15 Rare and Unusual Plants to Start from Seed in February

It’s frustrating when you see the most perfect and unique plant or variety and find that it’s rare or difficult to locate. This is especially an issue in places where there aren’t many independent nurseries that carry specialty cultivars. However, thanks to the internet, things that used to be difficult to find are far more accessible. 

Ordering plants online can be tricky, too. If you don’t know how reliable the source is, you may not want to risk the expense of a rare plant that could arrive damaged. Seeds, on the other hand, are easy to ship and typically arrive in one piece. They’re also a much more economical option. 

It’s still a good idea to purchase your seeds from a reputable source. But it’s less of a risk and a loss if they don’t work out. Some plants are difficult to grow from seeds. They also take longer to mature in many cases. However, the benefits outweigh the risks in the case of many rarer and unusual plants.

Here are some exciting and unusual plant cultivars that you can grow from seeds starting this February.

Indigo Rose Cherry Tomato Seeds

 

• High in Antioxidants with Beneficial Anthocyanins
• Abundant Harvest with 2-Ounce Fruits in Clusters
• Support Needed for Vigorous 5-Foot Vines
• Distinct Sweet and Acidic Flavor for Versatile Use
• Disease Resistance for Healthy Growth and Reliable Yields

View at Botanicalinterests.com

Black Swan Poppy Seeds

 

• Stunning Dark Petals for Visual Impact
• Large 3″-5″ Semi-Double Blossoms on Elegant Swirl-Like Stems
• Ideal for Planting Along Paths or in Large Containers
• Attracts Bees with Its Rich Nectar
• Perfect for Creating Exquisite Bouquets

View at Botanicalinterests.com

Zinnia ‘Super Cactus Senorita’

	botanical name Zinnia elegans ‘Super Cactus Senorita’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 30”-40”
	hardiness zones 2-11

Zinnias are pretty commonplace. They are easy to grow and make an excellent addition to the pollinator garden. The seeds are easy to find at just about any seed retailer. So, it probably seems wrong for me to place this flower at the top of my list, but it’s here anyway. It’s not the most rare plant, but as seed varieties go, this unusual type is harder to find and perfect for planting in February.

‘Super Cactus Senorita’ is a spectacular variety of zinnia with huge, fancy flowers. The blooms have tons of narrow ray petals and a high percentage of double blooms. They’re a bit pricier than your average zinnias, but they are worth it. They tend to sell out quickly, so if you find them in stock someplace, grab them!

Cosmos ‘Black Magic’

	botanical name Cosmos astrosanguineus ‘Black Magic’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height Up to 4’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Cosmos are another flower that is easy to find, and easy to grow. Chocolate cosmos, however, tend to be rare and harder to come by. They are desirable for their dark red, chocolate-scented blossoms and attractive, fernlike foliage. I love these for my cutting garden. They have a short vase life, but if you cut them in the bud, they will bloom one after another.

Chocolate cosmos are more challenging to find, in general. ‘Black Magic’ is a hybrid variety that has the darkest flowers in the genus. The petals are actually a very deep red, but they look nearly black in some light. It can be tough to find these in stock because they go fast when they’re available. 

Sunflower ‘Ruby Eclipse’

	botanical name Helianthus annuus ‘Ruby Eclipse’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 60”-72”
	hardiness zones 2-11

There are almost too many types of sunflowers to count, and many of them are widely available. As you get into fancier forms with unusual colors, it gets a little harder to locate them, and the price certainly goes up. Sunflower seeds perform better when you directly sow them, so you’ll want to hold off a few weeks to plant these in colder climates. 

‘Ruby Eclipse’ is a stunning unusual cultivar that I am adding to my plant collection this year, beginning with February seeding. This is not the standard yellow sunflower. ‘Ruby Eclipse’ is buttery yellow only at the tips and rosy pink toward the center, which radiates outward. It’s a head-turner, and I am looking forward to cross-pollinating other varieties with this beauty. 

Tomato ‘Indigo Rose’

	botanical name Solanum lycopersicum ‘Indigo Rose’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 5’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Tomatoes are common enough and come in plenty of different shapes, sizes, and colors. There are none quite as unique as ‘Indigo Rose,’ though, in my opinion. The deep purple skin on this hybrid has tons of healthy anthocyanins. Slice one of these gems open, and the inside is a soft, rosy pink shade. They have excellent disease resistance. 

Start your tomato seeds indoors about a month to six weeks ahead of your last anticipated frost date. This gives them time to grow strong before being exposed to the elements. These mature in about three months and have a balanced flavor that is sweet and acidic. 

Snapdragon ‘Madame Butterfly Red’

	botanical name Antirrhinum majus ‘Madame Butterfly Red’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 24”-36”
	hardiness zones 2-11

I love snapdragons for the cutting garden. They are big, impressive bloomers that look great in a vase. They fill out floral arrangements beautifully. In every color and size, snapdragons are beautiful and a favorite of children everywhere. Their tiny snapping jaws make them quite a novelty. 

Double-flowered snapdragons are less common than single-flowered varieties. I’ve seen them once or twice at the local nursery, but never in this shade. ‘Madame Butterfly Red’ is spectacular. The oxblood blooms are extra ruffled and frilly. Just wonderful!

Eggplant ‘White Knight’

	botanical name Solanum melongena ‘White Knight’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 34”-36”
	hardiness zones 5-12

February is a good time to start your eggplant seeds indoors, including unusual and rare eggplant types. Seeding indoors tends to be the best way to get them growing unless you find starts. Since eggplants aren’t number one on the popularity list, I find my local options limited to one or two standard varieties. 

