Most plants require you to save their seeds in order to plant them again for the next growing season. This is the gardening cycle we know. But not with plants and flowers that self seed.
Once you plant them, these self seeding plants will disperse their seeds to the ground for them to grow again. No need to collect or save up seeds, nor do you need to plant them again.
Here are 13 must-have plants and flowers that self seed. Some of these are kitchen staples, too, so it’s handy to have them in your garden.
Flowers that self seed: Giant Blue Larkspur (Consolida ajacis)
The Giant Larkspur, commonly known as Blue Larkspur, can grow up to 4-feet tall and are typically blue, white, or pinkish in color.
Each seedpod contains numerous tiny seeds that will help them grow again next season.
Hardiness zone: 2 to 11
Common Blue Violet (Viola sororia)
This low-growing perennial wildflower is a stemless plant that disperses seeds every summer. These violets also add a dash of color to your home garden.
Hardiness zone: 3 to 7
Dill (Anethum graveolens)
Dill is one of the most common annuals that self seed. Lots of animals and insects eat dill.
Bees and other pollinators enjoy the herb as do humans! Every year, this plant drops its seeds to the ground for them to grow again next season.
Hardiness zone: 2 to 9
Carrot (Daucus carota subsp. sativus)
Carrots will flower and self-sow provided several cartoon rabbits have not stolen the entire harvest.
Leave a few carrots in the ground at the end of the season and they will reproduce for you next season.
Hardiness zone: 3 to 10
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
Many people use the “cut and come again” technique with lettuce, just taking a little from a plant at a time and thus allowing it to continue developing.
If you let it grow out completely to the end of its cycle, it will self-sow for the following year.
Hardiness zone: 4 to 9
Kale (Brassica oleracea)
This healthy but not-great-tasting vegetable is biennial and will drop seed pods in its second year. Go ahead and make yourself a disgusting but nutritious smoothie! You might gag a little but you’ll be super healthy.
Hardiness zone: 7 to 10
Love-in-a-Mist (Nigella damascena)
These stunning self seeding flowers typically are blue but can be pink, white, and lavender as well. They grow from June to August.
So long as you don’t remove the seed pods, they will reseed every year on their own.
Hardiness zone: 2 to 11
Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
Not only is Calendula a self-sowing plant that you’ll only need to plant once, but it is also beneficial to pollinators such as bees and butterflies who play an important role in keeping our ecosystems healthy.
Plant it once, and it’ll keep helping the planet every new growing season.
Hardiness zone: 2 to 11
Morning Glory (Ipomoea spp.)
Morning glory seeds grow into these gorgeous flowers with stunning colors.
They can grow up to 15 feet in length, making them one of the most beautiful self seeding flowers for shade. Also, they are extremely efficient self-sowers and will produce more plants in each generation.
Hardiness zone: 3 to 10
Arugula (Eruca versicaria)
This plant/salad ingredient is harvested in the early summer. By midsummer, arugula has already had enough and is ready to pack it in. It will leave its seed to grow next summer, however.
Hardiness zone: 5 to 9
Bachelor’s Buttons (Centaurea cyanus)
These fun blue flowers are also occasionally called “cornflowers” because they grew in cornfields. They will spread far but are fairly easy to remove if they begin to take over an area.
Hardiness zone: 2 to 11
Blue Woodruff (Asperula orientalis)
This plant is often considered a wildflower. After a generation, you might start to notice them peeking out from other plants in your garden. Rabbits really love these plants, however, so you’ll need to be mindful of that.
Hardiness zone: 1 to 11
Gloriosa Daisy (Rudbeckia hirta)
With several varieties available, you’ll never get bored with these black-eyed Susans. They can grow up to 3-feet in height and are considered easy to grow.
Hardiness zone: 3 to 8
Takeaway
Isn’t it handy to have these plants and flowers that self seed in your garden? It’s like you’re assured of a luscious yard year-round without having to worry too much about the perfect timing to plant. These are also great suggestions for beginners who might want to plant something relatively easy to grow.
Source: Rural Sprout/The Spruce