21 Heirloom Flower Seeds to Sow in March

When we talk about heirloom seeds, I often think about generations growing the same juicy tomatoes as their ancestors. While heirloom vegetable seeds have wonderful value in the gardening world, there is much to say about flower seeds, too. 

Heirloom seeds are those passed down from one generation to the next. They always breed true, so you know exactly what you’re going to get. They are open-pollinated and stand the test of time. Alternatively, seeds from hybrids can carry traits from parents and won’t always breed true. 

‘Munstead’ is an heirloom introduced more than 100 years ago. It’s named for Munstead Woods and is an early bloomer. This English variety is compact and delicate. English varieties are the most popular when it comes to culinary use. Cut the flowers for fresh arrangements, or dry them and crush the flowers to release the aromatic oils. 

Feverfew

	common name Feverfew
	botanical name Tanacetum parthenium
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 12”-24”
	hardiness zones 5-8

Feverfew is a beautiful addition to the tea garden and has a long history of medicinal use. Today, it’s promoted for headaches, minor pain, and relief from skin itching, so it’s a good plant to have in a pinch. It attracts beneficial insects, and doesn’t appeal to deer. 

Grow feverfew for lovely dried arrangements. It’s great at re-seeding, so though it is a short-lived perennial, once you’ve got it, it’s almost certain to return year after year. If you consistently deadhead, you’ll have continuous blooms from summer until the first frost.

Anise Hyssop

	common name Anise Hyssop
	botanical name Agastache foeniculum
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 24”-48”
	hardiness zones 4-8

This member of the mint family is a huge pollinator attractant. Bumblebees adore it for its aromatic purple flower spikes. It’s not fussy about light or soil and re-seeds plentifully. Once they’re established, the plants are quite drought tolerant. 

As anise hyssop is a type of mint, it can spread aggressively, so keep an eye on it in the spring. It’s easy to pull out volunteers, and it spreads by seeds, so there are no rhizomes to deal with. The foliage is aromatic, with a scent similar to anise, which is how it earned its common name. 

African Marigolds ‘Crackerjack’

	common name African Marigolds ‘Crackerjack’
	botanical name Tagetes erecta ‘Crackerjack’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 24”-36”
	hardiness zones 2-11

Marigolds are wonderful plants that serve an important purpose in the garden. They make excellent companions to edibles as they repel nuisance nematodes in their second season. They are exceptionally easy to germinate and grow, and they self-seed, though sparingly. You’ll probably see some in the years to come, but they won’t become invasive. 

African marigolds are the taller, larger flowered types. ‘Crackerjack’ is big and bold and lights up your flower beds. They are excellent for cutting and adding to arrangements. They’re edible as well and make a pretty garnish. Their unique scent is strong for some, but others find it pleasing and unique. 

Sweet Pea ‘Perfume Delight’

	common name Sweet Pea ‘Perfume Delight’
	botanical name Lathyrus odoratus ‘Perfume Delight’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 5’-6’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Sweet peas are gorgeous cool-weather vining plants perfect for March planting in cooler climates. In warm climates, they need an earlier start, but if you’re in zone 6 or lower, March is the time to sow these heirloom flower seeds. They need a few months of cool temperatures to put on heavy growth. 

‘Perfume Delight’ brings in spades what sweet peas are notorious for. They have an intense, sweet fragrance and beautiful ruffled blossoms. They are great for cutting with their long, slender stems, and this variety comes in a rainbow of colors. 

Cosmos ‘Diablo’

	common name Cosmos ‘Diablo’
	botanical name Cosmos sulphureus ‘Diablo’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 4’-5’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Cosmos are one of my favorites for the cutting garden. Their blooms don’t have a long vase life, but they appear several buds to a stem and will open gradually over several days. If you cut stems with plenty of unopened buds, you’ll get flowers for days. They like plenty of light for optimal blooming. 

‘Diablo’ is a stunning cultivar with vibrant-hued flowers and delicate, fernlike foliage. Pollinators adore them, especially native bees. This heirloom variety is a 1974 winner of the All-America Selections. It’s drought tolerant and versatile in terms of its environment.

If you live in the western portions of the US where Cosmos sulphureus is invasive, opt for a Cosmos bipinnatus variety instead.

Bachelor’s Button ‘Black Magic’

	common name Bachelor’s Button ‘Black Magic’
	botanical name Centaurea cyanus ‘Black Magic’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 20”-24”
	hardiness zones 2-11

Bachelor’s buttons are charming and beautiful. Not only do they look lovely and make great cut flowers, they are edible, too! They are annual plants, but they are great at self-sowing, so you can expect them to return the next year.

