Plants to grow from seed
Check the details when you buy and pick appropriate plants for your situation
Key: Common name
Species & 'Variety'
Approx. height
Flowering season
Full sun
Sweet alyssum
Lobularia maritima, 0.15m, Jun-Oct
Aubrieta
Aubrieta, 0.15m, Mar-May
California poppy
Eschscholzia californica, 0.25-1.2m Jun-Oct
Nasturtium
Tropaeolum, 0.3m, Jun-Sept
Love-in-a-mist
Nigella damascene, 0.45-0.75m, Jun-Sept
Annual rudbeckia
e.g. Rudbeckia 'Marmalade', 0.45m, July-Oct
Pot marigold
Calendula officinalis, 0.5m, Jun-Oct
Cosmos
Cosmos, 0.5-1.2m, Jun-Oct
Rose campion
Lychnis coronaria, 0.75m, Jul-Sept
Greater knapweed
Centaurea scabiosa, 0.75m, Jul-Sept
Tobacco plant
Nicotiana, 0.75-1.5m, Jun-Sept
Dark Mullein
Verbascum nigrum, 1.2m, Jun-Sept
Sweet rocket
Hesperis matronalis, 0.9m, May-Jul
Bishop’s weed
Ammi majus, 1.5m, Jun-Sept
Evening primrose
Oenothera biennis, 1.5m, Jul-Aug
Part sun/part shade
Nasturtium
Tropaeolum, 0.3m, Jun-Sept
Annual rudbeckia
e.g. Rudbeckia 'Marmalade', 0.45m, July-Oct
Pot marigold
Calendula officinalis, 0.5m, Jun-Oct
Rose campion
Lychnis coronaria, 0.75m, Jul-Sept
Tobacco plant
Nicotiana, 0.75-1.5m, Jun-Sept
Sweet rocket
Hesperis matronalis, 0.9m, May-Jul
Bishop’s weed
Ammi majus, 1.5m, Jun-Sept
Grow in flowerbeds or containers. Most are available as seedlings / plug-plants if you prefer. Many are annuals (although some of these will self seed for the following year)
Organic seeds are thought to be best if they’re available to avoid traces of pesticide in your flowers. Suppliers include www.organiccatalogue.com