11 Wildflowers You Can Grow From Seed in January

Even if you live in cold places, you’ll be able to enjoy wildflowers. From colorful poppies to lupines, there are a lot of fantastic options you can plant in the snow. In this article, plant expert Matt Dursum shows you wildflowers you can grow from seed in January.

Pink hollyhock flowers bloom brightly under the sun's warm rays.

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The peak of winter may not be the time you usually think about sowing seeds. But don’t let a little cold weather stop you. Plenty of cold-hardy seeds will stand up to the chill. 

Some of the most frost-tolerant species are wildflowers. These radiant flowers are easy to grow in the cold. When spring and summer roll around, they’ll produce tons of striking blooms. 

Cold weather helps stratify the seeds. This is when dormant seeds are exposed to cold temperatures and then to warmer temperatures outdoors. The changing temperatures during stratification break down the seeds’ coating so they germinate in spring. 

Take advantage of the cold temperatures and try growing wildflowers from seed. Below are the 11 wildflower seeds you can sow in January. 

Poppy Flower Seeds

Peony Double Blend Poppy Seeds

Poppies are an easy choice for fall sowing and can also be sown in early spring. Below you’ll find some of the most popular varieties of poppy flower seeds that we carry!

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Snapdragons

Upright plants with spiky flower clusters in a wide range of colors, including pink, red, and yellow paired with narrow, lance-shaped green leaves.
Once they take hold, they’ll produce big and colorful blooms with multi-colored, tube-shaped flowers.
common-name common name Snapdragons
botanical-name botanical name Antirrhinum majus
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 1-3’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 7-10

Snapdragons are stunning wildflowers with multi-colored, tube-shaped flowers. They stand vertical, displaying their striking blooms long into the summer months. They’ll bring an elegance few wildflowers can match. Because they have so many blooms, you can use them for bouquets and flower arrangements. 

These wildflowers benefit from cold stratification. They are short-lived perennials that can be sown directly into the ground in January. Be careful not to bury them. They prefer to be sown directly onto the soil. With a little warm sunlight and water, they’ll germinate in spring. 

Once they take hold, they’ll produce big and colorful blooms. Because they’re so easy to propagate, they make excellent early-flowering additions to any garden. However, they do take a long time to mature. If you manage to sow the seeds earlier indoors, you may find you have better blooms in spring.

Poppies

Vivid red petals with delicate black centers cluster together, standing tall among thin, wavy grass blades and contrasting vividly against a lush green setting.
It’s hard not to love their big, beautiful blooms and adorable foliage.
common-name common name Poppies
botanical-name botanical name Papaver spp.
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 3-5’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 2-7

Poppies are some of the world’s most beloved flowers. It’s hard not to love their big, beautiful blooms and adorable foliage. For gardeners in cold climates, they’re some of the best wildflowers you can grow from seed in the winter. 

Humans have used these plants for over 3,000 years as food, medicine, and decorations. They produce the popular seeds we enjoy in breakfast foods and desserts. One species produces sap which produces pain medicines and some of the world’s most addictive and deadly narcotics. 

Regardless of the dark side of its misuse, you should still enjoy growing this fantastic wildflower. Sow your poppy seeds directly in the ground in January. When they’re exposed to freezing temperatures, they’ll germinate quickly. 

Foxgloves

This plant displays tall spikes covered in tubular, bell-shaped flowers with spotted throats, surrounded by coarse, green, lance-shaped leaves.
They feature colorful tubular blooms and a sturdy appearance.
common-name common name Foxgloves
botanical-name botanical name Digitalis purpurea
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 2-5′
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 4-9

Foxgloves stand tall in the garden, with their colorful tubular blooms and sturdy appearance. They make excellent cold-weather ornamentals, especially when you grow them in clusters. 

These perennials bring early blooms. They’re poisonous if you eat them, so be careful planting them if you have kids or pets. They’ve been around for over a thousand years and are common in English cottage gardens. 

To sow them in January, use the winter sowing method. As the snow melts and the sun appears, they will slowly germinate. You should expect big, vertical columns of flowers in spring and summer. 

Lupines

A close-up of Lupinus perennis flowers, showcasing purple petals in full bloom against a soft, blurred backdrop. The lush green leaves provide a lush contrast, enhancing the natural beauty of the floral arrangement.
They come in a multitude of colors, from soft pastel blues and reds to vibrant pinks and purples.
common-name common name Lupines
botanical-name botanical name Lupinus perennis
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 10”-2’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-8

Lupines are stunning vertical wildflowers that thrive in cold climates. They’re native to North America and grow wild in the Rockies and other mountainous regions. They’re one of the easiest big bloomers to sow in January. Give them a good scarring and soak them before planting.

One of the best things about lupines other than their blooms is their tolerance for poor soil. You can grow them in almost any soil type. Combined with their fondness for cold weather, they’re the perfect companions for any cold-weather garden. 

They come in a multitude of colors, from soft pastel blues and reds to vibrant pinks and purples. Lupine seeds are easy to find, so choose your varieties and have fun growing them. 

Forget-Me-Nots

Small, soft pink flowers with five petals cluster together on slender stems, accompanied by fuzzy, lance-shaped green leaves.
These small wildflowers burst with violets and blues and sometimes pinks.
common-name common name Forget-Me-Nots
botanical-name botanical name Myosotis spp.
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 6-12”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 4-9

Forget-me-nots have a lovely name and even lovelier flowers. These small wildflowers burst with violets and blues and sometimes pinks. They make the best ground cover for flower gardens and vegetable gardens. 

