D 139

Department of Sciences

PLANTS FOR LANDSCAPES: SEED GROWN FOR THE GARDEN January 2021 Celeste Scott, UT Extension Agent Natalie Bumgarner, UT Extension Residential and Consumer Horticulture Specialist Lucas Holman, TSU Extension Agent Carol Reese, UT Extension Regional Horticulture Specialist Jason Reeves, Research Associate, UT Gardens, Jackson Lee Sammons, TSU Extension Agent

Introduction Seed versus Transplant Growing ornamental by seed is a tradition cherished by many Tennessee gardeners. These plants This publication spotlights plants that are easily grown passed along by friends and family hold a special place from seed and known for their stellar performance in in the home garden and in our memories. This list strives Tennessee home gardens. However, many of these to include as many of these treasured heirloom pass- plants are often absent from local garden centers. Some along plants as possible, as well as those considered to do not transplant well, and others are not particularly be traditional and proven favorites. As new varieties and attractive in cell packs, which ultimately effects prove themselves in Tennessee growing salability and justifies their absence. Thus, these plants conditions, this list will evolve and grow over time. are separated from those in UT Extension publication “Plants for Tennessee Landscapes: Annuals and Biennials W 874-A”, which focuses on annuals that are easily sourced at garden centers.

Centaurea cyanus, a cool season annual commonly called bachelors button or cornflower, is easily grown by direct seeding in Tennessee home gardens.

Nigella damascena, Love-in-a-mist is a welcome addition to a cottage garden edging.

Seed Grown Flowers for the Garden

Source seeds from seed catalogues, garden centers or fellow gardeners who are eager to share. Some of the harder to find cultivars might require a search for companies or social media groups that specialize in heirlooms, new market arrivals and specialty niches.

About the List Plants are organized in alphabetical order by scientific name, and the most widely accepted common names are also listed. The list is predominately composed of annuals easily grown from seed, but some biennials and perennials are Sulfur , Cosmos sulphureus, add height and also included and noted in the comments column. Please movement to the landscape. refer to side bar for more detailed information on these plant groupings. Growing requirements, plant attributes and common uses will also be found in the comments Botanical Terms Simplified column. Annuals complete their life cycle in a single growing season. They germinate, and set seed before The Direct Sow column indicates those plants that do well, or even best, when directly sown in the ground or dying. Some plants we treat as annuals in allowed to reseed in place. Others prefer to be started Tennessee, though in warmer climates they would indoors, and some are adapted to either method! For be perennial. Summer annuals complete their more tips on starting seed indoors check out UT mission during warm moths, and winter annuals Extension publication “The Tennessee Vegetable (also known as cool season annuals) prefer the Garden: Garden Planning, Plant Preparation and cooler temperatures of fall and spring.

Planting W 346-B.” Though seed starting can require attention to soil Biennials require two growing seasons to complete temperature, lighting, depth, scarification and their life cycle. They produce foliage that must stratification, don’t be intimidated. This guide promotes experience winter chilling (vernalization) which those easier plants to grow from seed that will provide initiates flowering the following season. Those colorful and budget friendly additions to the Tennessee flowers produce and drop seed, which consequently home garden. germinate and begin the winter chilling process once again. Therefore, once established, they will seemingly provide an “annual” bloom display, though it took two growing seasons to achieve those blooms. Many wildflowers are biennial.

Perennials return each year when regionally adapted and proper conditions exist. Some will die to the ground with overwintering roots while others may retain basal foliage through the winter. Some are short-lived even in ideal settings, and return only for a few years, while others may live for many decades. Mixed annual border at the UT Gardens, Jackson located at the West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center. Tender Perennials are those that will survive winters that are mild or could benefit from micro siting in the landscape to achieve a few added

degrees of protection.

