20 Gardenworthy Self-Sowers

by Meghan Ray

Whether you are looking to create a cottage garden or to fill a few gaps in beds and borders, there are many self-sowers to choose from. Here are some of my favorites that I grow in the Northeast. See the related article, Reap the Rewards of Self-Sowers.

1. Atlas poppy (Papaver atlanticum, Zones 5–7)
2. Balloon flowers (Platycodon grandiflorus and cvs., Z 4–9)
3. California poppies (Eschscholzia californica and cvs., annual)
4. Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis, Z 2–8)

Atlas poppy

Atlas poppy seedling

Cardinal flower

Cardinal flower seedling

5. Chinese anemones (Anemone hupehensis and cvs., Z 5–7)
6. Columbines (Aquilegia spp. and cvs., Z 3–8)
7. Fernleaf corydalis (Corydalis cheilanthifolia, Z 4–9)
8. Flat sea hollies (Eryngium planum and cvs., Z 5–9)
9. Flowering tobaccos (Nicotiana spp. and cvs., annual)

Flat sea holly

Flat sea holly seedling

Flowering tobacco

Flowering tobacco seedling

10. Foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea and cvs., Z 4–8)
11. Heath asters (Aster ericoides and cvs., Z 5–8)
12. Hollyhocks (Alcea spp. and cvs., Z 3–9)

Foxglove Photo/Illustration: Virginia Small

Foxglove seedlings

Hollyhock Photo/Illustration: Michelle Gervais

Hollyhock seedling

13. Jacob’s ladder (Polemonium caeruleum, Z 4–9)
14. Love-in-a-mist (Nigella damascena and cvs., annual)
15. Mulleins (Verbascum spp. and cvs., Z 3–9)
16. Scotch thistle (Onopordum acanthium, Z 6–8)

Jacob’s ladder Photo/Illustration: Bill Johnson

Jacob’s ladder seedling

Love-in-a-mist

Love-in-a-mist seedling

17. Snowdrop anemone (Anemone sylvestris, Z 3–9)
18. Snow on the mountain (Euphorbia marginata, annual)
19. Sweet William catchfly (Silene armeria, annual)
20. Toadflaxes (Linaria maroccana and cvs., annual)