Self-Seeding Annuals: The Easy Way to a Beautiful Garden
What are Self-Seeding Annuals?
Annuals are flowers that complete their life cycle in one growing season. They typically bloom for a few months and then die. Self-seeding annuals are a special type of annual that produces seeds that can germinate and grow into new plants the following year. This means you can enjoy beautiful flowers in your garden year after year without having to replant every season.
Benefits of Self-Seeding Annuals
- Easy to grow: Self-seeding annuals are very easy to grow. Once you plant them, they will take care of themselves.
- Low maintenance: Self-seeding annuals require very little care. You don’t have to fertilize them or water them very often.
- Attract pollinators: Self-seeding annuals are a great way to attract pollinators to your garden. Pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, are essential for the reproduction of many plants.
- Hummingbird magnets: Some self-seeding annuals, such as tobacco plant, are known to attract hummingbirds. Hummingbirds are beautiful and fascinating creatures that can add a touch of magic to your garden.
Top 10 Self-Seeding Annual Plants
Here are 10 of the best self-seeding annual plants to grow in your garden:
- Alyssum: This pretty, sweet-smelling flower grows like a mat, which makes it perfect for edges of beds and walkways.
- Nasturtium: Nasturtium flowers provide bright, sunny blooms, but also edible leaves and flowers.
- Calendula: Also known as pot marigold, this is another sunny-colored flower that is edible.
- Hyacinth bean: This climbing vine produces purple flowers, stems, seed pods, and even leaf undersides.
- Balsam: This self-seeding annual is perfect for shady spots. It will grow rapidly up to 18 inches (46 cm.) tall and self-seed with vigor.
- Tobacco plant: These plants are easy to grow in a variety of conditions and will reach heights up to three feet (one meter). You’ll get pretty flowers in red, pink, purple, white, or even chartreuse.
- Vine petunias: Petunia is a popular annual for its showy, abundant, trumpet-shaped flowers. Unlike typical petunia annuals, the vine petunia will grow well in some shade and will spread to cover the ground or climb up a trellis.
- Cosmos: These pretty flowers bloom abundantly and can give you a wide range of colors. Try delicate pastel blossoms or bold and vibrant reds or oranges.
- Forget-me-nots: With delicate little lavender or blue flowers, forget-me-nots are definitely hard to forget. They self-seed more readily than almost any other flower.
- Gloriosa daisy: This pretty annual variety wins out against its perennial cousin black-eyed-Susan in stunning and bold appearance.
How to Get Annuals to Re-Seed
To get annuals to re-seed, you need to let some of the flowers go to seed. This means allowing the flowers to die back and produce seeds. Once the seeds are ripe, they will fall to the ground and germinate the following spring.
Tips for Thinning Self-Seeding Annuals
Self-seeding annuals can be prolific seeders. This means that you may need to thin them out a bit each year to keep your beds manageable. To thin self-seeding annuals, simply pull out the extra seedlings by hand.
How to Get More Gloriosa Daisies Next Year
Gloriosa daisies are a beautiful annual flower that can add a touch of elegance to your garden. To get more gloriosa daisies next year, let some of the flowers develop seeds. Once the seeds are ripe, collect them and store them in a cool, dry place. You can then plant the seeds in the spring.
Conclusion
Self-seeding annuals are a great way to add color and beauty to your garden with minimal effort. With a little care, you can enjoy beautiful flowers year after year.
