21 Flower Seeds We’re Most Excited to Plant in 2025
It's time to start planning and planting your flowers for the coming year! If you need some inspiration, we would love to share some of our favorites for 2025. Read on to see what cut flower gardener Melissa Strauss is growing in her flower patch this year.

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I can almost see those warmer days ahead, and I can’t wait to get my flower garden started! When I began my cutting garden a few years ago, I had no idea just how much joy it would bring. It’s not just a pleasure for me to tend to. My friends and neighbors get to enjoy it, too, when I bring a bouquet to share.
Whether you’re into sharing or prefer to leave your blooms in their beds, selecting varieties is an exciting part of the growing season. I could spend hours pouring over seed catalogs and perusing the racks at my local nursery.
When making your selections, some things to pay attention to are the amount of light they need and what season they will bloom. I like to have a bit of everything in my garden so that when one season ends, plenty of new things are in the works for the next one. Here are some of the flower seeds I am looking forward to planting for the 2025 season.
Scabiosa ‘Black Knight’

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botanical name Sixalix atropurpurea ‘Black Knight’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 12”-30” |
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hardiness zones 10-12 |
I love a unique variety, and this year, I am going big and bold with shades of black, green, red, and blue. ‘Black Knight’ scabiosa is an incredibly deep burgundy, nearly black, and certainly fits into the bold category. This heirloom dates back to the 1600s and has gone by the names ‘Mournful Widow’ and ‘Blackmoor’s Beauty’ over the years.
Scabiosas are long bloomers, beginning in the late spring and often blooming until the first frost. Pollinators love them, and you can start these seeds indoors or directly in the ground. Typically grown as an annual, they are perennial in warmer climates. They will come back in Zones 10-12, but I’ve also seen them pop back up here in Zone 9.
Zinnia ‘Envy’

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botanical name Zinnia elegans ‘Envy’ |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 24”-30” |
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hardiness zones 2-11 |
You can’t go wrong with zinnias. They are easy to grow, fast to bloom, and if you deadhead them, you’ll have flowers all the way from spring through fall. Zinnias are fantastic for floral arrangements and have a long vase life. Their incredible range of colors is certainly a bonus.
I’m looking at two new varieties this year, and ‘Envy’ is one of them. Cheery, lime-green blooms have a bright yellow center and crown, making them both subtle and noteworthy. Give these plenty of exposure. They are drought and heat-tolerant.
Sunflower ‘Evening Sun’

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botanical name Helianthus annuus ‘Evening Sun’ |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 6’-8’ |
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hardiness zones 2-11 |
I’m also planning a large sunflower seed patch for 2025 and embracing this species’ wonderful flower variations. I’ll certainly add some classic yellows, but I’m crushing on the bold red tones for 2025. I hope to do some cross-pollinating and see what gorgeous hybrids come out of it.
‘Evening Sun’ is a stunning, rich, bronze color with orange-tipped petals and a deep brown eye. They are statuesque and will tower over the garden at six to eight feet tall. Sunflowers grow taller when you directly sow them, so put these seeds right in the ground and see what they do!
Hollyhock ‘The Watchman’

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botanical name Alcea rosea ‘The Watchman’ |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 5’-7’ |
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hardiness zones 2-8 |
It’s a bit warm in my zone for growing hollyhocks, but when I laid eyes on ‘The Watchman,’ I thought there was no harm in trying. A great thing about seeds is that they are no great expense, so it’s not such a big loss if they aren’t a raving success.
‘The Watchman’ is another nearly black cultivar. The large blooms are an incredibly deep burgundy. They look black in certain light. Hollyhocks require patience. They are biennial and won’t look like much in the first year. In their second year, these relatives of hibiscus take off and tower gracefully to heights of up to seven feet!
French Marigold ‘Naughty Marietta’

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botanical name Tagetes patula ‘Naughty Marietta’ |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 8”-12” |
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hardiness zones 2-11 |
Marigolds are another exceptionally easy and low-maintenance flower that I love to grow. They germinate easily and bloom profusely through most of the growing season. The flowers are edible and have a tangy fragrance. I like to decorate baked goods with them.
‘Naughty Marietta’ is a lovely little heirloom cultivar named after a movie released in 1935 of the same name. It’s also a 1947 All-America Selections winner.
Flax ‘Blue and Breezy’

