This easy to grow annual flower species is sometimes called Chinese Forget-Me-Nots or Hound’s Tongue. It is a relative of borage, and is native to Asia. Continue reading below for our expert tips on how to grow Cynoglossum from seed.
Continue ReadingCosmos will flower more in poor soil, rather than rich, so avoid manures and fertilizers. Pinch out the growing point when plants are around 45cm (18″) tall to encourage bushier growth and more flowering points. Water during very dry spells, but otherwise, Cosmos is well suited to xeriscaping. Cosmos seeds are easy to harvest and save. These annual plants are sometimes referred to as Cosmea. Continue reading below for tips on how to grow Cosmos from seed.
Continue ReadingThis easy annual plant also answers to Cornflower, Bachelor’s Button, Bluebottle, Hurtsickle, Hardheads, Knapweed, and Star Thistle. We use the genus name to keep it nice and simple. It grows well in any ordinary, well drained garden soil. Seeds will flourish within the pH range of 5.5-7.0. Deadhead regularly to prolong blooming and prevent self-sowing. Planting several times over the spring will produce a longer bloom time throughout summer and early fall. Continue reading below for some tips on how to grow Centaurea from seed.
Continue ReadingCoreopsis is sometimes listed as Calliopsis or Tickseed. It is superbly easy to grow once established and untroubled by insects, disease, and even deer. Continue reading below for some tips on how to grow Coreopsis from seed.
Continue ReadingAquilegia is a hardy perennial known commonly as Columbine. The genus includes 60-70 species, including many that are native to Canadian woodlands and forests. They are best known for the exceptionally deep nectar-bearing spurs that jut backwards from each flower. These are enjoyed by moths, bumblebee, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. Continue reading below for some top tips on how to grow Columbine from seed.
Continue ReadingCleome is very easy to grow once established, and may work best from direct-sown seeds. Any ordinary garden soil will work, including dry areas once plants are established. Cleome self-sows with gusto, so if you want to avoid this, remove flower heads before seeds ripen. This annual native of South America is quite drought tolerant so it's good for xeriscaping. Continue reading below for more tips on how to grow Cleome from seed.
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Plant Clarkia in cool, moist, well-drained soil. Avoid nitrogen-rich beds and planting beside nitrogen fixers (beans, peas, clover, lupins…). Flowering will be reduced in hot weather. While plants are still small, intersperse the Clarkia bed with twiggy branches to provide support as they grow. Tall plants will need staking. Crowding Clarkia plants may increase flower production. Clarkia may self-sow. Continue reading below for some tips on how to grow Clarkia from seed.
Continue ReadingCerinthe (AKA Honeywort) is an elegant looking plant that stands out for its unusual habit. Each stem arches upward out forward with a seemingly endless series of purple-blue bell shaped flowers. This plant works very well in larger containers or flower borders. Continue reading below for tips on how to grow Cerinthe from seeds.
Continue ReadingLearn how to grow Chrysanthemums from seed. These perennial plants regularly undergo name changes, and may be listed as Chrysanthemum, Leucanthemum, Pyrethrum, or Tanacetum.
Continue ReadingCelosia is a relative of Amaranth, and native to the highlands of East Africa where it is known in Swahili as mfungu. Today’s cultivated Celosias have been selected for the brightness of their colours and compactness of growth. Celosia is sometimes listed by the common names Cockscomb or Woolflower. Continue reading below for our best tips on how to grow Celosia from seed.
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Barely cover the tiny seeds. Use fresh seed starting mix and keep it moist until germination. Harden seedlings off over the course of at least one week. Transplant out after last frost at 25-30cm (10-12″) apart.
Continue ReadingSpace or transplant China Asters 30-45cm (12-18″) apart. This spacing is key to success later in the season, so please follow the guidance. Do not pinch back young plants. Water regularly during dry spells. This plant is particularly sensitive to over-watering, and will not thrive if over-crowded, poorly ventilated, or situated close to a heat-reflecting surface. Mulch around the plants in summer to help keep the roots cool.
