First-Year Flowering Perennials
by Diane Linsley
What is a perfect plant? In my imagination, it’s a long-lived perennial that blooms the first year from seed, is easy to grow, and self sows in moderation. Does this dream plant really exist? Probably not. But some plants come very close to the ideal. They are called first-year flowering perennials.
Are there any disadvantages to first-year flowering perennials? My only complaint is they are not always long-lived. It seems like the longest-lived plants are the ones that are difficult to start from seed and slow to bloom. But if you are willing to give up expectations of long life for some of your perennials, you will be rewarded with other benefits like ease of sowing and reseeding in the garden.
If you want to see early blooms on your plants, you'll need to start the seeds indoors 6-10 weeks before the last frost date. Of course, they will not bloom at their normal time the first year. For example, lupine usually blooms in May. If you sow the seeds indoors in March, then transplant them outside after the last frost date, you can expect to see the first blooms in late summer or fall. The following spring, the show will be more spectacular.
If you live in a warm zone, or you have good soil and plenty of sun, your plants will bloom sooner. Here is a list of the best perennials that bloom the first year from seed. These have worked well for me in my zone 5 garden.
Best First-Year Flowering Perennials
Agastache - Blooms in a variety of colors. Fragrant leaves.
Antirrhinum (Snapdragon) - Short-lived perennial in a wide range of colors.
Centranthus ruber - Bushy perennial with reddish-pink or white flowers.
Coreopsis grandiflora 'Sunray' - Golden-yellow, double flowers.
Delphinium grandiflorum 'Blue Butterfly' - Vivid, ultramarine blue flowers.
Dianthus 'Rainbow Loveliness' - Fragrant, fringed flowers in a mix of colors.
Feverfew - Masses of small, white, daisy-like flowers. Reseeds heavily.
Gaillardia aristata - Wine-red or scarlet-red flowers edged in gold.
Gaura lindheimeri - Native perennial. Pink-tinged, white flowers on tall stems.
Geum chiloense - Scarlet-red or golden-yellow flowers. Long bloom season.
Lavender 'Lady' - Compact plants with highly fragrant, lavender-blue flowers.
Linum narbonense 'Heavenly Blue' (Flax) - Wildflower with sky-blue flowers.
Lupine 'Russell Hybrids' - Dense spikes of flowers in a wide range of colors.
Lychnis chalcedonica - Red, salmon or white flowers. Attracts hummingbirds.
Malva sylvestris 'Zebrina' - Pale pink flowers with dark purple stripes.
Oenothera odorata 'Lemon Sunset' - Large, fragrant, light yellow flowers.
Papaver atlanticum 'Flore Pleno' - Soft orange, double flowers. Very nice.
Papaver 'Double Tangerine Gem' - More compact than Papaver atlanticum.
Penstemon barbatus 'Coccineus' - Tall spikes of scarlet-red, tubular flowers.
Platycodon grandiflorus - Blue, pink or white, double or single balloon flowers.
Ratibida columnifera - Native perennial with drooping, red or yellow petals.
Rudbeckia hirta - Gold, bronze or mahogany-red, daisy-like flowers.
Salvia - Most of the varieties we sell will bloom the first year if started early.
Shasta Daisy - Single or double flowers on short or tall plants.
Thalictrum aquilegifolium - Fluffy pink, purple or white flowers. Shade tolerant.
Verbascum phoeniceum - Tall perennial with pink, purple or white flowers.
Verbena bonariensis - Clusters of rosy-purple flowers on tall stems. Self sows.
Viola cornuta - Small flowers in a wide range of colors. Shade tolerant.
Related Articles
Groundcovers from Seed - Annual and perennial groundcovers.
Self-Sowing Annuals - Flowers that reseed and come back every year.
Deer-Resistant Flowers - Annuals & perennials. Tips for deterring deer.
Recommended Books
Color by Design by Nori and Sandra Pope
Tasha Tudor's Garden by Tovah Martin
Seeds
