Last updated on April 15th, 2020
16 Flowers to Winter Sow. Happy almost-Martin Luther King Day, everyone! Just now my Hudson Valley region looks like Narnia. We’ve got snow, blowing snow, and wind-chill temperatures in the dangerous digits. Can you blame me for wanting to write about summer flowers? Here are 16 colorful subjects I’ve successfully winter-sown:
If you’d like to winter-sow a bevy of blooming plants in January and February, be sure to choose perennial and hardy annual types. Wait until late winter or early spring to plant tender annuals. And for heaven’s sake, be sure to read these four articles that unlock the mysteries of winter-sowing:
Winter-Sowing 101: The Basics
How to Turn a Milk Jug into a Greenhouse
What to Winter-Sow…and When
How to Transplant Winter-Sown Seedlings
16 Flowers to Winter-Sow
Baptisia. I love the indigo blue flowers of this common perennial. I have it in two boxwood-edged beds that flank my Woodland Garden.
Foxglove. (Please forgive the ghastly photo — I snapped it on a windy day.) This Digitalis purpurea is neither perennial nor annual. It’s biennial! In other words, the plant produces foliage the first year, and blooms the next.
Hollyhock. Another biennial, and one that belongs in every cottage-type garden. The varieties are endless. The pink and white subject pictured above (sadly, I can’t recall its name) produced a gorgeous background in one of my perennial beds during the summer of 2012.
Columbine. One of my favorite perennials to winter-sow. The variety above is called ‘Alpine Blue.’ It happily grows near my Kitchen Garden.
Buddleja. This perennial “Butterfly Bush” is a magnet for all kinds of beneficial insects. I have it near the entrance to my Serpentine Garden. It’s a cinch to winter-sow!
Primula japonica. One year, reader Beverly was kind enough to send me seeds of this aptly-nicknamed “candelabra primrose.” It’s a cherished plant in my Woodland Garden.
Forget Me Not. Like all re-seeding annuals, this Myosotis is an excellent subject for winter-sowing. I have masses of it at the entrance to my Woodland Garden. The plants produce a pale-blue sea in early spring.
Petunias. I’ve had great success winter-sowing old-fashioned petunia varieties in January and February. The large blossoms of purple, pink, or white are heaven-scented.
Lavender. This perennial requires no coddling whatsoever. I winter-sowed seeds of Lavandula ‘Munstead’ one year, and then planted the seedlings in the dry, crappy soil at the base of my Serpentine Garden. Flowers and foliage are scented to the nines. I use fresh blossoms to make fragrant shortbread cookies.
The shortbread cookies in question. Here’s my step-by-step recipe.
Alyssum. The best hardy annual I know for edging a garden path or bed. The tiny white flowers emit a honey-sweet perfume that catches on every summer breeze.
Nicotiana. What an unusual annual! The strongly-perfumed blossoms open in the evening, attracting nighttime pollinators. Just a few plants will scent a garden from dusk until dawn. Winter-sown seeds have never failed to germinate for me.
Lupine. I can never have too many of these ‘Russell Hybrid’ perennials. The sexy spires come in rose, pink, blue, yellow, and white. They make a ravishing, late-May picture in my Serpentine Garden.
Bachelor Button. This old-fashioned, hardy annual is a magnet for honey bees. When deadheaded regularly, the plant will bloom from late-spring to frost. I’ve read that in Victorian times, an unmarried man could indicate that he was “available” by inserting a blossom of this Centaurea cyanus into a button hole of his suit. The tradition came to an abrupt halt after several bachelors were stung by honey bees at outdoor tea parties.
Coreopsis. This one produces sunshine-yellow, daisy-like flowers that are excellent for cutting. Coreopsis is a perennial that blooms and blooms until the first hard frost.
Morning Glory. This ‘Heavenly Blue’ annual is not invasive where I live. And that’s a good thing, because I rely on the vines to create a dense, green-and-blue wall around my Herb Garden from summer through frost.
Snapdragon. This hardy annual, which is officially called Antirrhinum, comes in a rainbow of colors. I prefer tall varieties for cutting. When squeezed by curious fingers, the flowers resemble the face of a dragon that opens and closes its mouth. It’s a fail-proof plant for winter-sowing.
I hope this post was useful to you in some teeny-tiny way. In the comments field below, perhaps you can tell me about the flowers you’ve successfully winter-sown. I’m all ears!
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Karen Mary says
What a wonderful collection of flowers! I’ve winter sown lettuce and other greens, but never flowers. I’m inspired!