January 2021 2 Seed Grown Flowers for the Garden

Scientific Name Height Light Needs Direct Cultivars/ Comments Bloom Sun Part Shade Sow Series Common Name (feet) Sun

• Unusual tall foliage plant

Abelmoschus esculentus July- • Fruit is edible and ornamental 4-6 X X • Candle Fire September • Heat tolerant Okra • Red Burgundy • Cut flower-pods

• Unusual tall foliage plant Abelmoschus manihot July- • Large yellow flower 4-6 X X Ornamental Okra September • Heat tolerant • Cut flower-pods

Ageratum houstonianum • Attracts pollinators 1-2 X X June-Frost • Blue Horizon Floss Flower • Cut flowers-tall varieties

Alcea rugosa • Attracts pollinators 3-6 X X May-June X • Cut flower Hollyhock • Biennial

• Large clustered trailing flowers of red, yellow Amaranthus caudatus or green 3-6 X X July-Frost X • Tolerates drought Love-lies-bleeding • Dry and cut flower

• Reseeds

• Large upright plume type flower clusters • Hot Biscuits Amaranthus cruentus • Tolerates drought 3-8 X X July-Frost X • Autumn Torch Amaranth • Dry and cut flower • Hopi Red Dye • Reseeds

Ammi majus • Attracts pollinators

• Best when direct sown False Queen Anne’s Lace 1.5-2 X X May-July X • Reseeds

False Bishops Weed • Cut flower

• Attracts pollinators curassavica June- 2-4 X X X • Host plant for monarch caterpillar October Annual Milkweed • Reseeds

April/2020 3 Seed Grown Flowers for the Garden

Scientific Name Height Light Needs Direct Cultivars/ Comments Bloom Sun Part Shade Sow Series Common Name (feet) Sun Asclepias physocarpa also known as

Gomphocarpus • Attracts pollinators July- • Host plant for monarch caterpillar physocarpus 4-6 X X X August • Reseeds

Swan Butterfly Weed • Dry and cut flower- seed pods Balloon Plant Hairy Balls

• Native perennial Asclepias tuberosa • Attracts pollinators 1.5-2 X X May-July X • Host plant for monarch caterpillar Butterfly Weed • Reseeds

• Can be sown in the fall

• Cool season edible root crop with ornamental Beta vulgaris foliage 1-2 X X Foliage X • Bulls Blood Garden Beets • Direct seed in early spring or late summer • Spring/Fall/Winter foliage

• Cool season edible leafy green though some are quite heat and cold tolerant Beta vulgaris subsp. • Bright Lights • Offer wide array of colorful foliage vulgaris 1-2 X X Foliage X • Rainbow • Direct seed in early spring or late summer • Ruby Red Swiss Chard • Fall/Winter- Colorful spines and broad • Rhubarb foliage

• Ornamental varieties hold their fruit in an • Medusa Capsicum annuum upright, showy position .5-2 X X June-Frost • Purple Flash • Reseeds Ornamental Pepper • Prairie Fire • Cut flower-fruit and foliage • Black Pearl

Celosia argentea • Tall plant with wheat head type bloom 2-3 X X June-Frost X • Celway • Attracts pollinators Wheat • Asian Garden • Reseeds

January 2021 4 Seed Grown Flowers for the Garden

Scientific Name Height Light Needs Direct Cultivars/ Comments Bloom Sun Part Shade Sow Series Common Name (feet) Sun

• Flamingo • Dry and cut flower

Feather • Heat and drought tolerant

• Bright bloom colors • Bombay • Attracts pollinators Celosia cristata • Neo 1-2 X X June-Frost X • Reseeds • Supercrest Cockscomb • Dry and cut flower • Chief • Heat and drought tolerant • Prestige Scarlet

• Bright bloom colors

• Attracts pollinators Celosia plumosa • Fresh Look 1-2 X X June-Frost X • Reseeds • New Look Plumed • Dry and cut flower • First Flame • Heat and drought tolerant

• Cool season annual

Centaurea cyanus • Drought and poor soil tolerant

• Can be sown in the fall or late winter Cornflower 2-3 X X April-June X • Blooms in true blue, purple, pink, and white

Bachelor Button • Reseeds

• Dry and cut flower

• Tall with unique palmately compound Cleome hassleriana • Sometimes has spines along the stem • Sparkler Cleome 3-5 X X June-Frost X • Attracts hummingbirds and pollinators • Queen • Reseed Spider Flower • Cut flower

• Cool season annual

• Blooms in blue, purple, pink and white May-June Consolida ajacis • Direct seed in fall or winter for spring display 2-4 X X X Larkspur • Best when direct seeded • Reseeds

