Seeds require the right conditions or they will fail to germinate. Germination is triggered by soil temperature, soil depth, moisture and some seeds require stratification which is a period of chilling prior to sowing. This table is a quick and easy guide to sowing flower seeds.
Some seeds require sunlight to germinate, which has been listed as ‘surface’. Sprinkle the seeds on the surface, but gently push them down so that they don’t disperse in the wind. When sowing seeds that require a light covering of soil, add some soil or potting mix to an old kitchen sieve and gently sprinkle over the seeds.
Related: Flower height, position and bloom time
Many seedlings are frost-tender, and should only be planted once the risk of frost has passed, which is generally past Easter in the Northern Hemisphere. For those of us in warmer climates such as Australia, we can sow seeds much earlier.
Stratification refers to a period of cold that breaks dormancy. Gardeners can either sow in autumn so they will undergo stratification in the environment, or place seeds in a refrigerator and sow in spring. For those of us in a warmer climate, it is best to stratify in the refrigerator and plant in spring.
Temp |
When |
Depth |
Germination |
Stratification? |
|
| African daisy (Arctotis stoechadifolia) | 18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Spring | 3 mm | 15-20 days | No |
| African daisy (Osteospermum spp.) | 21-24 °C/70-75 °F | Spring | 5 mm | 10-21 days | No |
| Alyssum (Lobularia maritima) | 12-23 °C/55-75 °F | Spring | Surface | 5-14 days | No |
| Amethyst flower (Browallia spp.) | 18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Spring | Surface | 14-21 days | No |
| Aster (Aster spp.) | 18-23 °C/65-75 °F | Spring/ summer | 5 mm | 10-14 days | No |
| Baby’s breath (Gypsophila spp.) | 15-18 °C/60-65 °F | Spring/autumn | Surface | 10-14 days | No |
| Balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorus) | 16-20 °C/60-68 °F | Spring | Surface | 14-28 days | No |
| Bear’s breeches (Acanthus mollis) | 18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Spring/autumn | 6 mm | 14-21 days | No |
| Bee balm (Monarda didyma) | 16-21 °C/60-70 °F | Spring/autumn | Surface | 7-14 days | No |
| Begonia (Begonia spp.) | 18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Spring | Surface | 14-21 days | No |
| Bellflower (Campanula spp.) | 21-23 °C/70-75 °F | Spring | Surface | 20-30 days | Yes |
| Bells-of-Ireland (Moluccella laevis) | 13-18 °C/55-64 °F | Spring | Surface | 21-35 days | Yes |
| Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) | 18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Spring | Surface | 14-21 days | Yes |
| Bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis) | 4-12 °C/40-55 °F | Spring | 12 mm | 10-21 days | Yes |
| Blanket flower (Gaillardia x grandiflora) |
12-18 °C/55-65 °F | Spring | Surface | 7-20 days | Yes |
| Boltonia (Boltonia spp.) | 18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Autumn | 6 mm | 14-21 days | No |
| Borage (Borago officinalis) | 18-29 °C/65-85 °F | Spring | 10 mm | 7-10 days | No |
| Bugloss (Anchusa capensis) | 18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Spring/autumn | 5 mm | 10 days | No |
| Butter daisy (Melampodium paludosum) |
18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Spring | 5 mm | 7-14 days | No |
| Butterfly flower (Schizanthus spp.) | 18-22 °C/65-71 °F | Late winter/spring | 3 mm | 21-28 days | No |
| Butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea) |
22-28 °C/71-82 °F | Spring | 5 mm | 14-21 days | No |
| Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) | 18-24 °C/65-75 °F | Spring | Surface | 15-20 days | Yes |
| Calendula (Calendula officinalis) | 18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Early spring | 10 mm | 7-10 days | No |
| Californian poppy (Eschscholzia californica) | 12-21 °C/55-70 °F | Early spring | 5 mm | 14-21 days | No |
| Candytuft (Iberis spp.) | 23-29 °C/75-85 °F | Summer/autumn | Surface | 14-21 days | No |
| Canterbury bells (Campanula medium) | 18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Spring/autumn | Surface | 14-21 days | Yes |
| Cape jewels (Nemesia strumosa) | 13-18 °C/55-65 °F |
Mid-spring | 3 mm | 7-14 days | No |
| Carnation (Dianthus spp.) | 15-21 °C/60-70 °F | Spring/autumn | 3 mm | 7-14 days | No |
| Catnip/catmint (Nepeta spp.) | 18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Spring | 3 mm | 8-12 days | No |
| Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) | 18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Spring | Surface | 10-14 days | Yes |
| Chilean bellflower (Nolana paradoxa) | 20-22 °C/68-72 °F | Spring | 3 mm | 4-6 weeks | No |
| Chinese aster (Callistephus chinensis) | 20-23 °C/68-73 °F | Spring | 3 mm | 14 days | No |
| Chinese forget-me-not (Cynoglossum amabile) | 18-20 °C/65-68 °F | Spring to late autumn | Surface | 5-10 days | No |
| Chinese lantern (Physalis alkekengi) | 16-21 °C/60-70 °F | Spring | Surface | 15-30 days | No |
| Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum spp.) | 18-23 °C/65-75 °F | Spring/summer | 2 mm | 10-14 days | No |
| Clematis (Clematis spp.) | 20-22 °C/68-73 °F | Spring | 5 mm | 3-5 weeks | Yes |
| Cliquefoil (Potentilla spp.) | 19-21 °C/67-70 °F | Spring/autumn | 3 mm | 14-21 days | No |
| Cohosh (Cimicifuga spp.) | 18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Autumn | 6 mm | 30-365 days | No |
| Columbine (Aquilegia spp.) | 10-12 °C/50-55 °F | Early spring/late autumn | Surface | 30-90 days | Yes |
| Common rockrose (Helianthemum nummularium) | 21/24 °C/70-75 °F | Late spring | Surface | 7-14 days | No |
| Common sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale) | 19-22 °C/65-73 °F | Spring | 3 mm | 14-21 days | No |
| Coral bells (Heuchera spp.) | 18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Early spring/late autumn | Surface | 21-28 days | No |
| Corncockle (Agrostemma githago) | 15-21 °C/60-70 °F | Late autumn to early spring | 3 mm | 7-14 days | No |
| Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) | 15-21 °C/60-70 °F | Late spring | Surface | 7-10 days | No |
| Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) | 21-23 °C/70-75 °F | Early spring | Surface | 5-7 days | No |
| Cup and saucer vine (Cobaea scandens) | 21-23 °C/70-75 °F | Spring | 12 mm | 10-20 days | No |
| Cupflower (Nierembergia spp.) | 21-23 °C/70-75 °F | Spring | Surface | 14-21 days | No |
| Cupid’s bow (Achimenes spp.) | 21-23 °C/70-75 °F | Spring | 10 mm | 20-30 days | No |
| Cupid’s dart (Catananche caerulea) | 20-23 °C/68-75 °F | Early spring | 3 mm | 7-14 days | No |
| Cyclamen (Cyclamen spp.) | 18-20 °C/65-68 °F | Winter | 6 mm | 30-60 days | No |
| Dahlberg daisy (Thymophylla tenuiloba) |
18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Early spring | Surface | 14 days | No |
| Dahlia (Dahlia spp.) | 21-23 °C/70-75 °F | Spring | 12 mm | 7-10 days | No |
| Delphinium (Delphinium elatum) | 15-20 °C/59-68 °F | Spring/autumn | 5 mm | 14-21 days | Yes |
| Echinacea (Echinacea spp.) | 18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Early spring | Surface | 10-21 days | Yes |
| Edeiweiss (Leontopodium alpinum) |
