Flower Seed Sowing Guide

The guide below compliments our flower seed sowing guide, with additional information on height, sun exposure, bloom time and toxicity to cats, dogs and people.

Height Sun exposureFlowers Toxic?
African daisy (Arctotis stoechadifolia)30 cmFull sunLate spring/early summerNon-toxic
African daisy (Osteospermum spp.)30 – 90 cmFull sunEarly summerNon-toxic
Alyssum (Lobularia maritima)7 cmFull sun/partial shadeSpring to autumnNon-toxic
Amethist flower (Browallia spp.)30 – 90 cmFull sun/partial shadeSummer/autumnToxic
Aster (Aster spp.)30 – 120 cmFull sunLate summer/mid autumnNon-toxic
Baby’s breath (Gypsophila spp.)15 – 90 cmFull sunSummer/autumnNon-toxic
Balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorus)30 – 90 cmFull sun/part shadeLate spring/summerToxic
Bear’s breeches (Acanthus mollis)90 – 120 cmFull sun/part shadeLate spring/summerUnknown
Bee balm (Monarda didyma)90 – 120 cmFull sun/dappled shadeLate spring/early summerNon-toxic
Begonia (Begonia spp.)15 – 60 cmPart shadeMid summer/autumnToxic
Bellflower (Campanula spp.)120 cmFull sunSpring/mid-summerNon-toxic
Bells-of-Ireland (Moluccella
laevis
)
100 cmFull sunSummerNon-toxic
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)60 – 90 cmFull sun/part shadeLate summer/autumnToxic
Bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis)75 – 90 cmPart/full shadeLate spring/summerToxic
Blanket flower (Gaillardia
x grandiflora
)
40 cmFull sunEarly summer/autumnNon-toxic
Boltonia (Boltonia spp.)150 – 180 cmFull sunLate summer/early autumnUnknown
Borage (Borago officinalis)50 – 90 cmFull sum/part shadeEarly summer/early autumnCats and dogs, not humans
Bugloss (Anchusa capensis)60 cmFull sun/part shadeSummerNo
Butter daisy (Melampodium
paludosum
)
20 – 40 cmFull sunSummerUnknown
Butterfly flower (Schizanthus spp.)30 – 50 cmFull sunSpring to autumnNon-toxic
Butterfly pea (Clitoria
ternatea
)
3 metresFull sunMid to late summerNon-toxic
Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa)30 – 60 cmFull sunLate spring and summerToxic
Calendula (Calendula officinalis)80 cmFull sunSpring and summerNon-toxic
Californian poppy (Eschscholzia californica)20 cmFull sunLate spring to summerNon-toxic
Candytuft (Iberis spp.)30 cmFull sunSpring and summerToxic
Canterbury bells (Campanula medium)60 – 90 cmFull sun/part shadeSummerNon-toxic
Cape jewels (Nemesia strumosa)30 cmFull sun/part shadeLate spring to autumnNon-toxic
Carnation (Dianthus spp.)30 – 50 cmFull sunLate spring to summerToxic
Catnip/catmint (Nepeta spp.)30 – 50 cmFull sunLate spring to autumnNon-toxic
Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)50 – 80 cmFull sunMid to late summerToxic to cats and dogs, not humans
Chilean bellflower (Lapageria
rosea
)
1 metreFull sun/part shadeLate summer and autumnUnknown
Chinese aster (Callistephus chinensis)30 – 90 cmFull sun/part shadeLate summer and autumnNon-toxic
Chinese forget-me-not (Cynoglossum
amabile
)
40 cmFull sun/part shadeSummerToxic
