Growing at the wrong time of year could be fatal to sensitive seedlings, so mother nature ensures they don’t grow until the right conditions are met. Some seeds need a period of darkness before they emerge, while other seedlings need light to germinate. Seeds contain enough food in order to feed the embryonic plant during germination. Once the newly emerged seedling reaches the light, photosynthesis takes over.
As a rule, small seeds need light to germinate as the seed doesn’t contain enough nutrients to sustain the emerging seedling long. Therefore, it is critical that the seedling reaches a light source as soon as it emerges from the shell.
When sowing seeds on the surface, ensure the soil is already moist and press lightly to prevent the seeds from being blown away.
| Common name | Scientific name |
| Alyssum | Lobularia maritima |
| Amethyst flower | Browallia spp. |
| Baby’s breath | Gypsophila spp. |
| Balloon flower | Platycodon grandiflorus |
| Bee balm | Monarda didyma |
| Begonia | Begonia spp. |
| Bellflower | Campanula spp. |
| Bells-of-Ireland | Moluccella laevis |
| Black-eyed Susan | Rudbeckia hirta |
| Blanket flower | Gaillardia x grandiflora |
| Butterfly weed | Asclepias tuberosa |
| Candytuft | Iberis spp. |
| Canterbury bells | Campanula medium |
| Chamomile | Matricaria chamomilla |
| Chinese forget-me-not | Cynoglossum amabile |
| Chinese lantern | Physalis alkekengi |
| Columbine | Aquilegia spp. |
| Common rockrose | Helianthemum nummularium |
| Coral bell | Heuchera spp. |
| Cornflower | Centaurea cyanus |
| Cosmos | Cosmos bipinnatus |
| Cupflower | Nierembergia spp. |
| Dahlberg daisy | Thymophylla tenuiloba |
| Echinacea | Echinacea spp. |
| Edelweiss | Leontopodium alpinum |
| English daisy | Bellis perennis |
| Evening primrose | Oenothera spp. |
| Everlasting | Helichrysum bracteatum |
| Feverfew | Tanacetum parthenium |
| Floss flower | Ageratum houstonianum |
| Foxglove | Digitalis spp. |
| Geranium | Pelargonium spp. |
| Gerbera | Gerbera spp. |
| Geum | Geum spp. |
| Globeflower | Trollius spp. |
| Gloxinia | Sinningia speciosa |
| Goldencup | Hunnemannia fumariifolia |
| Goldenrod | Solidago spp. |
| Goldentuft | Aurinia saxatilis |
| Hollyhock | Alcea rosea |
| Iceland poppy | Papaver nudicaule |
| Impatiens | Impatiens spp. |
| Jacob’s ladder | Polemonium spp. |
| Ladys purse | Calceolaria spp. |
| Lavender | Lavandula spp. |
| Leopard plant | Ligularia spp. |
| Leopard’s bane | Doronicum cordatum |
| Lisianthus | Eustoma grandiflorum |
| Livingstone daisy | Dorotheanthus bellidiformis |
| Lobelia | Lobelia spp. |
| Maltese cross | Lychinis chalcedonica |
| Meadowsweet | Filipendula ulmaria |
| Mignonette | Reseda odorata |
| Monkey flowers | Mimulus spp. |
| Mullein | Verbascum |
| Musk mallow | Malva moschata |
| Pearly everlasting | Anaphalis margaritacea |
| Poppy | Papaver spp. |
| Purple rock cress | Aubrieta deltoidea |
| Queen Anne’s lace | Daucus carota |
| Rudbeckia | Rudbeckia goldsturm |
| Twinspur | Diascia spp. |
Julia is a writer and landscape consultant from Wollongong with a love of horticulture. She had been an avid gardener for over 30 years, collects rare variegated plants and is a home orchardist. Julia is passionate about learning and sharing her knowledge of plant propagation and plant toxicology. Whether it’s giving advice on landscape projects or sharing tips on growing, Julia enjoys helping people make their gardens flourish.