18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Late winter to early spring | Surface | 21-35 days (erratic) | Yes |
| English daisy (Bellis perennis) | 18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Autumn/spring | Surface | 10-21 days | No |
| Evening primrose (Oenothera spp.) | 21-26 °C/70-80 °F | Late autumn/early spring | Surface | 15-20 days | No |
| Everlasting (Helichrysum bracteatum) | 21/24 °C/70-75 °F | Spring/autumn | Surface | 7-10 days | No |
| False sunflower (Heliopsis spp.) | 21-23 °C/70-73 °F | Spring/autumn | 4 mm | 7-10 days | No |
| Fan flower (Scaevola aemula) | 20-22 °C/68-71 °F | Spring | 3 mm | 45-60 days | No |
| Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) |
20-22 °C/68-71 °F | Spring/autumn | Surface | 10-14 days | No |
| Firecracker flower (Crossandra infundibuliformis) | 21-27 °C/70-80 °F | Late winter to early spring | 3 mm | 7-10 days | No |
| Flax (Linum usitatissimum) | 18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Early spring | 6 mm | 20-25 days | No |
| Fleabane (Erigeron spp.) | 18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Late winter to early spring | 6 mm | 14-28 days | No |
| Floss flower (Ageratum houstonianum) | 24-29 °C/75-85 °F | Spring | Surface | 7-14 days | No |
| Forget-me-not (Myosotis spp.) | 18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Spring/autumn | 3 mm | 21-28 days | No |
| Foxglove (Digitalis spp.) | 15-18 °C/60-65 °F | Late summer to early autumn | Surface | 14-21 days | No |
| Garden heliotrope (Heliotropium spp.) | 18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Spring/autumn | 6 mm | 15-20 °C days | No |
| Gay feather (Liatris spp.) | 18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Winter | 2 mm | 14-21 days | Yes |
| Gazania (Gazania spp.) | 15-18 °C/60-65 °F | Late winter to early spring | 3 mm | 8-14 days | No |
| Geranium (Pelargonium spp.) | 21-26 °C/70-75 °F | Winter | Surface | 7-10 days | No |
| Gerbera (Gerbera spp.) | 21-23 °C/70-73 °F | Spring to early summer | Surface | 14-21 days | No |
| Geum (Geum spp.) | 18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Early spring/autumn | Surface | 21-28 days | No |
| Globeflower (Trollius spp.) | 18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Winter to early spring | Surface | 21-28 days | Yes |
| Gloxinia (Sinningia speciosa) | 19-21 °C/66-70 °F | Late winter | Surface | 14-21 days | No |
| Goldencup (Hunnemannia fumariifolia) | 19-21 °C/66-70 °F | Spring | Surface | 15-20 °C days | No |
| Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) | 20-22 °C/68-71 °F | Spring | Surface | 2-8 weeks | Yes |
| Goldentuft (Aurinia saxatilis) | 15-21 °C/59-70 °F | Mid spring | Surface | 5-14 days | No |
| Hellebore (Helleborus spp.) | 18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Early spring/late summer | 6 mm | 6-18 months | Yes |
| Hibiscus (Hibiscus spp.) | 21-26 °C/70-75 °F | Spring | 6 mm | 14-21 days | No |
| Hollyhock (Alcea rosea) | 15-21 °C/60-70 °F | Spring | Surface | 10-14 days | Yes |
| Iceland poppy (Papaver nudicaule) | 18-24 °C/65-75 °F | Early spring | Surface | 10-14 days | Yes |
| Impatiens (Impatiens spp.) | 21-23 °C/70-73 °F | Spring | Surface | 14-21 days | No |
| Jacob’s ladder (Polemonium spp.) | 18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Autumn | Surface | 14-28 days | No |
| Laceflower (Trachymene coerulea) | 18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Mid spring | 1-2 mm | 18-21 days | No |
| Ladys purse (Calceolaria spp.) | 21-23 °C/70-73 °F | Spring/autumn | Surface | 5-10 days | No |