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botanical name Linum perenne ‘Blue and Breezy’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 18”-30” |
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hardiness zones 5-8 |
Flax is flexible but prefers cooler climates. It’s perennial in Zones 5-8. Don’t let the delicate appearance fool you. This is a tough little plant. The stems are used to make linen cloth. They are tolerant of drought, humidity, and heat to some extent. In warmer climates, lean toward a partially shaded location for these.
‘Blue and Breezy’ simply sounds like something I want in my garden. What a delightful name! Clusters of sky-blue flowers top thin stems with fine foliage. This is a great addition to the pollinator garden, and birds enjoy snacking on their seed heads.
Poppy ‘Hungarian Blue’

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botanical name Papaver somniferum ‘Hungarian Blue’ |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 24”-36” |
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hardiness zones 3-10 |
I’ve had a tough time with poppies in the past, but I’m ready to give them another try. They’re just so beautiful. I can’t give up on them. Bread seed poppies, in particular, have such lovely blooms the petals look like they’re constructed out of crepe paper.
‘Hungarian Blue’ is almost too good to be true. The large, fluttery flowers are a delightful shade of lavender with hints of plum in the center, surrounding a soft yellow eye. Pollinators love them, and they dress up the late spring garden wonderfully.
Shasta Daisy ‘Alaska’

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botanical name Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Alaska’ |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 24”-36” |
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hardiness zones 5-9 |
Shasta daisies are easy to grow, highly floriferous, and perennial. They make a lovely addition to the cutting patch or anywhere you want to fill up space with a mass of snowy white flowers.
‘Alaska‘ is an heirloom classic. It’s tough and sturdy, with large flowers that are attractive to pollinators. They bloom for two seasons, summer and fall, and the perennial plants are long-lived.
Lobelia ‘Crystal Palace’

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botanical name Lobelia erinus ‘Crystal Palace’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 4”-6” |
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hardiness zones 10-11 |
Lobelia makes an excellent border for your beds or walkways. The soft foliage and flowers have a wonderfully delicate appearance. They make a nice filler for hanging baskets and container arrangements, as well. Long blooming, these flowers show up in spring and stick around until the first frost.
‘Crystal Palace’ has beautiful blue flowers in a deeper shade than usual. The bronze-tipped foliage intensifies with more exposure. This heirloom cultivar is a winner of the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.
Sea Holly ‘Steel Blue’

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botanical name Eryngium planum ‘Steel Blue’ |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 24”-48” |
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hardiness zones 5-9 |
Sea holly is a less conventional addition to the garden, but I love it in a cut arrangement. It adds so much texture and just a touch of edginess with its spiky flower heads. It’s tough and has a linear growth habit, making it stand out in your beds.
‘Steel Blue‘ is an heirloom with silvery blue blooms. Pollinators love them in spite of their intimidating appearance. Bees, in particular, are attracted to blue and purple flowers. The gorgeous color of these is almost reflective.
Sweet Alyssum ‘Rosie O’Day’

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botanical name Lobularia maritima ‘Rosie O’Day’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 6”-12” |
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hardiness zones 5-12 |
Sweet alyssum, with its sweet-smelling clusters of tiny flowers, is actually a relative of broccoli! The entire plant is edible and has a slightly spicy, green flavor. This low grower makes a wonderful border or filler for your beds.
‘Rosie O’Day’ is a multi-colored heirloom variety, with shades of pink and white mixed together. It’s a 1961 All America Selections winner and simply a delight to behold!
Rudbeckia ‘Cherry Brandy’

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botanical name Rudbeckia hirta ‘Cherry Brandy’ |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 20”-24” |
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hardiness zones 9-10 |
As with sunflowers, in the past, I’ve mainly grown the yellow variety of rudbeckia. I’m looking forward to rich, reddish hues and extra-large flowers this year. ‘Cherry Brandy’ is a 2007 Fleuroselect Novelty award winner. Its velvety petals surround a dark chocolate eye.
I find rudbeckia, also called black-eyed Susan, to be a native bee favorite. You’ll find these plants covered with tiny sweat bees and miner bees. They re-seed in many places and are perennial in Zones 9-10.
Cosmos ‘Apricotta’

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botanical name Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Apricotta’ |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 32”-42” |
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hardiness zones 2-11 |
Cosmos, like zinnias, will always have a place in my cutting garden. They are so easy to grow, and the pollinators adore them. Lacy foliage and blooms that resemble cupcake wrappers work beautifully in floral arrangements.
‘Apricotta‘ is a wonderful cultivar. The blooms are on the large side and come in shades of apricot and pink with small yellow centers. It’s a Fleuroselect winner from 2021. These drought-tolerant plants are simply a must-have.
Echinacea ‘Alan’s Pride’