Chinese lantern (Physalis alkekengi)40 – 60 cmFull sun/part shadeSummerToxic
Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum spp.)40 – 100 cmFull sunSummer to autumnToxic
Clematis (Clematis spp.)2.4 – 3.6 metresFull sunSpringToxic
Cliquefoil (Potentilla spp.)30 – 90 cmFull sun/part shadeLate spring to autumnNon-toxic
Cohosh (Cimicifuga spp.)25 – 60 cmPart to full shadeLate summer to early autumnUnknown
Columbine (Aquilegia spp.)30 – 45 cmFull sunSpringYes
Common rockrose (Helianthemum nummularium)15 – 30 cmFull sunSpring and summerUnknown
Common sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale)90 cmFull sunAutumnToxic
Coral bell (Heuchera spp.)20 – 30 cmFull sun/part shadeSpring to autumnNon-toxic
Corncockle (Agrostemma githago)30 – 60 cmFull sunSummerToxic
Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus)90 cmFull sunSpring to summerNon-toxic
Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus)90 cm to 1.5 metresFull sunSummerNon-toxic
Cup and saucer vine (Cobaea scandens)1.5 to 3 metresFull sunLate summerNon-toxic
Cupflower (Nierembergia spp.)5 cmFull sun/part shadeMid-summer to mid-autumnToxic
Cupid’s bow (Achimenes spp.)30 cmBright/indirect sunSummer to autumnNon-toxic
Cupid’s dart (Catananche caerulea)18 – 28 cmFull sunMid-summer to autumnNon-toxic
Cyclamen (Cyclamen spp.)20 cmPart shadeLate winter to springToxic
Dahlberg daisy (Thymophylla
tenuiloba
)
15 – 30 cmFull sunSummer to early autumnToxic
Dahlia (Dahlia spp.)15 cm to 1.2 metresFull sunLate summer to autumnMildly toxic to cats and dogs, not
humans
Delphinium (Delphinium elatum)100 – 150 cmFull sunSpring and summerToxic
Echinacea (Echinacea spp.)75 – 120 cmFull sun/part shadeSummer and autumnNon-toxic
Edeiweiss (Leontopodium
alpinum
)
15 – 20 cmFull sunLate spring and summerUnknown
English daisy (Bellis perennis)20 – 30 cmFull sun/part shadeSpring and summerNon-toxic
Evening primrose (Oenothera spp.)90 – 150 cmFull sunLate spring to early autumnToxic to cats and dogs, not humans
Everlasting (Helichrysum bracteatum)100 – 150 cmFull sunSpring and summerUnknown
False sunflower (Heliopsis spp.)60 – 120 cmFull sunSummerNon-toxic
Fan flower (Scaevola aemula)50 cmFull sun/part shadeSummer to autumnNon-toxic
Feverfew (Tanacetum
parthenium
)
70 cmFull sun/part shadeSummer to autumnUnknown
Firecracker flower (Crossandra infundibuliformis)30 – 90 cmPart shadeSpring to autumnNon-toxic
Flax (Linum usitatissimum)30 – 100 cmFull sunSummerNon-toxic
Fleabane (Erigeron spp.)20 – 30 cmFull sunSpring to autumnToxic
Floss flower (Ageratum houstonianum)30 – 100 cmFull sunSummerToxic
Forget-me-non toxict (Myosotis spp.)30 cmPart shadeSpringNon-toxic
Foxglove (Digitalis spp.)60 – 90 cmFull sun/part shadeSpring and summerToxic
Garden heliotrope (Heliotropium spp.)10 – 50 cmFull sunSpring to late summerToxic
Gay feather (Liatris spp.)90 – 150 cmFull sun/part shadeMid to late summerNon-toxic
Gazania (Gazania spp.)30 cmFull sun/part shadeSpring to autumnNon-toxic
Geranium (Pelargonium
spp.
