Hardy Annual Flower Seeds

Dahlia 'Bloody Mary' – Seeds

(Dahlia variabilis)

Dahlia 'Bloody Mary' is a stunning compact variety that produces vibrant, dark red, fully double blooms with a rich, velvety texture. Its bushy habit and long flowering season make it ideal for borders, containers, and mixed flower beds. This eye-catching variety is also a favorite for cut flowers, adding dramatic color to bouquets and arrangements.

Key Features

• Type: Half-hardy annual (grown from seed)

• Height: 40–50 cm

• Spread: 30–40 cm

• Flowering: July–October

• Position: Full sun

• Soil: Fertile, well-drained

Ideal For

• Borders and bedding displays

• Containers and pots

• Cut flower arrangements

• Pollinator-friendly gardens

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: February–April at 18–22°C

• Germination: 7–14 days

• Transplant after last frost, spacing 25–30 cm

• Deadhead regularly to encourage continuous blooms

Love-in-a-Mist ‘Persian Jewels’ Red – Seeds (Nigella damascena)

Love-in-a-Mist ‘Persian Jewels’ Red (Nigella damascena) is a charming cottage garden annual with finely cut, ferny foliage and delicate star-shaped flowers in rich shades of ruby and crimson. Its ornamental seed pods add long-lasting interest, making it a favorite for both fresh and dried arrangements. Easy to grow and pollinator-friendly, it’s perfect for borders and wildflower-style plantings.

Why Grow "Persian Jewels Red"

• Striking ruby-red starry blooms

• Airy, ferny foliage for soft texture

• Decorative seed pods for dried use

• Easy to grow and pollinator-friendly

Key Features

• Type: Hardy annual (Nigella damascena)

• Height: 45–60 cm

• Flowering: June–September

• Position: Full sun

• Uses: Borders, wildflower gardens, cut and dried flowers

Ideal For

• Cottage and wildflower gardens

• Fresh and dried floral arrangements

• Pollinator-friendly planting

• Naturalistic borders

Sowing & Growing

• Sow outdoors: March–May or August–September for earlier blooms

• Sow direct, thinly into prepared soil

• Germination: 14–21 days

• Thin seedlings to 20–25 cm apart

• Prefers well-drained soil in full sun

Dwarf Cosmos 'Carpet' Mix – Seeds

(Cosmos sulphureus semidouble)

Dwarf Cosmos 'Carpet' Mix produces compact, bushy plants covered in a dazzling blend of orange, yellow, and red semi-double blooms. Unlike taller cosmos varieties, this dwarf mix stays low, creating a brilliant “carpet” of color perfect for borders, bedding, or pots. Easy to grow and tolerant of poor soil, heat, and drought, it flowers all summer long.

Key Features

• Type: Half-hardy annual

• Height: 25–40 cm

• Spread: 25–30 cm

• Flowering: June–October

• Position: Full sun

• Soil: Light, well-drained

Ideal For

• Bedding displays & borders

• Pots and containers

• Edging paths

• Pollinator-friendly gardens

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: March–April, germinate at 18–22°C

• Sow outdoors: April–May after frost

• Transplant or thin to 25–30 cm spacing

• Deadhead regularly to extend blooming

Poppy Peony ‘Drama Queen’ Seeds (Papaver paeoniflorum)

Make a bold statement in your garden with Poppy Peony ‘Drama Queen’ (Papaver paeoniflorum). This annual produces large, double, peony-like blooms in vivid red shades, adding drama and elegance to borders, beds, and cutting gardens. Easy to grow and long-flowering, it’s perfect for creating eye-catching displays and stunning bouquets.

How to Grow

• Sow seeds directly outdoors in spring after the last frost or indoors 6–8 weeks earlier.

• Use well-drained soil in a sunny location.

• Scatter seeds thinly and press lightly onto the soil; do not cover deeply.

• Keep soil moist until germination (10–20 days).

• Thin seedlings to 20–30 cm apart once established.

• Cut flowers regularly to encourage continuous blooming.

Key Features

• Large, double, peony-like blooms in vivid red

• Hardy annual, easy to grow and long-flowering

• Ideal for borders, beds, and cutting gardens

• Attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators

• Dramatic and eye-catching garden display

Ideal For

• Flower borders and cottage gardens

• Cutting gardens for fresh bouquets

• Containers and patio planters

• Pollinator-friendly gardens

Sowing

• Best time: Spring outdoors or 6–8 weeks earlier indoors

• Germination: 10–20 days

• Sow thinly, press lightly, do not cover deeply

• Prefers full sun and well-drained soil

Quick Tip

• Sow successive batches every 2–3 weeks for a longer flowering season and continuous dramatic blooms.

Swan River Daisy Mixed – Clouds of Colorful, Dainty Blooms

Swan River Daisy Mixed produces masses of small, daisy-like flowers in shades of purple, blue, pink, and white over fine, feathery foliage. Native to Australia, this easy-to-grow annual brings a soft, airy texture and vibrant color to garden beds, borders, and hanging baskets. A prolific bloomer from summer to autumn, it thrives in sunny spots and is perfect for low-maintenance displays.