March is a great time to sow these heirloom flower seeds outdoors. They like cool weather, so get them in the ground as soon as the ground is workable. You can wait for the last frost date or plant earlier, as they are frost tolerant. 

As you might imagine, ‘Black Magic’ is a uniquely stunning cultivar with deep, dark maroon petals that look nearly black in daylight. They are drought-tolerant once established and not picky about their environment. These summer bloomers get lots of attention from pollinators, and seed heads make good snacks for birds in the fall. Ensure you contain or regularly deadhead these where they have a tendency to invade.

Corn Poppy ‘American Legion’

	common name Corn Poppy ‘American Legion’
	botanical name Papaver rhoeas ‘American Legion’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 12”-14”
	hardiness zones 2-11

If your last frost date is around the corner, it’s prime poppy planting time. Warm climates should sow in the fall. Poppies are a symbol of hope, remembrance, and support for the armed forces. Many grow the ‘American Legion‘ poppy for this precise reason. The bold red blooms make wonderful cut flowers, and the fuzzy stems and buds are beautiful, too. 

‘King Henry’ is the color of royalty. Sweet purple flowers have a kiss of gold in the center and just a touch of white. They are edible and look gorgeous when added to baked goods or on top of a salad. They’re frost tolerant, so don’t worry if your last frost date is still a while away. They like cold weather.

Scabiosa ‘Black Knight’

	common name Scabiosa ‘Black Knight’
	botanical name Sixalix atropurpurea ‘Black Knight’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 12”-30”
	hardiness zones 10-12

If you forgot to start your scabiosa in late winter, don’t worry. As soon as that last frost date passes, you can sow these seeds directly in the garden. These long-blooming beauties are great in floral arrangements, and their dried seed heads are attractive as well. 

‘Black Knight’ is a striking cultivar with deep burgundy blooms. Also called pincushion flowers, they have a unique form and are attractive to birds and butterflies. This heirloom variety is more than 300 years old and originally went by the names ‘Blackmoor’s Beauty’ and ‘Mournful Widow.’

Nasturtium ‘Alaska’

	common name Nasturtium ‘Alaska’
	botanical name Tropaeolum majus ‘Alaska’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 10-12″
	hardiness zones 2-11

Nasturtiums are another edible flower, and not just the blooms. The entire plant is edible and has a peppery flavor. The greens are lovely and tasty in salads, and the flowers come in bright colors and make a stunning garnish. These fast-growing plants should be planted directly in the garden as soon as the threat of frost has passed. 

‘Alaska’ is a gorgeous cultivar with variegated leaves and brilliant blooms in a range of warm shades. Many insects love to eat it, so it can function as a trap crop to lure pests away from your vegetable garden. 

Common Milkweed

	common name Common Milkweed
	botanical name Asclepias syriaca
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 24”-36”
	hardiness zones 3-11

Milkweed is a must-have for the pollinator garden. It is the sole larval food for the monarch butterfly, and they will seek it out to lay their eggs. Start them about two to four weeks ahead of your last frost date, directly in the garden. 

There are more than 60 species of milkweed native to North America. Common milkweed is native to more than half of the states and has a wide native range. It has broad leaves and pretty pink flower clusters that pollinators adore. It self-seeds bountifully, but you can control it by snipping off the seed pods before they open.

Brazilian Vervain

	common name Brazilian Vervain
	botanical name Verbena bonariensis
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3’-4’
	hardiness zones 7-11

Brazilian vervain, or verbena, is another excellent pollinator plant. It’s long-blooming and produces tons of purple flower umbels. This sturdy plant is a perennial within zones 7-11. It’s flexible about soil and exposure and drought-tolerant once established. 

Zinnia ‘Envy’

	common name Zinnia ‘Envy’
	botanical name Zinnia elegans ‘Envy’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 24”-30”
	hardiness zones 2-11

Zinnias are amazingly easy to grow and tough as nails. These Mexican natives stand up to the hottest summers and have incredible resilience even in a prolonged drought. As long as I have a space to grow flowers, I will plant zinnias. 

‘Envy’ is a unique heirloom variety with large, double blooms. In case you didn’t guess by the name alone, these zinnias are green! March is a great time to sow these heirloom flower seeds right in the garden after the threat of frost. They don’t need special treatment and sprout in a matter of days.