• Dry and cut flower

January 2021 5 Seed Grown Flowers for the Garden

Scientific Name Height Light Needs Direct Cultivars/ Comments Bloom Sun Part Shade Sow Series Common Name (feet) Sun

• Drought tolerant

• Attracts pollinators Cosmos bipinnatus • Sensation 2-5 X X May-Frost X • Blooms in white, pink, yellow and magenta • Seashell Cosmos • Best when direct seeded and may reseed • Sonata • Cut flower

• Drought tolerant

• Attracts pollinators • Cosmic Cosmos sulphureus • Blooms in hues of yellow/orange 2-5 X X May-Frost X • Bright Lights Sulfur Cosmos • Best when direct seeded • Sunny • Reseeds

• Cut flower

• Biennial that should be seeded in fall

• White to cream colored lacey blooms

• Attracts pollinators Daucus carota June- 2-4 X X X • Drought tolerant August Queen Anne’s Lace • Reseeds-can become weedy

• Cut flower

• Host plant for black swallowtail caterpillars

• Short lived perennial, native

Echinacea pallida • Often reseeds 1.5-3 X X June-July X Pale Coneflower • Tolerates poor dry sites • Attracts pollinators and birds in winter

• Perennial, native • Pow Wow • Attracts pollinators and birds in winter • White Swan • Reseeds and can be propagated by division purpurea June- • Cheyenne 1.5-3 X X X • Hybrids offer a range of colors August Spirit Purple Coneflower • Does not require stratification but can be • Magnus seeded in fall • Magnus Supreme • Cut flower 1.5-3 X X June-July X Echinacea tennesseensis • Rocky Top • Perennial, native

January 2021 6 Seed Grown Flowers for the Garden

Scientific Name Height Light Needs Direct Cultivars/ Comments Bloom Sun Part Shade Sow Series Common Name (feet) Sun

Tennessee Coneflower • Requires excellent drainage

• Attracts pollinators and birds in winter

• Reseeds and can be propagated by division

• Requires stratification, if direct seeded it must be sown in fall or winter

• Cut flower

• Short-lived perennial

• Ornamental and edible plant parts with licorice flavor, feathery foliage • Bronze Fennel • Heat tolerance • Host plant for swallowtail caterpillars Foeniculum vulgare July- • Cut flower-bloom and foliage 4-5 X X X Fennel August • Annual vegetable

• Ornamental and edible plant parts with licorice flavor, feathery foliage • Antares • Heat tolerance

• Host plant for swallowtail caterpillars

• Does well in most soils and tolerates drought • Gnome Gomphrena globosa • Reseeds .5-2 X X May-Frost X • Fireworks • Tall and compact cultivars available Globe Amaranth • Strawberry Fields • Dry and cut flower

• Attracts pollinators and birds H. annuus • Many bloom colors and heights available • Cut flower-look for pollen-less varieties Helianthus spp. 2-8 or July- Perennial X X X • Perennial forms bloom summer or late more October Sunflower summer into fall • H.angustifolia • Some perennial forms can be large and form • H. aggressive colonies maximillianii • Excellent for wildlife plantings • H. salicifolia

January 2021 7 Seed Grown Flowers for the Garden

Scientific Name Height Light Needs Direct Cultivars/ Comments Bloom Sun Part Shade Sow Series Common Name (feet) Sun

• White bloom flowers at night, very fragrant

Ipomoea alba • Attracts nighttime pollinators Vine X X July-Frost X Moonvine • Vine requires support • Seeds must be scarified for good

Ipomoea imperialis • Blooms in many colors Vine X X July-Frost X • Vine requires support Morning Glory • Reseeds and is weedy

• Fine foliaged vine with small trumpet shaped Ipomoea quamoclit red blooms, requires support Vine X X June-Frost X Cypress Vine • Attracts hummingbirds and other pollinators • Reseeds, can become weedy

• Red blooms

Ipomoea x multifidi • Foliage is lacy but not as fine as Cypress Vine X X June-Frost X Cardinal Climber Vine • Reseeds, not as weedy as Cypress Vine

