Spring is here, and it’s time to get your hands dirty! Here are some great perennial seeds you should start in April for stunning blooms!
It’s officially springtime, and you know what that means! Time to do gardening to your heart’s content. Now, there are, of course, many different types of plants you could start growing. But if you plan to have a spring or summer garden that keeps blooming year after year, here are some perennial seeds you should start in March or April.
Perennial Seeds You Should Start in April
1. Blanket Flower
Botanical Name: Gaillardia spp.
USDA Zones: 3-11
The blanket flower is any gardener’s favorite because of its delicate but showy daisy-like blooms of purple, red, white, and peach. Blanket flowers germinate from seeds quite easily when started outdoors right after the danger of the last frost, which falls around April.
They typically bloom profusely from the second year after they are started. Deadhead their spent flowers regularly and divide mature clumps every 2-3 years in spring or fall to prevent overcrowding and have more copies.
Note: The blanket flower’s hairy texture can cause mild skin irritation, so don’t wear shorts when working around them!
2. Lupine
Botanical Name: Lupinus
USDA Zones: 4a-9b
Though the best time to start lupine seeds is early spring (April), you can sow them anytime between February and September. Of course, you must do this when the conditions are favorable.
Press the seeds down on the ground, but do not cover them, as they need sunlight to germinate properly. Lupine seeds also need to undergo a scarification process. This involves nicking them with a knife or rubbing them slightly with a file or sandpaper to remove the hard seed coat.
Pro Tip: Lupines are nitrogen-fixing plants, improving soil fertility. Avoid over-fertilizing with nitrogen, as it can hinder flowering.
3. Coreopsis
Botanical Name: Coreopsis spp.
USDA Zones: 2a-9
Not only is it quite hardy, but it also blooms from late spring through summer. Coreopsis seeds are super easy to grow and germinate within 3 to 4 weeks. They also have significant meaning!
All you have to do is cover the seeds with half an inch of soil containing a mix of compost and coco peat and place the seedling cup in a well-ventilated area. For a bushier plant, pinch back young seedlings when they are a few inches tall.
4. Hollyhock
Botanical Name: Alcea rosea
USDA Zones: 5a-9b
Who doesn’t want stunning spires of flowers all over their summer garden? Hollyhock seeds can be scattered outdoors both in spring and summer. However, just make sure to do it at least two months before the first fall frost.
Unlike lupine seeds, hollyhock seeds should be lightly covered with soil—about 1/4 inch deep to facilitate proper germination.
Once germinated, they should be planted against a wall or fence for support, as they can become tall and top-heavy. Hollyhocks also attract hummingbirds, adding extra wildlife to the garden.
5. Black-Eyed Susan
Botanical Name: Rudbeckia hirta
USDA Zones: 3-10
Black-eyed Susans are a classic for any garden. They showcase bright yellow flowers with black centers. You will love them for their ease of growth, especially from seeds.
For quick germination, which can take anywhere between 1 and 3 weeks, you must start the seeds indoors between February and April. These seeds will need well-draining, neutral, or acidic soil to germinate. These are great for naturalizing in meadows or wild gardens. Leave the seed heads in the fall to provide food for birds.
Fun Fact: Black-Eyed Susans are also known for attracting beneficial insects, like bees and butterflies.
6. Cosmos
Botanical Name: Cosmos bipinnatus
USDA Zones: 2a-11
While not a perennial, Cosmos is a gorgeous self-seeding annual that comes back again and again once planted. For gorgeous flowers that bloom right in spring and throughout the long summer, don’t miss planting it in your perennial flower garden!
They are easy to plant and germinate well when kept on a sunny windowbox in temperatures between 70-75 F or 21-24 C.
These flowers are edible and can be used as a colorful garnish in salads. They self-seed readily, so be prepared for new seedlings in subsequent years.
Note: Like almost all other seeds, remember to moisten the soil enough but not waterlogged.
7. Blue Flax
Botanical Name: Linum lewisii
USDA Zones: 4a-8b
From afar, clusters of blue flax flowers appear like tiny bright blue spotlights. These saucer-shaped flowers bloom profusely and look excellent in any garden’s perennial flower beds.
Sowing blue flax seeds is relatively straightforward. Loosen the soil of the area where you want to plant them with a garden hoe and broadcast the seeds evenly over the soil and cover with no more than 1/16 to 1/8 inch of dirt.
Ensure that you pick a spot with full sun and well-draining loamy or slightly sandy soil.
Pro Tip: Blue flax has a taproot, making it very drought-tolerant once established. So it’s best not to transplant established plants.
8. Coneflowers
Botanical Name: Echinacea spp.
USDA Zones: 3-10
Pick the coneflower for cheerful, daisy-like flowers in your garden this summer! Besides being quite hardy and drought-tolerant when established, coneflowers come in white, coral, orange, pink, and purple shades.
When starting coneflower seeds in April, ensure the soil is moist and under a well-positioned light source. This is quite important as they need a lot of sunlight to germinate well. Here are brilliant varieties to try!
Fun Fact: Did you know? Leaving their seed heads standing in winter provides food for finches and birds.
9. Milkweed
Botanical Name: Asclepias syriaca L.
USDA Zones: 3-9
Though milkweed seeds are best planted in fall so they can overwinter naturally and go through the cold stratification process, there is no reason you can’t sow milkweed seeds in spring, especially in April.
You do have to put in some extra effort to mimic the process by starting the seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost date. When the danger of frost is past, work the soil with a rake and add compost before scattering the seeds. Be aware that it can spread aggressively, so choose its location carefully.
Fun Fact: Milkweed is the sole host plant for monarch butterflies; it’s essential for their survival.
10. Columbine
Botanical Name: Aquilegia
USDA Zones: 3-9
You must have this highly versatile flowering perennial in your summer garden! Not only do they flourish in various climates, but they can also do well in different light conditions. If you want them to bloom their best, grow them under full sun to part shade.
A four-week cold stratification process can benefit germination but is not strictly necessary. After sowing, columbine seeds usually sprout within 21 days.
Fact: While columbines are deer-resistant, they are a favorite of pollinators, including birds and butterflies!
11. Lavender
Botanical Name: Lavendula spp.
USDA Zones: 5-9
Arguably the most exciting perennial on this list, however, it’s a slow germinator! Lavender seeds are great for starting in March and April. You can even grow it as a mini tree!
Just ensure shallow planting, as they need a lot of light to germinate. You can lightly cover the seeds with mildly alkaline soil and moisten them. Misting them once a day is the best for this. If you have an existing lavender plant, it’s best to propagate them from cuttings.
Pro Tip: Prune lavender after flowering to maintain its shape and encourage new growth. Well-draining soil is extremely important to lavender; adding grit will help.
So, which one of these flowering perennials are you most excited to start in April? Let us know in the comments below!