BTW, the little hollyhock that you mention not recalling the name of once voluntarily appeared (with no objection from me) in every one of a dozen garden beds in my yard. It’s hardy and delightful!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Karen Mary – My favorite hollyhock. So glad you’ve enjoyed it, too!
Nancy says
I think your small flowered Holly Hock is “Malva Zebrina” – -easy to grow and reseeds prolifically! I have WS these seeds for years.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Nancy – Yes, that’s it! Malva Zebrina.
Beverly, zone 6, eastern PA says
I agree with Nancy above, Malva zebrina, sometimes known as French Hollyhock. Their seedlings sown in jugs will bloom in their first year. Mine behave as shrubby perennials, wider than tall. Another first-year-bloomer from jugs are perennial Balloon Flowers, Platycodon. Too easy and so much fun it should be against the law! I have all of my jugs collected now for 2020 winter sowing and will be filling them shortly. It will be agony to decide what goes in this year, so many possibilities. Thank you Kevin for keeping this topic prevalent in your highly enjoyable posts. For next to nothing, my gardens have been radically improved using winter sowing to increase my perennials.
Brian says
Hello, Your list includes most of my favorites. Batchelor Buttons in blue,pink,white,lavender and deep purple in the Polka Dot series are great since they only grow 12 inches tall. The allysum called Snow Crystals produces extra large blossoms and the plants stay neat. Snapdragons in the Sonnet or Liberty series develop 2 foot bushes with many stems for cutting.All are great winter sowers.
Tressa Rhodes says
I sure needed this post this morning. I don’t see delphiniums on the list. They are one of my favorites. Have you tried growing them using this method. I haven’t had luck with lupines do you have any advice.
Judy says
Hi Kevin, I don’t have a mesh table. Will they be too cold if they are placed on the frozen ground which won’t be thawed until the end of April at the very and unlikely earliest?
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Beverly – I winter-sowed purple Platycodon many years ago, and the plants have re-seeded themselves every year since. Great fun to watch the plant’s puffy pillows unfurl!
Hi Brian – Yes to all!
Hi Tressa – I love Delphinium. Alas, the seeds when winter-sowed have never germinated for me.
Hi Judy – No need for a mesh table. All of the seeds mentioned above can handle the cold!
Liz Davey says
I have winter sowed many native plants and all have done well: swamp milkweed, butterfly weed, milkweed, monarda punctata to name a few. Also, the best brussels sprouts, cabbage and broccoli seedlings have been planted this way. My garden club sponsors an annual Winter Seeding and Seed Swap on National Seed Swap Day in late January. Participants bring a milk or water jug and seeds to share and we provide soil, and other needed items. I use a (now antique) ice pick to make the holes in the jugs. It is quick and easy and no heating needed. An awl would also work. My only problem is running out of suitable jugs.
Liz
Sara says
Kevin, love your tips, and am wondering—where do you get your perennial seeds at a decent price?
Alison says
Thank you so much for all these great tips! I’ve never had any luck with indoor seed sowing and had lost hope of ever being able to do it without grow lights. Now I’m so excited to try growing plants from seed! It’s so hard to wait for spring, but now I don’t have to!
Neil says
I find forget me not reseeds itself in abundance so let it come back every year. Nigella is a good candidate for winter sowing and looks spectacular even when the flowers have faded!
Lynn D. says
Yes to nigella!
Nycole says
Kevin,
When should I winter sow:
Sweet Pea & Cosmos?
I live in Hudson, Quebec and I am in Zone 5?
Thanks so much for all your delicious recipes & informative planting ideas!!!
Dyanne says
Hi Kevin, thanks for all the information on Winter Sowing. I am so happy to hear that certain flowers will work too. Do you know if this will work with zinnia? I am planning a butterfly garden this year & the flowers you listed can definitely be used! I will start using this method, tomorrow.
Linda says
Hi, Kevin,
Can you tell me if it is ok to set my milk jugs on cement facing south? This is my first year to winter sow. I’m zone 6. Thanks..
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Linda – Absolutely. Southern exposure is terrific for the containers.
Carol Cadogan says
Hi Kevin,
I love your idea about winter sowing. I live in MA zone 6a so I decided that today’s the day. I’ve followed your directions to the letter, but I filled all my recycled containers with seed sowing mix after putting in all the drainage holes and my sink is full of dirt (not sure of the proper term for it) and the dirt in the containers still has dry parts?! What is up with trying to get this seed sowing mix wet?? It has turned into a big mess for me!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Carol – Seems your seed-starting mix is old and therefore dried out. Don’t trouble yourself. Just put the planted containers outdoors and let nature moisten the works until the seeds germinate in spring. And here’s a tip: To re-hydrate a bag of dried out potting mix, add some very hot tap water to the bag. Then seal the bag for at least one hour before using.
