15 Flowering Perennials To Start Seeding in March

March is such a promising month for many gardeners. The threat of snow lessens, buds begin to show themselves, and early bulbs begin to bloom. Depending on where you live, your perennials and shrubs may be coming to life. Others may be shoveling snow away and beginning to think about cleaning up their gardens.

Once you are done cleaning up your gardens for the spring and patiently waiting for your plants to grow, sowing new seeds is a great way to spend your time! You will only need a few materials to begin your indoor seed sowing.

Here are some of my favorite flowering perennials that you can begin seeding in March for beautiful perennial blooms this season!

Bellflower

	botanical name Campanula spp.
	sun requirements Full to Partial Sun
	height 6 inches
	hardiness zones 4-9

Bellflowers are beautiful plants with purple bell-shaped flowers. There are many different types of bellflowers, some are annuals, and others are biennials or perennials. The flowers will last from summer into fall. Plant bellflowers as a ground cover or near a rock wall where the plant can cascade down. 

Plant your bellflower seeds in the spring after the danger of frost has passed. Lightly press the seeds into the soil, do not cover them with garden soil. This will allow the seeds to get all the sunlight they need to germinate. Water to keep the soil moist but not too wet. You will see seedlings germinate in about two weeks.

Blue Flax

	botanical name Linum perenne
	sun requirements Full to partial sun
	height 1-2 feet tall
	hardiness zones 5-9

This is a beautiful wildflower that is a very dependable perennial. Plant blue flax in a mass planting, and you will end up with the prettiest periwinkle display. The one-inch saucer-shaped flowers grow on top of tall thin stems. Blue flax is very low maintenance and requires very little water and thrives in heat and humidity.

You may opt to plant your blue flax seeds indoors, which should be done 6-8 weeks before your last frost. Or you can cast your seeds right into your garden.

If you so do, just scatter the seeds on top of the soil and do not cover them. Keep the soil moist until you notice seedlings popping up! You will notice germination in about 2-3 weeks.

Carnations

	botanical name Dianthus caryophyllus
	sun requirements Full to partial sun
	height 1-2 feet tall
	hardiness zones 7-10

We are all familiar with the carnations you can buy at the florist, did you know that those same flowers make beautiful garden plants as well? These ruffly flowers come in a wide range of colors and shades but are most commonly found in the pink, red, or white range. These pretty perennials are deer-resistant, but not bunny-resistant so plant with care!

Carnation seeds can be planted indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost, or you can wait and sow them outdoors after you are out of the threat of frost.

Your carnations most likely will not bloom in their first year. Keep the soil moist, and you should notice seedlings germinating in about one week.

Creeping Thyme

	botanical name Thymus serpyllum
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 2-3 inches
	hardiness zones 4-9

Creeping thyme is a beautiful and easy-to-grow ground cover. The plant is made up of tiny green leaves on woody stems. These stems will be covered with lots of tiny pink flowers. Creeping thyme is evergreen in warmer climates.

Plant creeping thyme in a high-traffic area or as a border around your vegetable gardens because this plant is tough and deer and insect resistant.

Direct sow your creeping thyme seeds in your garden once your temperatures are around 60 degrees. If you would like to get them started indoors, you can do this 8 to 10 weeks before your last frost. You will see germination within a month. Until then, keep the soil moist.

Delphinium

	botanical name Delphinium elatum
	sun requirements Full to partial sun
	height 1-6 feet, depending on which variety you plant
	hardiness zones 3-7

These blue beauties have become staples in summer cottage-style gardens. Their growth habit is whimsical, and the flowers grow on spires. While these flowers are famous for their blue hues, you can also find delphinium in shades of pink as well as white.

Delphiniums are technically a biennial. However, if you plant seeds every year you will not have a gap in your beautiful blooms. These seeds can be grown indoors 8-10 weeks before your last frost date or directly in the soil once your threat of frost is gone.

Cover the seeds with about ⅛ inch of soil and keep them moist but not too wet. You should notice germination in 2-3 weeks.

Feverfew

	botanical name Tanacetum parthenium
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 1-2 feet tall
	hardiness zones 5-8

Feverfew is a pretty flower that gained popularity in the Victorian era. The plant will be covered in tiny white and yellow daisy-like flowers that are aromatic. These flowers are commonly used in teas and for other medicinal purposes.

Feverfew will reseed if the blossoms are left to pass on the plant. However, if you deadhead the older flowers before they go to seed, feverfew will bloom until the first frost. 

Plant your feverfew seeds directly in the ground about one month before your average last frost date. Or you can plant them indoors 8-10 weeks before your average last frost date. Simply press these seeds into the soil, do not cover them with soil. You should notice seedlings germinating in about 2-3 weeks.

Hollyhocks

	botanical name Alcea rosea
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2-6 feet tall, variety dependant
	hardiness zones 3-8

Hollyhocks are just the perfect cottage garden perennial. Their tall stalks dance with gorgeous blossoms in a rainbow of colors. These perennials are considered to be short-lived perennials living 2-3 years. Deadheading the spent flowers will promote new blooms as well as prolong the overall life of the plant.

Hollyhock seeds can be directly sown into your garden as soon as the threat of frost has passed. You can also sow your seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before your last average frost and then transplant them about one month after your last frost.

If you are going to plant your seeds indoors, use taller pots rather than trays to allow the tap roots room to grow. Soak seeds overnight for the best results. Press seeds into the soil, but do not cover. Keep the soil moist, and you will notice seedlings in about two weeks.

Joe Pye Weed

	botanical name Eutrochium dubium
	sun requirements Full to partial sun
	height 5-7 feet tall
	hardiness zones 4-9

Joe pye weed is a beautiful perennial wildflower that would be a great addition to your butterfly garden or perhaps a wet area of your garden. Joe pye weed is a tall perennial made up of sturdy stalks with leathery leaves.