Sunflower ‘Evening Sun’

	common name Sunflower ‘Evening Sun’
	botanical name Helianthus annuus ‘Evening Sun’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 6’-8’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Sunflowers are a garden staple. They are bright and cheerful and tower over your other plants, beckoning to pollinators. Their seed heads feed birds in the fall, and they have an exceptional vase life. 

‘Evening Sun’ is anything but average when it comes to its species. The petals are warm, velvety shades of orange and red with a touch of yellow at the tips. They form a perfect circle around a deep brown center. These are large and impressive. 

Amaranth ‘Love Lies Bleeding’

	common name Amaranth ‘Love Lies Bleeding’
	botanical name Amaranthus caudatus ‘Love Lies Bleeding’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3’-4’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Amaranth is a versatile plant with dramatic flowers and foliage. You can eat all parts of the plant, including the seeds which act as a gain of sorts. The leaves have a similar flavor to spinach. It also looks great in both fresh and dried floral arrangements.

‘Love Lies Bleeding’ is a gorgeous heirloom that has been popular since the Victorian Era in the U.S. and England. The flowers are unique in that rather than standing erect, they drape over and have a trailing habit. You can directly sow these heirloom flower seeds in March in warm climates, or as soon as the threat of frost has passed. 

Flax ‘Blue and Breezy’

	common name Flax ‘Blue and Breezy’
	botanical name Linum perenne ‘Blue and Breezy’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 18”-30”
	hardiness zones 5-8

Flax is surprisingly sturdy and resilient for such a delicate-appearing plant. Tall, slender stems sway in the breeze with petite blooms up top. They don’t mind poor soil and are cold and heat-tolerant. They handle dry weather excellently and are fine with partial shade. 

‘Blue and Breezy’ is a graceful cultivar with wonderful sky-blue blossoms. You can start these in March, even if your last frost date is still a ways off. Direct sow these as they don’t transplant well.

French Marigold ‘Naughty Marietta’

	common name French Marigold ‘Naughty Marietta’
	botanical name Tagetes patula ‘Naughty Marietta’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 8”-12”
	hardiness zones 2-11

French marigolds are smaller than African marigolds, though they are both native to Mexico. They have the same distinct aroma and are all edible with a somewhat bitter flavor. These perform better when you start them in seed trays rather than direct sowing. However, in my experience, they work well either way. 

‘Naughty Marietta’ is a single-petaled variety, which is somewhat unusual. They are brilliant yellow with a deep red blotch in the center. Named for the 1935 movie of the same name, they are pretty as a picture. 

Shasta Daisy ‘Alaska’

	common name Shasta Daisy ‘Alaska’
	botanical name Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Alaska’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 24”-36”
	hardiness zones 5-9

Shasta daisies are a beautiful, classic American hybrid. They are long-lived perennials that are easy to grow and care for. Their long stems make them great for the cutting garden. 

‘Alaska’ is a classic, bred more than 100 years ago. Directly sow these heirloom flower seeds in March, or about two weeks before your last frost date for blooms from summer through fall. These last a long time in a vase and in the garden. 

Morning Glory ‘Flying Saucer’

	common name Morning Glory ‘Flying Saucer’
	botanical name Ipomoea tricolor ‘Flying Saucer’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 10’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Morning glories are lovely flowering vines. Even when they’re not blooming, the attractive heart-shaped foliage makes a wonderful backdrop for other plants. Grow these long vines on a trellis, arbor, or fence. 

‘Flying Saucer’ is a wonderful cultivar with large flowers. The five-inch blooms are white with blue stripes and flecks. They open in the evening and close in the heat of day. On cloudy days, they will remain open, so you can enjoy their beauty all day when the sky is overcast. 

Four O’Clock ‘Marvel of Peru’

	common name Four O’Clock ‘Marvel of Peru’
	botanical name Mirabilis jalapa ‘Marvel of Peru’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 24”-48”
	hardiness zones 9-11

Four o’clocks get their name from their blooming habit. The blossoms open right around that early evening hour and release a sweet fragrance. These are great to plant near an outdoor dining area where you can enjoy their perfume while dining al fresco. 

‘Marvel of Peru’ is a multi-colored cultivar that flowers in shades of yellow, white, pink, and red. Directly sow these after your last anticipated frost. Pollinators love their tubular flowers, especially hummingbirds. Note that these are somewhat invasive in the southeastern parts of the US.