)
30 – 90 cmFull sun/part shadeSpring to autumnToxic
Gerbera (Gerbera spp.)75 cmFull sunLate spring to autumnNon-toxic
Geum (Geum spp.)30 – 90 cmPart shadeSpringUnknown
Globeflower (Trollius spp.)60 cmShadeMid-spring to early summerNon-toxic
Gloxinia (Sinningia speciosa)20 – 30 cmPart shadeLate spring to autumnNon-toxic
Goldencup (Hunnemannia fumariifolia)60 cmFull sunMid-summer to early autumnUnknown
Goldenrod (Solidago spp.)60 cm to 2.4 metresFull sunMid to late summerNon-toxic
Goldentuft (Aurinia saxatilis)5 – 10 cmFull sunSpring to early summerNon-toxic
Hellebore (Helleborus spp.)30 cmPart sun/dappled shadeWinter to springToxic
Hibiscus (Hibiscus spp.)1 – 2 metresFull sunMid to late summerNon-toxic
Hollyhock (Alcea rosea)1.5 metresFull sunSummerNon-toxic
Iceland poppy (Papaver nudicaule)30 – 45 cmFull sunSpring to early summerToxic
Impatiens (Impatiens spp.)1 metreFull sunSpring to autumnNon-toxic
Jacob’s ladder (Polemonium spp.)45 – 60 cmFull sun/part shadeLate spring to early summerNon-toxic
Laceflower (Trachymene coerulea)80 cmFull sun/part shadeSpring to summerUnknown
Ladys purse (Calceolaria spp.)70 – 90 cmFull sun/part shadeEarly spring to summerNon-toxic
Larkspur (Consolida ambigua)30 – 120 cmPart sun/part shadeSummerToxic
Lavender (Lavandula spp.)30 – 90 cmFull sunSpring and summerToxic
Leopard plant (Ligularia spp.)30 cmPart sunLate summerNon-toxic
Leopard’s bane (Doronicum
cordatum
)
20 – 90 cmFull sun/part shadeSummer to autumnToxic
Linaria (Linaria spp.)15 – 90 cmFull sunLate spring to late summerNon-toxic
Lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum)15 – 60 cmFull sun/part shadeSummer to autumnNon-toxic
Livingstone daisy (Dorotheanthus
bellidiformis
)
15 cmFull sunSpringNon-toxic
Lobelia (Lobelia spp.)15 – 20 cmFull sun/part shadeSpring to autumnToxic
Love-lies-bleeding (Amaranthus caudatus)90 – 120 cmFull sunMid-summer to autumnNon-toxic
Lupine (Lupinus spp.)90 cmFull sunEarly summerToxic
Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus
roseus
)
50 cmFull sun/part shadeLate spring to autumnToxic
Maltese cross (Lychnis
chalcedonica
)
30 – 50 cmFull sun/part shadeSummerNon-toxic
Marigold (Tagetes spp.)30 cmFull sun/part shadeSummer to autumnToxic
Marshmallow plant (Althaea officinalis)90 cm to 1.2 metresFull sunMid-summerNon-toxic
Meadowsweet (Filipendula
ulmaria
)
1 metreFull sun/part shadeLate summerNon-toxic
Mexican creeping zinnia (Sanvitalia
procumbens)
20 cmFull sunSummer to early autumnNon-toxic
Mexican sunflower (Tithonia
spp.
)
60 cm to 1.2 metresFull sunSummerNon-toxic
Mignon toxicnette (Reseda odorata)30 cmFull sun/part shadeMid-summer to early autumnUnknown
Monkey flowers (Mimulus spp.)15 cmFull sun/part shadeSummerNon-toxic
Monk’s hood (Aconitum spp.)1 metreFull sun/part shadeMid-summerToxic
Morning glory (Convolvulus spp.)