Their stems support large foamy purple flowers, which will turn into attractive seedheads. These seedheads will decorate your winter garden if you allow them to stay on the plant.

Sow seeds indoors about 8 weeks before your last frost. These seeds should be cold-stratified in your refrigerator for about two months for the best results.

Press the seeds into the soil and do not cover them to ensure that the seeds are getting enough sunlight to germinate. Keep the soil moist until the seeds germinate.

Lupine

	botanical name Lupinus x hybridus
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 3-4 feet tall
	hardiness zones 4-8

Lupine flowers are some of the most stunning perennial flowers out there. Their spiky flowers are unique, and they come in a gorgeous array of colors but are commonly coveted for their rich purple flowers. The lupine is a member of the legume family.

These plants create their own fertilizer in the ground, making lupines a great plant to grow in an area with poor soil or an area you would like to keep maintenance-free.

Plant your seeds in spring when the ground has warmed. Lupines do not like to be moved, so direct sowing is your best bet. Soak the seeds overnight to help soften the outer seed coating. Then, plant the seeds about ¼ inch into the soil. When planted in full sun, lupines will germinate in 2-4 weeks. These perennials will likely not bloom until their second year.

Painted Daisy

	botanical name Tanacetum coccineum
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 2-3 feet tall
	hardiness zones 3-7

If you are looking for a splash of color to add to your garden, painted daisies are a great choice! Daisies have frilly foliage, which supports their happy and colorful flowers. These flowers are long-lasting and are somewhat insect resistant.

The flowers of the daisy are very beautiful when used for cut flowers in your arrangements as well. Add this perennial to your butterfly garden and your cutting garden.

When you are ready to sow your painted daisy seeds outside, give your garden soil a gentle rake to disturb the soil just a bit. Scatter the seeds on top of the soil and cover lightly with about ⅛ inch of garden soil. Keep your soil moist, and you will notice seedlings beginning to germinate in 14 days.

Sneezeweed

	botanical name Helenium autumnale
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2-5 feet tall
	hardiness zones 3-8

Sneezeweed is a great choice if you are looking for a splash of beautiful color in your late summer or fall gardens. These flowers have a cute pincushion center surrounded by bright red, orange, or yellow petals. Plant these seeds in a mass planting to get the biggest effect.

Sneezeweed is not commonly eaten by deer and requires very little maintenance aside from watering. Harvest some sneezeweed flowers to enjoy indoors as well. They have a long vase life.

Sneezeweed, or helenium, can be sown indoors 8-10 weeks before your last frost, or outdoors in early spring. Cast the seeds, and barely cover them with soil. These seeds will germinate in about 2-3 weeks.

Stock

	botanical name Matthiola incana
	sun requirements Full to partial sun
	height 1-3 feet tall
	hardiness zones 7-10

Stock is a beautiful heirloom flower. In many areas, stock can be grown as an annual, but if you live in zones 7-10, you can grow stock as a biennial or a short-lived perennial. These fragrant blossoms come in a variety of colors that are mostly soft in tone, making it easy to tuck them into any style of garden.

Stock plants are very easy to grow from seed. Sow your seeds directly in the ground and cover them with ⅛ inch of soil. Keep the soil moist, but be sure not to soak the soil.

Try using the light mist setting on your hose until you notice seedlings beginning to germinate. You should begin to notice germination in about two weeks.

Swamp Milkweed

	botanical name Asclepias incarnata
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 4-5 feet tall
	hardiness zones 3-11

Swamp milkweed is a beautiful flowering perennial whose pink and purple flowers attract the coveted monarch butterfly. If you have a butterfly garden and you don’t have milkweed growing in it yet, this year is your year!

Swamp milkweed is the sole host for monarch butterflies and is important to the survival of their population. Its flowers are clusters of bright pink flowers which sit atop tall stems with narrow leaves.

You can begin to plant your swamp milkweed seeds as soon as the threat of frost has passed in your area. If you would like to start them indoors, put your seeds in the refrigerator for about 2 months before you plant them. Plant these seeds ¼ inch down in the soil, and you will notice germination in about 3 weeks.

Sweet Alyssum

	botanical name Lobularia maritima
	sun requirements Full to partial sun
	height 6 inches- 1 foot
	hardiness zones 2-11

Sweet alyssum is a classic garden plant that has been well-loved for a long time, and it is easy to see why! These sweet plants have adorable white, purple, or pink small flowers that create a beautiful mat of plants acting as the perfect ground cover. You can also use sweet alyssum in containers as a spiller. 

Sweet alyssum seeds can be planted directly in your garden soil after your last frost or can be started indoors five weeks before your last frost. Gently press the seeds into your soil so they will get lots of sunlight. Keep the seeds lightly watered, and you will see germination in a little over a month.

Oriental Poppy

	botanical name Papaver orientale
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 1-2 feet tall
	hardiness zones 3-8

Oriental poppies are so beautiful they almost seem like they are difficult to grow, but in fact, they are pretty easy! They come in a variety of colors but usually are in the pink, red, or orange realm. These flowers usually have dark centers, which give the plant a dramatic look.

The stems and foliage are a soft green and are a bit hairy.  Add oriental poppies to your sunny borders or throughout your perennial gardens.

Start your oriental poppy seeds indoors about one month before your last frost. Oriental poppy seeds do not like to be disturbed so plant your seeds in peat pots. This way, you can just plant the entire pot right in the ground when the seedlings are ready. Scatter your seeds but be sure not to cover them with soil because they need sunlight to germinate properly.