Scott T. says
Hi Kevin….
I have you to thank for getting me hooked on winter sowing. I came across your website quite by accident back in 2012. When I first read your article I thought…. Yeah, right, like that’s gonna work?? However, I sucked up my doubts, gave it a try, and have been doing it ever since! I have to agree with you on Nicotiana…. It has long been one of my all time favorite annuals. Nothing quite compares to its evening fragrance. I work in a garden center and am always trying to get customers to give winter sowing a try. Sometimes it’s a hard sell getting people to try something new and different…. But those that have report back to me with great results.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Scott T. – Nice to hear from you! Like you, I didn’t believe winter-sowing would work until I tried the method. Hooked now.
Saundra says
Ditto what Scott T said! Im hooked too. Only my third yr having a yard thats mine and can plant stuff. I winter sowed last winter for first time. It went pretty good . Thanks to Ferry Morse theres still some herb living in my garden. It was supposedly Aster. I dont know what itll take but someday i swear im gonna have Aster and Sunflower. The Hollyhocks didnt get far last yr . Just redid them since i still had more seeds. Getting more seeds soon as i get out .
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Saundra — So happy!
Amanda Benick says
So glad I found your site when I was searching for winter sowing ideas! It’s fabulous in many other ways besides just gardening tips. I am a crazy-obsessed gardener and naturalist in Ohio and I am winter-sowing for the first time this year, 2021. Can’t believe it’s taken me so long to learn about this. I really hope I get some seedlings! So far I have jugs with poppies, lupine, daisies, rudbeckia, gaillardia, echinacea. The bunnies always ate my little lupine seedlings and echinacea plants before when I tried those so maybe I can protect the seedlings better this way. Anyhow, I am a stay-at-home-mom so with no personal income I am hoping this method will provide LOTS of plants without spending much at the garden center this year. Thanks!
Brenda K Mark says
I just moved from a forrest….NO Flowers or garden due to no sunlight to a full sun peninsula with only 1 tree on the point and 2 evergreens in front. (I love flowers and gardening) So, a friend of mine shared the idea of sowing in winter as she does this. I also live in 5b but we often winter in 4b so I am looking forward to trying this with the milk jug terrarium idea in both areas. Clever clever clever and being able to leave them works great for me as we go back and forth. Thanks and look forward to more!
MWG says
Someone asked about winter sowing zinnias. I’m in zone 6A and I wintersow my zinnias mid/late March taking care if the temp drops to throw a towel/blanket over those containers at night. We can get freezes or snow even mid/late March/April. This method allows me to plant small starts of varieties that I couldn’t get in nurseries. I use a plastic fork to lift the plants/transplant them. Ideal transplanting weather: when there’s a misting rain or I use a mister to water get the soil moist. I tuck any tiny roots into the dirt. Takes patience but well worth the effort.
Beth says
My second year (2021) for winter sowing in Eastern Washington state. Last year I used seed starting mix and it was too dry, regular, good potting soil holds moisture better. I heard a layer of vermiculite helps hold moisture and going to try that this year. Love the seed suggestions. Kevin, so glad I found your site. Excellent for new and experienced dirt diggers!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Beth – Welcome aboard!
Cyn says
I’m confused (blaming covid brain!) What exactly is “winter sowing?” Does it include spreading seeds on the ground in February? (Maryland, zone 7)
Thanks for any guidance or pointing to references.
Sue Lewis says
Hi Kevin I am a first time winter seed sower and am enjoyed your site . It gave me so much information on which seeds to sow so I could be sure I bought the right ones. I got my son and niece interested in winter seed sowing !!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Cyn — click on the link in paragraph 3: Winter-Sowing 101.
Hi Sue Lewis – I’m so glad!
Noriko says
Hi Kevin! Thank you always for sharing your expertise 🙂 I particularly appreciate the extent of all the details that you have provided on winter sowing! Very helpful information.
On a related note, do you mind elaborating on the specific varieties of petunias that you have successfully winter-sowed? Some seed sites that I have visited advise the use of traditional grow lights (which I do not have, unfortunately) and against direct sowing. I would LOVE to be able to winter sow them if possible! Thanks for taking the time! 🙂
Beverly says
Hi Kevin,
Love to ws both flowers and veggies. Thins like poppies, calendula, kale, and perennials go in first. I sow tender annuals, tomatoes, and other veggies go out more toward March. I’m in z7b. Keep on sowing!!
Lisa says
Can you wintersow Livingstone daisies? And will they bloom that year?
Lisa says
Can you wintersow Livingstone daisies? And will they bloom the year they are transplanted