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botanical name Echinacea purpurea ‘Alan’s Pride’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 24”-36” |
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hardiness zones 3-8 |
Echinacea is another plant that’s perfect for your pollinator patch or cutting garden. The sturdy, long-lasting flowers are popular with bees and butterflies for their nectar-rich centers.
As I mentioned, green is one of my colors for this year. Something about a monochromatic bouquet tickles my fancy. ‘Alan’s Pride’ is a vibrant green with a large, yellow cone in the center. The stems are strong, and these have a long vase life.
Viola ‘Back to Black’

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botanical name Viola cornuta ‘Back to Black’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 8” |
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hardiness zones 6-9 |
I grow violas year-round, though they tend to head into dormancy mid-summer. I prefer them as potted plants, as this makes them easier to move around. They like a lot of light and get leggy in too much shade. Here in Florida, I have to bring them into indirect light when the temperature rises.
Black violas are my absolute favorite. I love to decorate a charcuterie board with these striking blooms. ‘Back to Black’ lives up to its name. It’s the deepest, darkest viola I’ve seen, and I’m obsessed!
Snapdragon ‘Night and Day’

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botanical name Antirrhinum majus ‘Night and Day’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 18” |
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hardiness zones 5-11 |
Snapdragons rank with zinnias and cosmos in terms of my favorite and the species I will grow every year. They are easy to grow, and their flower spikes are spectacular. They have few rivals in a floral arrangement. They’re also exceptionally cold-tolerant once hardened off.
In Zone 9, I start these in the fall, and they harden off before our first frost. As soon as the days start to lengthen, they take off and provide baskets of blooms until about mid-summer. ‘Night and Day’ is a wonderfully bold cultivar. The small snappers are right red with a white throat. Just magnificent!
Sweet William ‘Sweet Rose Magic’

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botanical name Dianthus barbatus ‘Sweet Rose Magic’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 18”-36” |
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hardiness zones 3-9 |
Sweet William has a vintage vibe, so it’s a must-have if you like a touch of nostalgia in your garden. Tall stems and large flower clusters make it great for cutting, and the petals are edible.
Sweet Williams are related to carnations and have that spicy, clove-like fragrance. ‘Sweet Rose Magic’ is a popular variety for its color-changing blooms. They open white, then blush pink before deepening to rose red. All colors can exist at the same time for a spectacular effect.
Sweet Pea ‘My Navy’

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botanical name Lathyrus odoratus ‘My Navy’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 8’ vines |
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hardiness zones 2-11 |
My sweet peas are already planted here in the South. They like as much cool weather as they can get, and fall planting makes for a nice, long growing season. Sweet peas don’t take well to transplanting, so directly sow them as soon as the ground is workable. They are frost tolerant, so don’t worry about a late frost.
I’m getting my blue fix this spring with ‘My Navy,’ a unique cultivar with deep blue-violet blossoms. Their long, slender stems and sweet fragrance make them nice for cutting, and they’re just plain pretty growing on an arbor or trellis. Sweet peas are toxic, so please keep them away from curious children and pets.
Sunflower ‘Zohar’

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botanical name Helianthus annuus ‘Zohar’ |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 4’-5’ |
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hardiness zones 2-11 |
I’m excited to throw ‘Zohar’ into the mix this year, as they are the perfect hybrid, in my opinion. They are a fast classic, with large, dark chocolate centers and rich, golden petals. They look like a bright, shining, golden star.
These are early bloomers and top out around five feet tall. They have large, flamboyant foliage that stands out perpendicular to the stems. These will stand above your beds and bring joy to all who enter the garden.
Four O’Clock ‘Broken Colors’

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botanical name Mirabilis jalapa ‘Broken Colors’ |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 24”-36” |
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hardiness zones 9-11 |
Another great plant with a vintage vibe, four o’clocks look wonderful in a cottage garden. Plant these near an outdoor living space because they release a sweet fragrance in the evening, right around four o’clock, to be precise.
‘Broken Colors’ isn’t your grandmother’s variety. Each flower has a unique color variation and pattern. Splashes of pink, yellow, white, and red mingle together for a showy, fragrant, long-blooming masterpiece. Even though this is a lovely cultivar, we suggest keeping four o’clocks in a container due to their invasive nature.
Zinnia ‘Queeny Lime Red’

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botanical name Zinnia elegans ‘Queeny Lime Red’ |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 30”-40” |
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hardiness zones 2-11 |
I can never decide on just one variety of zinnia. They’re just so wonderfully easy to grow! They self-seed, so even though they are annuals, you’ll often see them popping up in interesting places in successive years.
The queeny series is popular for good reason. The beautiful blends of lime green with shades of red, pink, and orange are incredible in floral arrangements. I’m planting ‘Queeny Lime Red’ this year, and I’m looking forward to the rosy-hued blooms that are beloved by pollinators of all kinds.