full sun and average to poor soil. Pinch back tips to encourage branching and more flowers.

6. Gaillardia (Blanket Flower)

Heat and drought tolerant, blanket flowers produce colorful daisy-like blooms in shades of yellow, orange, red, and brown all summer long. Direct sow after the danger of frost has passed or start indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost. Site in full sun and light, sandy soil. Deadhead to extend flowering.

7. Dianthus (Pinks)

Charming, cottage garden favorites, dianthus produce colorful flowers in late spring and summer. Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost, covering lightly with soil. Move new plants to the garden after the danger of frost has passed. Give them full sun and well-drained soil. Remove spent blooms to encourage reblooming.

8. Nepeta (Catmint)

With its clouds of blue flowers and gray-green foliage, catmint makes an excellent border plant for sunny gardens. Sow seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost. Barely cover with soil and keep moist. Transplant to the garden after danger of frost. Cut back after initial flowering to promote reblooming later in the season.

9. Helenium (Sneezeweed)

Bold and beautiful, sneezeweed offers unique daisy-like blooms in shades of copper, orange, red and yellow from mid to late summer. Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost or direct sow in the garden after danger of frost has passed. Give this big plant plenty of space in fertile, consistently moist soil and full sun.

10. Achillea (Yarrow)

Tough as nails, yarrow thrives in hot, dry conditions where few other plants survive. Its lacy leaves and flat-topped clusters of flowers come in shades of white, pink, red, and yellow. Direct sow in spring or start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost. Plant in full sun and average to poor, well-drained soil.

With proper timing, care, and conditions, these 10 perennials can easily be started from seed. Just be sure to follow the seed packet directions for each variety. In no time at all, you’ll have lovely, thriving perennial gardens started from your own hand-sown seeds.

The “3-year rule” for perennials describes the typical growth pattern of these plants: Year one is for sleep (root development), year two is for creep (slow above-ground growth), and year three is for leap (full, robust growth).