These flowers are hardy and survive extreme climates. One species, the alpine forget-me-not (Myosotis alpestris) grows up to 10,000 feet in Colorado. Others of the Myosotis are invasive. Avoid sowing these in your garden if they will push out native plants.

Sow your seeds directly in the snow or cold ground in January. Once the snow melts, the seeds germinate. Once the warm sun of spring and summer arrives, the flowers will start to bloom. 

Hollyhocks

Tall stems topped with large, showy, bright-colored blooms of pink, red and white, with broad, rounded leaves at the base.
Once they take hold and grow, they’ll tower over your other plants.
common-name common name Hollyhocks
botanical-name botanical name Alcea spp.
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height Up to 8’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-9

Hollyhocks are some of the tallest wildflowers you can grow in cold-climate gardens. Once they take hold and grow, they’ll tower over your other plants. They’re biennial and bloom throughout the growing season. After two years, they’ll finish their life cycle. 

Sow them in January in areas where the danger of frost has passed. Plant them near trees and buildings. Or, sow them near shade-loving plants that could benefit from their huge colorful blooms. 

One of the best uses for hollyhocks is attracting pollinators to your garden. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds love these amazing flowers. 

Goldenrods

Solidago features tall, arching stems with clusters of small, bright yellow flowers and lance-shaped green leaves.
They’re big bloomers and fill up your garden with golden-yellow blooms.
common-name common name Goldenrods
botanical-name botanical name Solidago spp.
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 1-6’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 2-8

Goldenrods produce magical golden-yellow blooms in summer and fall. They’re big bloomers and fill up your garden with color. There are over 100 species and several varieties to choose from. They’re some of the most cold-tolerant wildflowers you can grow. 

Sow them directly on the snow in January. They’ll grow quickly and give you flowers in the fall that attract helpful pollinators to your garden. 

Once you plant them, let them go to seed for the following season. They’re incredibly low-maintenance and cold-hardy. They’re native to some of the coldest parts of the US and Canada. No matter how cold your region gets, you can grow them. 

Coreopsis

Bright yellow, with velvety burgundy centers daisy-like flowers with finely divided, thread-like leaves on bushy plants.
Most flowers are yellow, red, and orange.
common-name common name Coreopsis
botanical-name botanical name Coreopsis spp.
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun 
height height 1-4’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 4-10

There are over 100 species of coreopsis to choose from. Each species has its own attractive yet subtle qualities. Most flowers are yellow, red, and orange. 

These small flowers are some of the best plants you can have for attracting pollinators. They’re also extremely cold-hardy and easy to grow. Simply sow them in the snow and allow the compacting snowmelt to press them into the soil. They’ll grow quickly and bloom in the late spring and summer. 

Coreopsis is easy to grow in most soil types. They’ll even thrive on the side of a gravel road, making them great border plants. Plant them in clusters around your yard and gardens. 

Columbines

Delicate, bell-shaped purple flowers with long spurs, complemented by deeply lobed green leaves.
They produce beautiful, delicate blooms in a variety of colors, including pink, purple, and blue.
common-name common name Columbines
botanical-name botanical name Aquilegia spp.
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 1-3’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-8

Columbines are great wildflowers that are easy to grow and cold-tolerant. They thrive in some of the coldest regions of the US. They’re also resistant to many garden pests and diseases. 

They produce beautiful, delicate blooms in a variety of colors, including pink, purple, and blue. There are around 70 species to choose from. Like other wildflowers, they attract pollinators with their bell-shaped blooms. 

Sow the seeds directly into the snow or cold ground to let the elements remove their protective coverings. They’ll start to germinate quickly and soon, you’ll have big, beautiful flowers growing vertically. 

Bachelor’s Buttons

Sun-kissed blue cornflowers sway gently in the light, a testament to nature's elegance. Behind them, a soft blur of lush stems creates a serene backdrop, inviting the viewer into the peaceful embrace of the garden.
They’re popular ornamental blooms that bring pops of blue and violet to gardens across the country.
common-name common name Bachelor’s Buttons
botanical-name botanical name Centaurea cyanus
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun 
height height 1-3′
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 2-11

Bachelor’s buttons are one of the most cold-tolerant wildflowers you can grow, and look great as well! They’re so attractive that, according to legends, bachelors in Europe used to wear them on their lapels

Today, they’re popular ornamental blooms that bring pops of blue and violet to gardens across the country. They are easy to grow and tolerate a variety of climates and weather conditions. However, they are invasive in certain areas, so avoid planting them in these regions.

Cold sow them in the snow or ground and let the changing temperature and humidity do their magic. When spring comes, you should have lovely flowers to enjoy. 

Black-Eyed Susans

A shot of a composition of yellow flowers named black eyed susan
Once their seeds germinate, they’ll produce a bounty of flowers for you to enjoy.
common-name common name Black-Eyed Susans
botanical-name botanical name Rudbeckia spp.
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun 
height height 12-40”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-9

Black-eyed susans are lovely blooms that are native to the US. They’re useful plants that the Native Americans used extensively for dyes and medicines. They were also grown extensively as ornamental flowers. After the US was colonized, these flowers made their way around the world. 

They’re incredibly cold-tolerant and need to be sowed outside in January. Once their seeds germinate, they’ll produce a bounty of flowers for you to enjoy. Plant them along with other cold-hardy species such as liatris, coreopsis, and echinacea. 

There are several species to choose from, each producing a different flower shape and hue of color. Buy a variety of seeds and try planting them along the borders of your garden and yard.

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