Growing perennials from seed probably offers the most efficient means of bringing long-term beauty to your garden without blowing your budget. It can be satisfying and budget-friendly, growing perennials from seeds rather than putting nursery-raised seedlings into the ground, but it may take a little more time and a bit of patience.

You will have more variety of plant species to enjoy, and the satisfaction of watching them grow from seed to flower. This is a look at some of the easiest perennials to start from seed so that your garden will be full and flower with very minimal maintenance.

Top 10 Perennials That Are Easy to Grow from Seed

1. Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus)

They have gigantic sizes, large blooms, and bright yellow-colored petals, thus becoming one of the most iconic favorites in a garden. While most people grow them as annuals, there are some kinds that would reseed and come back yearly, such as some types of sunflowers. They grow super fast and require almost negligible care; hence, they are ideal for novice growers.

Plant the sunflower seeds in drained soil, ½ inch deep, at the end of the frost season; they need abundant sun. Sunflowers can tolerate less-than-perfect conditions for their soil-one more reasons they are such a favorite of beginning gardeners. Once planted, little maintenance will be needed, although you may have to fend birds away from newly planted seeds.

Besides the beauty of their presence in the garden, sunflowers have a deep root system which amends soil structure, breaking up compacted soils to bring nutrients to the surface.

2. Zinnias (Zinnia elegans)

Those flowers are grown as annuals rather oft, but at times may act more as if they were short-lived perennials when self-sown. In truth, flowers of zinnias are brilliantly colored and easily grown for any gardener, whether a beginner in horticulture or not. Give flair to the garden with these tremendous bursts of color, for this too tends to be one of the reasons that zinnias are excellent cut flowers.

Sow them ¼ inch deep in well-draining soil and water lightly. Zinnias thrive in full sun and support a wide range of soils. Applications like deadheading spent flowers will encourage continuous blooming throughout the season.

It is good for attracting butterflies and bees, too; for this reason, it will be very good to add it to any garden.

3. Lupines (Lupinus perennis)

Then, the lupines get popular for the tall spikes of colored flowers and also for their great improving to the soil by fixation of nitrogen. While taking a little longer to germinate, the lupines, once established, are generally easy to grow from seed. That again will bring a lot of benefits as a companion plant because it will enrich the soil for other plants with its capability of nitrogen fixation.

Planting: Soak seeds in a container of warm water for 24 hours to soften the tough seed coat and expedite germination. Most lupines like cool, well-draining soil and full sun. Once established, lupines are really pretty easy to take care of, doing well in a variety of climate zones.

Due to their poor transplantability, it is best to plant them in the location where you would have them grow.

4. Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus)

Cosmos are popular due to their ease of growth, allowance for neglect, and long period of bloom. The daisy-like flowers in hues of pink, white, and purple add charm to any atmosphere-being a type of carefree plant. Cosmos also self-seed-meaning you're likely to see them pop up anew, year after year, sans having to reseed.

Directly seed into the garden after the last frost, in well-draining soil, to a depth of ¼ inch. Cosmos love full sun and will tolerate droughts well. They also work out well for those busy gardeners or areas that have some dry spells.

Cosmos attracts all kinds of good pollinators, like butterflies, hence giving your garden a healthy atmosphere. They can be considered the finest plant to provide long-lasting blooms in summer with minimum care from you.

5. Penstemon (Penstemon digitalis)

Penstemon is an attractive low-maintenance perennial, having tubular flowers that consequently attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Drought-tolerant penstemons love full sun and require little care once established.

Sow early spring or directly into the garden after the last frost. When acclimatized, Penstemon will thrive in well-draining sand and infrequent watering. This perennial remains an asset to many different types of landscapes while attracting several types of creatures that eco-friendly gardeners want to attract into their landscape.

6. Amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus)

Amaranth: This is a very dramatic and striking perennial with huge, flaunting tassels of flowers. Edible, too, with seeds and leaves used in so many varied cuisines. Easy to grow from seed, it thrives in sunny and warm conditions.

Sprinkle the seeds over the soil lightly, then cover them with a thin layer of soil. Keep it moist until the seedling comes up; this takes, on average, 7-14 days. Amaranth is also pretty tolerant of poor soil and low watering, making it great for low-maintenance gardens.

Amaranth will also self-seed, ensuring a continuing supply of these brilliant plants in your garden year after year.

7. Calendula (Calendula officinalis)

This bright and cheerful perennial bears bright gold daisy-like flowers. Valued for its medicinal skin-care properties, and a favorite of beginning gardeners due to hardy, easy-to-grow, non-fussy attributes.

Sow seeds ¼ inch deep early spring or late summer; calendula prefers cooler temperatures. Once established, calendula blooms rather quickly and will continue to bloom throughout the season. Deadheading spent flowers encourages more blooms; low maintenance makes this annual a stalwart in many gardens.

It is also exciting to find out that this plant usually tends to be amongst those that make great additions to be a companion piece for your garden. It repels pests but attracts those insects that might be considered beneficial.

8. Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea)

This flower resembles the daisy variety and has been used in medicine for several centuries. It easily grows from seed, and, when established, it needs virtually no maintenance. This drought-tolerant plant attracts many pollinators, such as bees and butterflies; thus, this is great to be added into any garden that hopes to take interest in being pollinator-friendly.

Refrigerate seeds 6-8 weeks prior to planting to enhance the germination rate. Plant in moist, well-drained soil about ¼ inch deep. Echinacea likes sunny locations but is highly drought-tolerant once established, making it one of the toughest perennials, come what may, in your garden.

9. Gaillardia (Gaillardia pulchella)

Appropriately-named Gaillardia-or blanket flower-is treasured for its hot-colored, sunburst-like blooms and for its drought tolerance. This is probably the easiest perennial to grow from seed, adding brilliant color to the garden all summer and into fall.

Sow seeds directly into the full sun after the last frost. For soil conditions, it is highly tolerant of poor soil and dry conditions; thus, this is indeed one perfect choice for harsh conditions. When such plants get established, they do not give much cause for concern but offer maximum potential visually.

10. Delphinium (Delphinium elatum)

Tall and stately, delphiniums bear spikes or spires of admirable, vibrant blue, white, pink, or purple flowers. Though a bit more challenging to grow from seed, having been given the right preparation, it can also be an awesome showstopper addition in your garden.

Refrigerate seeds a couple of weeks before planting to help speed up germination. Planting in well-draining soil, they need regular feeding and may need support staking, as the flower spikes will grow quite tall. Delphiniums prefer cooler climates and plant them in partial sun for best growth.

Tips When You Start Planting Perennials from Seed

Although growing perennials from seed is such a lot more budget-friendly way to fill your garden with what you want, it just takes some patience. Begin with well-prepared soil and proper care in early germination and seedling stages, and be prepared to do research on the specific needs of each plant.

This is because some seeds require cold stratification or scarification that will help to break dormancy. That would be because ample water and sunlight on the days when it is still in its early growth stages will ensure a good root system for your perennials, which will thrive well into the future.

Conclusion

There is nothing quite as rewarding as growing plants from seed and populating your garden with the many varieties of plants that are available. Here are some easy steps to follow, and even the newest of gardeners will be assured of a successful garden full of long-blooming blooms. To get some of the easiest varieties to grow-sunflowers, zinnias, and cosmos-follow these tips for getting your seeds to sprout into healthy, vigorous plants.

Ready to grow your garden? Check out these top-rated perennial seeds on Amazon and start planting today!