Continue ReadingThese hardy, but short-lived perennial plants are usually grown as annuals. Grows to 5–60 in (13–152 cm) tall, with alternately branching, glaucous, blue-green foliage. The leaves are divided into round, lobed segments. Blooms are solitary on long stems which are silky-textured each with four petals. Flower colours range from yellow to orange, flowering from early spring through to fall. The petals close at night or in the cold, windy weather and open again the following morning. Flowers will remain closed in cloudy weather as well. Continue reading below for tips on how to grow California poppies from seed.
Continue ReadingThese easy-to-grow annual flowers are also known as English marigolds or pot marigolds. Calendula repels a number of bad nematodes in the soil, but may attract slugs. Plant with tomatoes and asparagus. Please continue reading below for some tips on how to grow Calendula from seed.
Continue ReadingHere we will examine how to grow Bellis perennis English Daisy from seeds. Bellis is a versatile, low-growing, carpet-forming perennial plant with appealing pom-pon like flowers. It looks spectacular once it has naturalized into lawns.
Continue ReadingThis evergreen perennial bears the slightly misleading common name Basket of Gold Alyssum. Remember that the common name Alyssum is a bit misleading. This Basket of Gold Alyssum is actually Aurinia saxatilis, and Snow Cloth Alyssum is actually Lobularia maritima. Alyssum describes the shape and size of the plants more than any true botanical details. Continue reading below for some tips on how to grow Aurinia from seed.
Continue ReadingDouglas Asters are somewhat inconspicuous plants until they burst into bloom at the end of summer. This perennial is an important food source for skipper butterflies and many other late season pollinators.
Continue ReadingWhen transplanted seedlings are 10-15cm (4-6″) tall, pinch back the growing tip to encourage multiple flowering points. Asclepias tuberosa prefers dry, sandy conditions or any average garden soil in full sun. Plants grown from seed bloom in the first year if given an early start. They can be pulled up in fall and treated like annuals to prevent spreading. Asclepias does not divide well, but it’s an outstanding choice for xeriscaping. Asclepias speciosa and some of the others do better in swampy soil, but they are not fussy plants. Continue reading below for some more specific advice on how to grow Asclepias from seed.
Continue ReadingFalse Queen Anne’s Lace or Bishop’s Weed are common names for this attractive, naturalistic looking annual flower. Ammi grows stiffly upright stems topped by umbelliferous flowers that are attractive to pollinators and predatory insects. The flower heads can reach 15cm (6″) across, and are lovely in flower arrangements. Continue reading below to find out how to grow Ammi from seed
Continue ReadingAlyssum is an easy-to-grow annual that is both decorative and useful. It plays a key role in companion planting and can be used as a cover crop to attract insects, smother weeds, and increase fruit set in vegetable beds. Continue reading below for some tips on how to grow Alyssum from seed.
Continue ReadingAgastache is very attractive to bees. Plant a row away from the garden to lure cabbage moths away from Brassica crops. Do not plant near radishes. Agastache is a hardy perennial also known as Giant Hyssop, Liquorice Mint, or Lavender Hyssop. Continue reading below for more tips on how to grow Agastache from seed.
Continue ReadingAfrican Violets have been much loved as houseplants since Victorian plant hunters first encountered them growing in Tanzania. They are incredibly diverse, but excellent for indoor growing. They are generally undemanding and thrive best in dappled light.
Continue ReadingHow to grow Shiso from seed. Shiso is a strongly flavoured member of the mint family. Its leaves have a tangy flavour of cumin, mint, nutmeg, and anise combined. In stature it resembles a large basil plant, and the cultivation is very similar to growing basil.
Continue ReadingThyme, like other woody-stemmed herbs, tends to grow very slowly, and benefits from an early start if grown from seed. Unlike basil and other annual herbs, you shouldn’t count on harvesting thyme in the first (or even the second) year, except for very light picking of leaves. What follows are some tips on how to grow thyme from seed.
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