‘White Knight’ is anything but standard. The elongated fruits on this eggplant bush are pure white and even have a slight shimmer to the skin. They look interesting in the garden and will make a statement on the table. I love them sliced thinly, fried, and tossed on top of a pizza, yum!

Petunia ‘Night Sky’

	botanical name Petunia x hybrida ‘KLEPH15313’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 14”-16”
	hardiness zones 2-11

Sweet-scented petunias are related to eggplants, as both are in the nightshade family. They’re easy to care for and provide a ton of color with little effort. They prefer full exposure, though the blooms are soft and delicate, so they wilt easily if they dry out. Make sure to keep the soil moist for these. 

Petunias some in a wide array of colors, but ‘Night Sky’ is among the most strikingly beautiful. Deep violet flowers have a splatter of bright white starry spots all over. The irregularity of the white flecks makes each bloom look like its own unique galaxy. 

Carrot ‘Black Nebula’

	botanical name Daucus carota ‘Black Nebula’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1’-2’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Recent years have seen a resurgence in carrots of many colors. While orange remains the most popular, these veggies show up in shades of yellow, red, purple, and white, as well. You’ll want to directly sow your carrots as soon as the soil is workable. They like to germinate in cool soil. 

If you want a truly unique and rare carrot to leave out for the Easter bunny this year, ‘Black Nebula’ is the coolest one I’ve seen. It’s technically a deep, dark shade of purple, which is obvious at either end. In the center, where they are thicker, the color is nearly black!

‘Carosello Leccese’ Cucumber

	botanical name Cucumis melo
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 6”-8”
	hardiness zones 2-11

If you’re a pickler, you probably grow cucumbers in your garden. I love to grow them because of how easy they are to care for. Most animals will leave their vines alone because of the coating of small, wiry hairs on the vines. Admittedly, they can be difficult to harvest for this reason.

‘Carosello Leccese’ is an Italian heirloom cucumber. It’s small and plump with attractive dark green stripes on a lighter fruit. They are crisp and lightly sweet and make an excellent pickle. You can directly sow your cukes in a few weeks, but if you want a head start, sow these in trays and keep them warm indoors for a month before transplanting. 

Lettuce ‘Mayan Jaguar’

	botanical name Lactuca sativa ‘Mayan Jaguar’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6”-12”
	hardiness zones 2-11

While we’re on the subject of unique vegetables, ‘Mayan Jaguar’ romaine lettuce will add major pizzazz to your salads and sandwiches. This isn’t your ordinary, run-of-the-mill lettuce. It has dark green leaves with heavy, deep red speckling throughout. 

Lettuce likes cold weather, so if you can manage to get them growing before your last frost, this is ideal. A frost actually sweetens the leaves, making them even tastier. You can start these unusual seeds indoors in February and plant out next month, but directly sowing this time of year will also yield good results. 

Lisianthus ‘Black Pearl’

	botanical name Eustoma grandiflorum ‘Black Pearl’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 24”-36”
	hardiness zones 8-10

Lisianthus is another great plant for the cutting garden. They produce gorgeous, large blooms on tall, sturdy stems. These tend to get overlooked in many gardens, but I think they should get more attention. They have an excellent vase life and bloom in succession with several flowers on each stem. 

Lisianthus have a long growing season, so it’s a good idea to get them growing as early in the spring as possible. Start them indoors because they are frost-sensitive. ‘Black Pearl’ is a striking, dark purple variety that is attractive to bees and other pollinators.  

Love in a Puff

	botanical name Cardiospermum halicacabum
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6’-10’
	hardiness zones 9-11

Love in a puff is an incredibly unique plant, and grows easily from seeds. It has soft, fern-like foliage on delicate vines and produces small, attractive, white flowers. The pods that follow look like small green balloons. Inside the pods is another sweet surprise. They hold small black seeds, each imprinted with a perfectly shaped heart. 

Black Bat Flower

	botanical name Tacca chantrieri
	sun requirements Bright indirect light
	height 2’-3’
	hardiness zones 9-11

Black bat flower is an elusive and rare plant, especially in nontropical climates. I was lucky enough to find a pup a few years back, and it’s a large specimen now that produces a ton of flowers. It has to come in for the winter, though, even here in Zone 9, because it is frost-sensitive. 

Seeds are a little challenging to find, but they are not difficult to germinate. You should scarify or soak them to improve your germination rate and keep them indoors until the last frost date has passed.

Vinca ‘Tattoo™ Black Cherry’

	botanical name Catharanthus roseus ‘Tattoo™ Black Cherry’ or ‘PAS1192838’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 10”-14”
	hardiness zones 10-11

Vincas make wonderful potted plants with their brightly colored blooms and easy-going nature. They attract pollinators and bring tons of color to container gardens and flower beds, too! 

Start your vinca seeds indoors, they like warm soil and plenty of light to get started. Use a loose, well-draining soil, and keep your soil consistently moist. ‘Tattoo™ Black Cherry’ is a magenta flower with a swirl of deep purple through the center. It’s beautiful and eye-catching.

Poppy ‘Black Swan’

	botanical name Papaver somniferum ‘Black Swan’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 24”-36”
	hardiness zones 2-11

Poppies are cool weather lovers and also like direct sowing in the garden. You should sow these seeds in the fall in warm climates, but in cooler climates, February is a great time. In general, they should go in the ground four to six weeks before your last frost.