30 Flower Seeds To Start Indoors (Late Winter & Spring)

Once you try indoor seed starting, there’s no turning back. It’s very rewarding and a lot of fun. Along with vegetables, there are so many annual and perennial flowers to sow in your home to get a head start on the outdoor growing season.

If you are new to seed sowing, Seed Starting For Beginners walks through the entire process.

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Start Flower Seeds Indoors

There are many good reasons to start seeds indoors in late winter and spring. The most practical reason is, by sowing indoors, we get a jump start on the growing season. All those months waiting for last frost can be used to get all sorts of plants established. This is essential for us cold climate gardeners.

Once the soil warms and the risk of frost has passed, our plants are ready for transplanting.

We can always purchase some plants from a nursery—and we all do—but sowing at home comes with the added bonus of options and lots of them.

There are countless types of flower seeds you can start indoors and I’ve provided a list of top picks to get you started.

If you are new to seed starting (indoors or outdoors), you might choose a reliable seed like a marigold to decorate a border.

Others may be up for a challenge and try sowing delphiniums or milkweed. These are both seeds that have a reputation for being difficult but once you know the tips (links below), you’re on your way.

It’s not just satisfying to raise trays (and trays!) of happy seedlings but the savings can be quite substantial. My own seed starting was the secret to transforming a big bare lawn to a flower haven within years.

For seed starting how-tos, my ebook, Seed Starting For Beginners shares everything. If you just need tips on supplies, this shows my low-budget seed starting setup.

Whatever you choose to grow, be sure to check that your choices are not invasive in your area. A good standard is to confirm that anything you grow will benefit local wildlife from insects to mammals. If it plays a positive role in the local eco-system, it gets a thumbs up from me.

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Contents

I organize my indoor seed starting into three basic groups based on how long they need to get established.

Always check your seed packets to confirm the best timing for the varieties you have selected.

• 30 Flower Seeds To Start Indoors
  • 10-12 Weeks Before Last Frost
  • 8-10 Weeks Before Last Frost
  • 4-8 Weeks Before Last Frost
• Resources

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30 Flower Seeds To Start Indoors

10-12 Weeks (70-84 Days) Before Last Frost

Perennial

Perennials are plants that live on for several years. They can flower or fruit year after year.

• Bee Balm / Bergamot (Monarda spp.) | zones 2-9
• Blanket Flower (Gaillardia spp.) | zones 3-10
• Candytuft (Iberis sempervirens) | zones 3-9
• Clematis (Clematis spp.) | zones 4-9
• Columbine (Aquilegia spp.) | zones 2-9
• Coneflower (Echinacea spp.) | zones 3-9
• Lobelia | (Lobelia spp.) | zones 4-8 (there are both perennial and annual species)
• Milkweed (Asclepias spp.) | zones 3-9
• Penstemon (Penstemon spp.) | zones 3-8
• Primrose (Primula spp.) hybrid | zones 5-7
• Verbena (Verbena spp.) | zones 4-8

Annual

Annuals are plants that flower or fruit in the first year, including many flowers, herbs, and vegetables. Sunflowers are a good example of annuals. Annuals can be short-lived and just last for one growing season (spring and summer).

• Bells of Ireland (Moluccella laevis)
• Heliotropes (Heliotropium spp.)

This is also time to start woody herbs from seed including oregano, rosemary, thyme, and sage although growing from cuttings is much faster.

Also see Annuals Versus Perennials: What’s The Difference?

8-10 Weeks (56-70 Days) Before Last Frost

Perennial

• Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia spp.) | zones 3-9
• Blazing Star (Liatris spp.) | zones 4-8
• Delphinium (Delphinium spp.) | zones 3-8
• Geranium (Geranium spp.) | zones 4-9
• Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum) | zones 4-9

Annual

• Iceland Poppy (Papaver spp.) – hardy short-lived perennial
• Marigold (Tagetes spp.)
• Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) – biennial zones 8-11
• Titan Sunflowers (annual) | Any really slow-growing sunflowers may need to be started indoors. The rest do best with direct sowing outdoors.

4-8 Weeks (28-56 Days) Before Last Frost

Perennial

• Globe Thistle (Echinops ritro) | zones 3-9
• Lavender, English | zones 5-9 | Propagation by cuttings is best

Annual

• Black-eyed Susan Vine (Thungergia spp.)
• Calendula (Calendula spp.)
• Honeywort / Cerinthe (Cerinthe major purpuranscens)
• Nasturtium (Nasturtium spp.)
• Sweet Pea (Lathyrus genus)
• Zinnia (Zinnia spp.)

Resources

~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