| Larkspur (Consolida ambigua) | 10-12 °C/50-55 °F | Spring/autumn | 6 mm | 14-21 days | Yes |
| Lavender (Lavandula spp.) | 18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Spring/autumn | Surface | 14-21 days | No |
| Leopard plant (Ligularia spp.) | 18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Spring/autumn | Surface | 7-14 days | No |
| Leopard’s bane (Doronicum cordatum) |
12-15 °C/55-60 °F | Spring to early summer | Surface | 14-21 days | No |
| Linaria (Linaria spp.) | 12-18 °C/55-65 °F | Late winter to early spring | 5 mm | 10-20 days | Yes |
| Lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum) | 22-23 °C/72-73 °F | Winter | Surface | 10-15 | No |
| Livingstone daisy (Dorotheanthus bellidiformis) |
18-24 °C/65-78 °F | Spring | Surface | 7-21 days | No |
| Lobelia (Lobelia spp.) | 18-23 °C/65-73 °F | Early spring | Surface | 10-14 days | No |
| Love-lies-bleeding (Amaranthus caudatus) | 20-28 °C/68-82 °F | Late spring to early summer | 3 mm | 7-10 days | No |
| Lupine (Lupinus spp.) | 12-21 °C/55-70 °F | Autumn | 6 mm | 14-21 days | Yes |
| Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) |
24-27 °C/75-80 °F | Spring | 6 mm | 2-6 weeks | No |
| Maltese cross (Lychinis chalcedonica) |
20-25 °C/68-77 °F | Spring/summer | Surface | 7-14 days | No |
| Marigold (Tagetes spp.) | 21-23 °C/70-73 °F | Spring | 8 mm | 10-14 days | No |
| Marshmallow plant (Althaea officinalis) | 15-21 °C/60-70 °F | Late summer | 6 mm | 14-24 days | Yes |
| Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) |
21-23 °C/70-73 °F | Spring | Surface | 14-21 days | Yes |
| Mexican creeping zinnia (Sanvitalia procumbens) | 18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Spring | 10 mm | 7-21 days | No |
| Mexican sunflower (Tithonia spp.) |
15-30 °C/59-86 °F | Spring | 3 mm | 4-10 days | No |
| Mignonette (Reseda odorata) | 12-14 °C/53-57 °F | Spring to summer | Surface | 5-10 days | No |
| Monkey flowers (Mimulus spp.) | 15-21 °C/60-70 °F | Late winter to early spring | Surface | 10-20 days | No |
| Monk’s hood (Aconitum spp.) | 12-15 °C/55-60 °F | Autumn to winter | 3 mm | 30 days | Yes |
| Morning glory (Convolvulus spp.) |
20-21 °C/68-70 °F | Spring | 10 mm | 5-21 days | No |
| Mullein (Verbascum) | 16-20 °C/60-68 °F | Autumn | Surface | 7-14 days | No |
| Musk mallow (Malva moschata) | 18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Autumn | Surface | 7-21 days | No |
| Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) | 15-18 °C/60-65 °F | Spring | 10 mm | 7-12 days | No |
| Nemesia (Nemesia spp.) | 12-18 °C/55-65 °F | Early spring | 1-2 mm | 7-21 days | No |
| Nemophila (Nemophila spp.) | 12-15 °C/55-60 °F | Early spring | 5 mm | 10-14 days | No |
| Nigella (Nigella damascena) | 15-18 °C/60-65 °F | Early spring | 3 mm | 21-28 days | No |
| Obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana) | 18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Spring | 5 mm | 14-28 days | No |
| Pansy (Viola tricolor var. hortensis) | 15-23 °C/60-73 °F | Spring | 3 mm | 21-28 days days | No |
| Pearly everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea) | 18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Spring | Surface | 21-28 days | No |
| Persian violet (Exacum affine) | 21/24 °C/70-78 °F | Spring/autumn | 3 mm | 14-21 days | No |
| Petunia (Petunia spp.) | 18-23 °C/65-73 °F | Spring | 3 mm | 7-10 days | No |
| Phlox (Phlox spp.) | 15-18 °C/60-65 °F | Spring | 5 mm | 14-21 days | No |
| Poppy (Papaver spp.) | 15-20 °C/60-68 °F | Spring/autumn | Surface | 7-30 days | Yes |
| Portulaca (Portulaca spp.) | 21-26 °C/70-80°F | Spring | 5 mm | 12-16 days | No |