• Attracts pollinators, bloom is fragrant Lathyrus odoratus • Cool season annual Vine X X April-June X • Can be sown in late winter to early spring Sweet Pea • Prefers cooler less humid conditions

• Cut flower

Limonium sinuatum • Requires excellent drainage 1-1.5 X X June-July • Prefers cooler less humid conditions Statice • Dry flower

• Biennial, best in shade to part shade Lunaria annua • Blooms in white and pinkish/lavender Dollar Plant 2 X X April-May X • Grown for the display of showy seed pods • Reseeds Money Plant • Dry and cut flower

January 2021 8 Seed Grown Flowers for the Garden

Scientific Name Height Light Needs Direct Cultivars/ Comments Bloom Sun Part Shade Sow Series Common Name (feet) Sun

• Short-lived perennial, may perform as a Lychnis coronaria biennial 2-2.5 X X May-July X • Blooms in magenta or white Campion • Silver/gray foliage

• Reseeds and can be propagated by division Malva sylvestris

July- • Blooms in rose-purple with darker stripes Malva 4-6 X X X September • Cut flower Tall Mallow Malvaviscus arboreus • Bush-like native perennial

var. drummondii 4-6 X X June-Frost X • Blooms are usually red, some pink forms, too • Big Momma Turks Cap • Attracts hummingbirds and pollinators

• Brightly colored flowers open in the afternoon each day, very fragrant • Broken Colors 2-3 X X June-Frost X • Reseeds • Limelight Four O’clock • Tuberous roots may resprout in mild winters • Marbles acting as perennials

• Cool season annual

• Best when direct seeded Nigella damascena • Airy ferny textured foliage 1-1.5 X X May-July X • Blooms in blue, white and purple • Miss Jekyll Love-in-a-mist • Reseeds and can be sown in fall or early spring

• Dry flower-seed pods

• Attracts pollinators

• Reseeds • Thai Ocimum basilicum • Downy mildew is an issue for basil, look for 1-3 X X Summer X • Purple Ruffles Basil resistant cultivars like those suggested. • Spicy Globe • Edible culinary herb

• Cut flower-foliage and bloom

January 2021 9 Seed Grown Flowers for the Garden

Scientific Name Height Light Needs Direct Cultivars/ Comments Bloom Sun Part Shade Sow Series Common Name (feet) Sun

• Preforms well in a wide range of soils and growing conditions Oenothera speciosa • Perennial 1 X X May-June X • Drought tolerant Pink Evening Primrose • Native, reseeds

• Spreads aggressively by rhizomes

• Bright pastel pink flowers • Blooms in a wide range of colors, patterns Common Poppy and forms 1-1.5 X X May-June X • Should be sown in fall to winter Corn Poppy • Best when direct seeded Flanders Poppy • Dry flower-seed pod

• Blooms in a wide range of colors, patterns and forms

Papaver somniferum • Gray-green foliage with jagged edges 3-5 X X May-June X Opium Poppy • Should be sown in fall to winter • Best when direct seeded, reseeds

• Dry flower-seed pod

• Bloom matures into a small fruit with a showy orange papery covering

Physalis alkekengi • Best when direct seeded 1-2 X X N/A X Chinese Lantern Plant • Reseeds • Dry flower-seed pod

• Perennial, often grown as an annual

Plectranthus • Grown for its many colors of foliage scutellarioides • Most seed grown cultivars are inferior to • Kong vegatatively grown cultivars • Kong Jr. also known as 1-3 X X X Foliage • Seed grown varieties need blooms pinched • Pineapple off regularly to promote more colorful foliage Solenostomon Surprise and bushy habit scutellarioides • Cut flower-foliage

January 2021 10 Seed Grown Flowers for the Garden

Scientific Name Height Light Needs Direct Cultivars/ Comments Bloom Sun Part Shade Sow Series Common Name (feet) Sun Coleus

• Huge leaves on towering plant • Carmencita • Bold tropical effect Ricinus communis August- • Red Impala 6-12 X X X • Beans are toxic so remove if in places of Frost Castor Bean • Red Giant concern • Zanzibar • Reseeds