2 metresFull sunSummer to autumnToxic
Mullein (Verbascum)30 cm to 1.2 metresFull sun/part shadeSpring to summerToxic
Musk mallow (Malva
moschata
)
60 cmFull sunEarly summer to autumnNon-toxic
Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)30 – 300 cmFull sunSpring to autumnNon-toxic
Nemesia (Nemesia spp.)30 – 60 cmFull sunSpring and autumnNon-toxic
Nemophila (Nemophila spp.)15 – 30 cmFull sun/part shade (warm areas)Mid-summer to late autumnUnknown
Nigella (Nigella damascena)30 – 45 cmFull sun/part shadeSpringMildly toxic
Obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana)90 – 120 cmFull sun/part shadeMid to late summerNon-toxic
Pansy (Viola tricolor var. hortensis)20 cmFull sun/part shadeSpring to summerMildly toxic
Pearly everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea)30 – 90 cmFull sunSummerNon-toxic
Persian violet (Exacum affine)20 – 30 cmMorning sunSpring to autumnNon-toxic
Petunia (Petunia spp.)30 cmFull sunSummerNon-toxic
Phlox (Phlox spp.)45 cmFull sunSummer to autumnNon-toxic
Poppy (Papaver spp.)45 cmFull sunSpringToxic
Portulaca (Portulaca spp.)10 – 20 cmFull sunSummerToxic
Pride of Madeira (Echium candicans)1.5 – 2 metresFull sunSpringToxic
Primrose (Primula spp.)25 – 30 cmPart shadeSpringToxic
Purple rock cress (Aubrieta deltoidea)10 – 20 cmFull sun/part shadeSpringUnknown
Queen Anne’s lace (Daucus carota)30 – 120 cmFull sunMid-summer to mid-autumnToxic
Rock cress (Arabis spp.)10 – 20 cmFull sunSpringUnknown
Salvia (Salvia officinalis)20 cmFull sunMid-summer to mid-autumnNon-toxic
Satin flower (Clarkia amoena)1 metreMorning sunLate spring to early summerUnknown
Shooting star (Dodecatheon meadia)60 cmFiltered shadeMid springNon-toxic
Sea holly (Eryngium spp.)20 – 60 cmFull sunSummer to autumnToxic
Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum)60 – 90 cmFull sun/part shadeMid-summer to mid-autumnToxic
Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus)60 cmFull sun/part shadeSpring and autumnNon-toxic
Snow-in-summer (Cerastium tomentosum)20 – 30 cmFull sun/part shadeLate spring to early summerNon-toxic
Speedwell (Veronica spp.)140 cmFull sun/part shadeSpring to autumnToxic
Spider flower (Cleome
hassleriana
)
150 cmFull sun/part shadeEarly summer to autumnNon-toxic
Statice (Limonium sinuatum)50 cmFull sunSummer to autumnNon-toxic
Stock (Matthiola incana)20 – 30 cmFull sun to light shadeLate winter to springNon-toxic
Stoke’s aster (Stokesia laevis)150 cmFull sun/part shadeSummerNon-toxic
Sunflower (Helianthus spp.)30 cm – 1.8 metresFull sunSummerNon-toxic
Swan river daisy (Brachyscome iberidifolia)30 cmFull sunSummerToxic
Sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus)200 cmFull sunSummerToxic
Sweet rocket (Hesperis
matronalis
)
80 cmFull sun/part shadeMid-spring to mid-summerNon-toxic
Trumpet flower (Incarvillea spp.)30 – 40 cmFull sun/part shadeLate spring to early summerNon-toxic
Tweedia (Oxypetalum coeruleum)100 cmFull sunSpring and summerYes
Twinspur (Diascia spp.)25 – 40 cmFull sunSpring to autumnNo
Verbena (Verbena spp.)30 – 45 cmFull sunEarly summer to autumnYes
Viola (Viola spp.)30 cmFull sun (part shade in hot
climates)
Early summer to autumnNo
Virginian stock (Malcolmia maritima)15 – 30 cmFull sunMid-summer to autumnUnknown
Wallflower (Erysimum cheiri, syn. Cheiranthus cheiri)45 – 60 cmFull sunSpring to summerNo
Wild indigo (Baptisia spp.)90 – 120 cmFull sunLate spring to early summerNo
Wishbone flower (Torenia fournieri)15 – 30 cmPart shadeLate spring to early summerUnknown
Xeranthemum (Xeranthemum annuum)40 – 60 cmFull sunSummer to early autumnUnknown
Yarrow (Achillea spp.)60 – 90 cmFull sunSummer to autumnYes
Zinnia (Zinnia spp.)120 cmFull sunSummer to autumnNo