Hardy perennials to sow in spring

Hardy perennials to sow in spring. One of the most cost-effective ways of filling your garden with plants is to grow them from seed. Each year I grow a few plants each of a handful of perennials. Sometimes it is to replace plants that may not have made it through the winter and mostly, for the sheer joy of growing dependable plants from seed. If there isn’t space for them in the garden beds, I can add them to the ever-increasing number of pots near the house.

Some seeds require warmth to germinate, use a heated propagator on a windowsill or in a heated greenhouse, but others will readily germinate in a cold frame or seed bed in the garden.

Lupin

Lupins are robust plants and, if you deadhead very regularly, they will continue to put on a show from early summer until the first frosts. I deadhead lupins once a week throughout the growing season, it only takes a couple of minutes, but it’s worth the effort. They are easy to grow from seed and come in a wide range of single colour or two-tone flowers. Modern hybrids offer more compact plants which are ideal for smaller gardens or growing in tubs. Provide support for plants on an exposed site and also to prevent plants from flopping over into pathways and surroundings plants as they become top-heavy with flower spikes. Lupin aphids, which look like huge greenfly, can be a nuisance, but can easily be removed by wiping a hand along each stem on a regular basis. Height 100cm – 120 cm and 60cm spread.

Penstemon digitalis ‘Mystica’

This Pemstemon has evergreen leaves at the base and produces deepening shades of bronze leaves throughout the growing season. Panicles of flowers appear in early summer that stand out well against the colourful leaves. Penstemon Digitalis ‘Mystica’ grows to 75cm height and 45cm spread and prefers full sun, in well-drained soil, in a sheltered spot. Avoid growing in clay soil. It is hardy in most places in the UK and Ireland, even in a severe winter.

I was given three plants which had been grown from seed by a friend. They have survived three very wet winters on our cold, exposed hillside, so I think they have earned a place in our garden.

Physostegia virginiana ‘Crystal Peak White’

Obedient plant is an upright, spreading herbaceous perennial for near the front of the border. 40cm height. More usually propagated by division, but if you don’t know anyone who is willing to divide a plant, growing from seed is straightforward. It produces spikes of white flowers from mid-summer to early autumn. Grow in any type of soil that is moist, but well-drained, in full sun or partial shade. It will cope with being in an exposed situation, but may fail to thrive in a north-facing garden. Physostegia virginiana ‘Crystal Peak White’ is fully hardy across the UK, Ireland and northern Europe, even during the harshest of winters.

Aquilegia

Of all the hardy perennials to sow in spring, Aquilegia may be the easiest. They grow so readily from seed that you are likely to find them popping up all over your garden. And what a joy they are! Available in a range of colours from white to darkest purple, reds and yellows, and many have two colours. Some varieties are single, while others are semi or fully double. Generally, they are unfussy plants that thrive in a range of conditions, but prefer moist, but well-drained soil. They are unlikely to thrive on heavy and very wet soils. On dry and free-draining soils, they may be suspectable to powdery mildew, just remove the leaves and ensure a good water supply during hot and dry spells. Height guide 60cm (2ft).

Coreopsis verticillata ‘Grandiflora’

Commonly known as tickseed, Coreopsis verticillata ‘Grandiflora’ has fine, almost thread-like foliage and carries the flowers on stems held above the foliage. Flowers are 3cm – 5cm across and appear in mid to late summer. Regular deadheading will encourage continued flower production well into autumn. Grow in full sun or partial shade in well-drained soil. It may fail to thrive in clay soils. Height and spread 60cm. Hardy throughout UK and Ireland.

Verbascum phoeniceum

A semi-evergreen, short-lived perennial that forms a rosette of leaves. The flower spikes appear during late spring and through summer. Grow in alkaline to neutral soil that is well-drained. It will thrive in poor, gravelly soils. I now have several growing in a raised bed in the white themed back garden of our cottage. Height 50cm (20in) and 30cm (12in) spread. As with all Verbascum, it can become home to mullein moth caterpillars. Remove by hand if necessary. To help support our local wild bird population, I usually to leave them and sufficient numbers are taken by birds.

Verbena bonariensis

An instantly recognisable verbena that became much-used by garden designers to add height and volume to borders. And it is popular for good reason; it grows easily from seed and attracts pollinators to the garden. Weed out unwanted seedlings in the spring. To avoid too many self-sown plants, do not cold compost the plants with seed heads, save them for a hot compost pile or add to the green waste bin.

Achillea millefolium

If you want to fill a gap in the flower border fairly quickly, Achillea millefolium will usually do the job well. They are highly attractive to pollinators, Achillea are fast-growing, robust plants with spreading roots. They are available in a wide range of colours from white to yellow and red.

I have a selection of soft pastel shades in one border in the garden and they never fail to please. They prefer not to be in wet soil during winter, but are otherwise, fully hardy. Height and spread 60cm

Erigeron karvinskianus

These hardy perennials to sow in spring may flower the same year.

These hardy perennials to sow in spring are Mexican fleabane. It is semi-evergreen and produces a mass of typical daisy flowers with a yellow centre. The petals open as white, but become pink-purple as they age. The plants form a mat up to 30cm height and over 50cm spread. It is unfussy about soil type as long as it is well-drained. It is drought-tolerant, although produces a larger plant with more flowers if it does not dry out for long periods. Grow in full sun in all but a north-facing garden. Hardy throughout most of UK and Ireland.

Eupatorium cannabinum

Here’s a plant for the middle to back of the border and ideal for growing in a prairie style planting scheme. Vigorous plants with red-purple stems and green leaves grow to 150cm (5ft) height. Grow in moist, but well-drained or poorly draining soil. They are happy in full sun or partial shade, in clay or loam soil. Despite its height, it will happily grow on an exposed site. Flowers appear in late summer and early autumn.

More informationn

The article about Hardy perennials to sow in spring was written for Amateur Gardening magazine and published in spring 2026. I may have updated some of the specific varieties and images and added further suggestions. Additionally, links are included to help you find the suggested plants.

If you want to find the tools, equipment and plant suppliers that we use, check out our Resources page that include discounts and special offers for readers of this blog.

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Liz Zorab

With over 45 years of gardening experience, Liz is a best-selling author and award-winning gardener. On less than an acre, she grows most of the food and drink her family enjoy each year. She also manages a further four acres of flower gardens and meadows. Liz regularly writes for magazines, teaches gardening and self-sufficiency skills and is a gardening expert for BBC Radio Wales. And, she encourages thousands of people to take up their trowels and live their dreams through a vibrant YouTube Channel, Liz Zorab Gardening.