What Makes It Special

• Abundant, delicate blooms in a rainbow of pastel shades

• Adds a light, airy look to gardens and containers

• Long flowering season with minimal care

• Tolerates heat and dry conditions once established

• Attracts pollinators

Key Features

• Height: 20–30 cm – compact, spreading habit

• Excellent for ground cover or edging

• Hardy annual – fast to flower from seed

• Drought-tolerant and easy to grow

• Perfect for mass planting

Ideal For

• Borders, edging, and pathways

• Hanging baskets and window boxes

• Cottage and wildflower gardens

• Low-maintenance summer displays

Sowing

• Sow indoors 6–8 weeks before last frost or direct sow after frost danger has passed

• Lightly press seeds into soil; do not cover deeply

• Germination: 7–14 days at 18–21°C

• Space plants 15–20 cm apart

• Prefers full sun and well-drained soil

Honeywort – Seeds (Cerinthe major)

Honeywort (Cerinthe major) is an eye-catching annual with striking blue-purple tubular flowers and silvery-green foliage. Loved by bees and other pollinators, it adds unique texture and color to borders, cottage gardens, and wildflower mixes. Fast-growing and low-maintenance, it thrives in sunny, well-drained spots.

Why Grow "Honeywort"

• Striking blue-purple tubular flowers

• Silvery-green, ornamental foliage

• Attracts pollinators including bees and butterflies

• Easy to grow and low-maintenance

Key Features

• Type: Hardy annual (Cerinthe major)

• Height: 40–60 cm

• Flowering: June–September

• Position: Full sun, well-drained soil

• Uses: Borders, cottage gardens, wildflower mixes, pollinator gardens

Ideal For

• Pollinator-friendly gardens

• Cottage and naturalistic borders

• Adding height and color contrast

• Wildflower plantings

Sowing & Growing

• Sow outdoors: March–May in prepared soil

• Germination: 10–20 days at 18–22°C

• Thin seedlings to 25 cm apart

• Prefers full sun and well-drained soil

• Deadhead to encourage prolonged flowering

Love-in-a-Mist ‘Miss Jekyll’ Indigo Blue – Romantic Cottage Garden Classic

Love-in-a-Mist ‘Miss Jekyll’ produces masses of delicate, sky-like indigo-blue flowers surrounded by fine, ferny foliage. This charming annual blooms over a long summer season, adding soft texture and a whimsical feel to beds, borders, and cut flower arrangements. Decorative seed pods follow the blooms, perfect for drying.

What Makes It Special

• Iconic cottage garden favourite

• Rich indigo-blue blooms with airy green bracts

• Long flowering season and attractive seed pods

• Easy to grow and self-seeds freely

• Suitable for fresh and dried arrangements

Key Features

• Height: 45–60 cm – graceful upright growth

• Pollinator-friendly – loved by bees

• Ornamental seed heads extend garden interest

• Tolerant of poor soil and low maintenance

• Hardy annual

Ideal For

• Cottage and wildflower gardens

• Cutting gardens and dried flower crafts

• Borders and mixed plantings

• Naturalising for effortless summer color

Sowing

• Direct sow in spring or autumn where they are to flower

• Sow thinly, cover lightly with fine soil

• Germination: 10–14 days at 15–20°C

• Thin seedlings to 20 cm apart

• Prefers full sun and well-drained soil

Sunflower ‘Chocolate’ Seeds (Helianthus annuus)

Sunflower ‘Chocolate’ is a striking annual with rich, dark brown to chocolate-colored blooms. Blooming from mid-summer to early autumn, it adds dramatic contrast and height to borders, flower beds, and cut-flower gardens. Hardy, easy to grow, and pollinator-friendly, it’s perfect for creating bold garden statements.

What Makes It Special

• Unique chocolate-brown flower heads

• Tall, striking stems ideal for borders and cut flowers

• Hardy, low-maintenance, and attracts bees and pollinators

Key Features

• Botanical name: Helianthus annuus

• Annual

• Height: 120–180 cm

• Bloom time: Mid-summer to early autumn

Ideal For

• Borders, flower beds, and cut-flower gardens

• Pollinator-friendly plantings

• Bold garden accents and visual interest

Sowing

• Sow indoors Mar–Apr or outdoors after last frost

• Cover seeds lightly with soil

• Germination: 7–14 days at 18–22°C

• Space seedlings 30–50 cm apart

• Flowers the same year

Peony Poppy Red – Seeds

(Papaver paeoniflorum)

The Peony Poppy Red is a breathtaking annual with huge, fully double, peony-like blooms in a deep, velvety crimson red. Its lush, ruffled petals make it one of the most dramatic poppies, creating a bold focal point in borders, cottage gardens, or wildflower meadows. These flowers are not only striking in the garden but also make excellent cut flowers, adding rich color to summer bouquets.

Why Grow Peony Poppy Red?

• Stunning double flowers resembling peonies

• Intense, velvety red blooms for dramatic displays

• Easy to grow and self-seeding

• Attracts bees and butterflies

Key Features

• Type: Hardy annual

• Height: 80–100 cm

• Flowers: Summer

• Position: Full sun

• Soil: Light, well-drained

Ideal For

• Cottage and wildflower gardens

• Bold color accents in borders

• Cut flower arrangements

• Pollinator-friendly spaces

Sowing & Growing

• Sow outdoors: March–May or late August–October directly where plants are to flower

• Scatter thinly over prepared soil, lightly cover, and water gently

• Germination: 14–21 days

• Thin seedlings to 20–30 cm apart

• Care: Deadhead to prolong flowering or leave seed heads for natural reseeding