• Drought tolerant

• Tender perennial used as annual • Cherokee • Fuzzy green foliage • Goldilocks 1-2 X X June-Frost X • Large daisy like blooms in mixed shades of Gloriosa Daisy • Indian Summer yellow, gold, to burnt orange • Prairie Sun • Reseeds, native

• Cut flower

• Lady in Red • Attracts hummingbirds and pollinators • Summer Salvia coccinea • Native 1.5-3 X X June-Frost X Jewels Texas Sage • Reseeds • Nymph • Tolerates heat and drought •

• Attracts pollinators Salvia farinacea • Victoria Blue 1-2.5 X X June-Frost • Cut flower • Evolution Mealycup Sage Violet • Tolerates heat and drought

• Attract pollinators Salvia splendens • Lighthouse 1-2 X X June-Frost • Cut flower • Early Bonfire Scarlet Sage • Tolerates heat and drought • Rambo Red

January 2021 11 Seed Grown Flowers for the Garden

Scientific Name Height Light Needs Direct Cultivars/ Comments Bloom Sun Part Shade Sow Series Common Name (feet) Sun

• Big Duck Tagetes erecta • Blooms up to three inches in diameter • Moon Song 1.5-2.5 X X June-Frost X • Cut flower-long stem cultivars • Marvel African Marigolds • Tolerates heat and drought • Taishan

• Jane • Blooms are smaller than T. erecta but Tagetes patula • Super Hero plentiful .5-1 X X June-Frost • Bonanza French Marigolds • Used as edging or front of borders • Durango • Tolerates heat and drought • Hero

• Tolerant of heat, drought and poor soil

Talinum paniculatum • Attracts pollinators 1-1.5 X June-Frost X • Kingwood Jewels of Opar Gold • Reseeds • Dry and cut flower-seed heads ‘jewels’

• Prefers well-drained soil

• Vine requires support Thunbergia alata • Bloom is usually small yellow/orange Vine X X June-Frost X trumpet shape with an open bell and dark • Susie Black-eyed Susan Vine center

• Attractive to pollinators

• Reseeds

• Attracts butterflies, birds and pollinators • Fiesta Del Sol Tithonia rotundifolia • Cut flower 3-6 X June-Frost X • Torch Mexican Sunflower • Tolerates heat and drought • Goldfinger • Reseeds

Torenia fournieri • Reseeds .5-1 X X May-Frost • Clown • Blooms in blue, yellow, pink, white Torenia • Kauai

January 2021 12 Seed Grown Flowers for the Garden

Scientific Name Height Light Needs Direct Cultivars/ Comments Bloom Sun Part Shade Sow Series Common Name (feet) Sun

• Prefers well-drained soil

• Sprawling habit Tropaeolum majus 1 • Dislikes heat and humidity grows best in X X April-May X cooler regions of the state

Nasturtium • Can be planted in late winter to very early spring

• Edible, cut flower

• Airy vertical effect in gardens

Verbena bonariensis • Perennial, but also reseeds

• Drought and heat tolerant Stick Verbena 3-5 X X June-Frost X • Long bloom season

Brazilian Verbena • Attracts pollinators

• Cut flower-used as accent Xerochrysum bracteatum

• Requires dry sunny conditions Strawflower 1-2 X July-Frost X • Dry and cut flower Everlasting Flower

• Drought tolerant, disease resistant

Zinnia angustifolia • Mounding habit, needs no deadheading 1 X X May-Frost X • Crystal • Useful in containers and landscape Zinnia • Star • Attracts pollinators

• Attracts pollinators

• Long season of color • Magellan • Use succession planting and deadheading to Zinnia elegans • Zowie! Yellow extend bloom period Flame 2-3 X X May-Frost X • Powdery mildew and spotting of foliage Zinnia • Queeny can be unsightly later in the season • Benary • resistance • Uproar Rose • Excellent cut flower cultivars available

January 2021 13 Seed Grown Flowers for the Garden

Scientific Name Height Light Needs Direct Cultivars/ Comments Bloom Sun Part Shade Sow Series Common Name (feet) Sun

• Profusion and Zahara Series have excellent mildew resistance

• Do not require deadheading Zinnia hybrids 1 X X May-Frost X • Profusion • Excellent mounding habit but stems too short • Zahara for cut flower use

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January 2021 14