| Pride of Madeira (Echium candicans) | 15-20 °C/60-68 °F | Spring | 3 mm | 7-14 days | No |
| Primrose (Primula spp.) | 15-18 °C/60-65 °F | Late winter to early spring | 3 mm | 10-21 days | Yes |
| Purple rock cress (Aubrieta deltoidea) | 18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Early spring | Surface | 14-21 days | No |
| Queen Anne’s lace (Daucus carota) | 16-18 °C/60-65 °F | Spring | Surface | 12-18 days | No |
| Rock cress (Aubrieta deltoidea) |
18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Early spring | 5 mm | 14-21 days | No |
| Salvia (Salvia officinalis) | 21-23 °C/70-73 °F | Spring | 5 mm | 14-21 days | No |
| Satin flower (Clarkia amoena) | 21-23 °C/70-73 °F | Spring/autumn | 3 mm | 5-10 mm | No |
| Shooting star (Dodecatheon meadia) | 18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Late autumn | 3 mm | 8-10 weeks | Yes |
| Sea holly (Eryngium spp.) | 18-23 °C/65-73 °F | Spring/autumn | 1 mm | 7-80 days (erratic) | Yes |
| Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum) | 18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Spring/autumn | 4 mm | 10-20 days | No |
| Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) | 18-23 °C/65-73 °F | Early spring/autumn | 3 mm | 10-14 days | Yes |
| Snow-in-summer (Cerastium tomentosum) | 18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Spring and summer | 3 mm | 12-16 days | No |
| Speedwell (Veronica spp.) | 18-24 °C/65-75 °F | Early spring | 5 mm | 14-21 days | No |
| Spider flower (Cleome spinosa) | 21-23 °C/70-73 °F | Early spring | 6 mm | 7-14 days | Yes |
| Statice (Limonium sinuatum) | 15-20 °C/60-68 °F | Spring | 3 mm | 7-21 days | No |
| Stock (Matthiola incana) | 15-18 °C/60-65 °F | Spring | 5 mm | 10-14 days | No |
| Stoke’s aster (Stokesia laevis) | 21/24 °C/70-75 °F | Spring | 3 mm | 25-30 days | No |
| Sunflower (Helianthus spp.) | 21-23 °C/70-73 °F | Spring to early summer | 10 mm | 10-14 days | No |
| Swan river daisy (Brachyscome iberidifolia) | 21/24 °C/70-78 °F | Spring to summer | 3 mm | 14-21 days | No |
| Sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus) | 12-18 °C/55-65 °F | Spring/autumn | 12 mm | 10-14 days | No |
| Sweet rocket (Hesperis matronalis) |
12-22 °C/53-71 °F | Spring/autumn | 2-5 mm | 10-14 days | No |
| Trumpet flower (Incarvillea spp.) | 18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Winter to early spring | 3 mm | 6-8 weeks | No |
| Tweedia (Oxypetalum caeruleum) |
18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Early to mid spring | 6 mm | 14-40 days | No |
| Twinspur (Diascia spp.) | 15-18 °C/60-65 °F | Spring/autumn | Surface | 14 days | No |
| Verbena (Verbena spp.) | 18-23 °C/65-73 °F | Spring | 5 mm | 21-28 days | No |
| Viola (Viola spp.) | 18-23 °C/65-73 °F | Late summer | 6 mm | 21-28 days | No |
| Virginian stock (Malcolmia maritima) | 18-23 °C/65-73 °F | Spring and autumn | 5 mm | 10-14 days | No |
| Wallflower (Erysimum cheiri/ syn. Cheiranthus cheiri) | 15-18 °C/60-65 °F | Spring | 6 mm | 7-14 days | No |
| Wild indigo (Baptisia spp.) | 18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Spring/late autumn | 6 mm | 14 days | No |
| Wishbone flower (Torenia fournieri) | 21-23 °C/70-75 °F | Spring | 5 mm | 10-15 days | No |
| Wood anemone (Anemonoides nemorosa) |
15-18 °C/60-65 °F | Spring/autumn | Surface | 30 days (erratic) | Yes |
| Xeranthemum (Xeranthemum annuum) | 24-35 °C/75-95 °F | Spring/autumn | 5 mm | 7-14 days | No |
| Yarrow (Achillea spp.) | 18-21 °C/65-70 °F | Spring/autumn | 5 mm | 10-14 days | Yes |
| Zinnia (Zinnia spp.) | 21-23 °C/70-73 °F | Spring | 6 mm | 7- 21 days | No |
