previous
  • Fragrant Plants for Pathways
    Fragrant Plants for Pathways
  • Save Money by Growing Your Own
    Save Money by Growing Your Own
  • Designing with Curved Terraces
    Designing with Curved Terraces
  • Dwarf Citrus Trees
    Dwarf Citrus Trees
  • In Pursuit of the Perfect Potting Shed
    In Pursuit of the Perfect Potting Shed
  • Pretty in Pink
    Pretty in Pink
  • Thoughts From a Foreign Field
    Thoughts From a Foreign Field
  • Garden Confidential: A Plant Walks into a Bar
    Garden Confidential: A Plant Walks into a Bar
  • Elephant's Ears
    Elephant's Ears
  • Containers as Focal Points
    Containers as Focal Points
  • Plants that Spark!
    Plants that Spark!
  • Fast-Growing Trees for Impatient Gardeners
    Fast-Growing Trees for Impatient Gardeners
  • 6 Tips for Weed Control
    6 Tips for Weed Control
  • Lawn Alternatives
    Lawn Alternatives
  • Building a Compost Bin
    Building a Compost Bin
  • Colorful Selections for Shade
    Colorful Selections for Shade
  • Mulch for a Healthy Garden
    Mulch for a Healthy Garden
  • NEW Video Series: There's a Better Way
    NEW Video Series: There's a Better Way
  • Indeterminate or Determinate Tomatoes?
    Indeterminate or Determinate Tomatoes?
  • Plant an Easy-to-Water Strawberry Jar
    Plant an Easy-to-Water Strawberry Jar
  • Slideshow: Beautiful Clematis
    Slideshow: Beautiful Clematis
  • Make a Succulent Topiary
    Make a Succulent Topiary
  • Homegrown / Homemade
    Homegrown / Homemade
  • Comfortable Alfresco Dining
    Comfortable Alfresco Dining
  • Stylish Shady Containers
    Stylish Shady Containers
next

continued 1| 2next>View all

20 Gardenworthy Self-Sowers

One gardener's favorite selections for the Northeast

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
Atlas poppy seedling Atlas poppy seedling
Cardinal flower Cardinal flower
Cardinal flower seedling 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
Flat sea holly seedling Flat sea holly seedling
Flowering tobacco Flowering tobacco
Flowering tobacco seedling 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 Foxglove Photo/Illustration: Virginia Small
Foxglove seedlings Foxglove seedlings
Hollyhock Hollyhock Photo/Illustration: Michelle Gervais
Hollyhock seedling 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 Jacob’s ladder Photo/Illustration: Bill Johnson
Jacob’s ladder seedling Jacob’s ladder seedling
Love-in-a-mist Love-in-a-mist
Love-in-a-mist seedling 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)

Snowdrop anemone Snowdrop anemone
Snowdrop anemone seedling Snowdrop anemone seedling
Sweet William catchfly Sweet William catchfly Photo/Illustration: Michelle Gervais
Sweet William catchfly seedling Sweet William catchfly seedling
Photos, except where noted: Jennifer Benner
From Fine Gardening 109 , pp. 55

continued 1| 2next>View all