Spring has arrived here in New Zealand, and this is the time of year when my seed-sowing enthusiasm goes into overdrive! 🌱✨
The days are getting longer, the soil is slowly warming, and suddenly every sunny corner looks like it could become a flower bed.
September is such an exciting month in the seed calendar. There are so many beautiful annuals and cut flowers you can start sowing now, whether you’re growing in a large garden, a few raised beds, pots on the patio, or even a couple of sunny containers.
So, what should you sow in spring in New Zealand? Let’s have a look at some of the spring favourites that deserve a place in your garden this season! 🌸
20 spring flowers to sow in New Zealand
1. Sweet Peas
Sweet peas are one of the great joys of spring gardening. Their flowers are beautiful, their colours are gorgeous, and that fragrance… honestly, it is hard to beat! 💕🌸
They are brilliant for picking, so sow plenty if you would like armfuls of flowers for the house. Give them something to climb, keep picking the flowers regularly, and they will keep rewarding you with more.
Sweet peas like a good start, so sow them into deep pots or tubes if you are raising them undercover. Once they are growing strongly, plant them out into a sunny spot with support ready for them to climb.
A little tip from me: don’t wait until the flowers are fading before picking. The more regularly you pick, the more flowers your plants will produce.
2. Calendula
Calendula is cheerful, tough, generous and wonderfully easy to grow. What more could we ask for? 🌼
The bright flowers bring a lovely splash of colour to the garden, and they are excellent for picking. Calendula is also a fantastic flower for newer gardeners because it is not overly fussy and usually gets on with the job beautifully.
Sow directly into prepared soil, or start the seeds in trays and plant them out once they are growing well. Keep picking the flowers and remove tired blooms to encourage more production.
Calendula is one of those flowers that makes a garden feel happy. You really can’t help but smile when you see it flowering.
3. Nigella, or Love-in-a-Mist
Nigella is one of those flowers that gives you so much for so little effort. The foliage is delicate and feathery, the flowers are lovely, and the seed pods are useful for adding shape and interest to arrangements.
It has that relaxed, slightly wild cottage-garden feeling that I absolutely love. 💙
Nigella is best sown directly where you want it to grow because it does not particularly enjoy being moved. Scatter the seed over prepared soil, cover only very lightly, and keep the area moist while the seedlings are getting established.
It is also a good one for succession sowing, so try sowing a little more every few weeks for a longer display.
4. Scabiosa
Scabiosa is a wonderful choice for the cutting garden. The flowers sit on lovely long stems, making them easy to use in bouquets, and the soft, rounded blooms add a beautiful shape to arrangements.
They come in such pretty colours too, from soft pinks and whites through to deeper shades. 🌸
Start scabiosa in trays or sow directly into a sunny, well-drained spot. Once the plants begin flowering, keep picking regularly. The more you cut, the more useful stems you will have to enjoy.
If you are growing flowers for the vase, scabiosa is definitely worth including.
5. Strawflower
If you love flowers that hold their colour and shape, strawflower is a must-have.
The papery blooms are beautiful fresh, but they are especially useful for drying. They bring colour to arrangements long after the main growing season has finished, which makes them a very worthwhile flower to grow.
Sow strawflower into trays or directly into the garden once the soil has warmed. Give the plants plenty of sunshine and avoid overwatering once they are established.
Harvest the flowers when they are partly open for drying, then hang them somewhere warm and well ventilated. You will be amazed at how long they last.
6. Cosmos
Cosmos brings height, movement and a lovely softness to the summer garden. The flowers seem to float above the foliage, and the plants have that relaxed, abundant look that makes a garden feel generous.
They are also excellent for picking. ✨
Cosmos prefers warmth, so sow it now in trays or wait until the soil is properly warming before direct sowing. Plant out into a sunny position once the risk of harsh cold has passed and the seedlings are strong.
Try not to give the plants too much rich fertiliser, as this can encourage lots of leaves and fewer flowers. A sunny spot and regular picking are usually all they need.
7. Zinnias
Zinnias are bright, colourful and full of personality. If you want a cutting garden that feels joyful, they absolutely belong on the list! 🌈
They love warmth and sunshine, so start them in trays or wait until the soil is warm enough for direct sowing. Zinnias do not enjoy cold, wet conditions, so give them a little protection while young.
Once they start flowering, pick regularly and remove spent blooms. They are wonderful for filling vases with bold colour throughout summer.
8. Marigolds
Marigolds are another easy-going favourite that brings reliable colour to the garden. They are cheerful, hardworking little plants and a lovely choice for pots, borders and vegetable gardens.
Sow them in trays or directly into the garden once the soil is warming. They are quick to grow and are a great option if you are looking for flowers that will get going without too much fuss.
There are so many beautiful marigold colours and forms available, from golden yellow through to warm orange and rusty tones.
9. Ammi and Orlaya
If you love airy, delicate flowers for bouquets, don’t overlook Ammi and Orlaya.
Their fine white flower heads add lightness and movement to arrangements, and they pair beautifully with almost everything else in the cutting garden. They are especially lovely with roses, scabiosa, cosmos and soft-coloured annuals.
Sow them into trays or directly into well-prepared soil. They can take a little patience, but they are well worth waiting for. A handful of these airy stems can make a bouquet look instantly more elegant.
10. Sunflowers
Of course, we have to include sunflowers! 🌻
There is something wonderfully uplifting about growing a sunflower from seed and watching it stretch up towards the light. They are a favourite with children, beginner gardeners and experienced flower growers alike.
Sow sunflowers directly into the garden once the soil is warming, or start them in pots if you need to protect them from birds and slugs.
Choose a sunny position and give the plants enough room to grow. If you are growing them for cutting, sow a few seeds every couple of weeks rather than planting everything at once. This can give you a longer supply of flowers.
11. Cornflowers
Cornflowers are wonderfully easy-going and such a pretty addition to a spring garden. The classic blue varieties are beautiful, but pink, white and burgundy shades are lovely too.
They are excellent for cutting and have that relaxed cottage-garden look that makes a garden feel abundant without being too formal. Sow them directly into the garden or start them in trays, then keep picking the flowers to encourage more blooms.
The bees will be very happy to see them too! 💙
12. Asters
Asters are a brilliant choice if you would like colourful, long-lasting flowers later in the season. Their neat, daisy-like blooms come in beautiful shades and are very useful in bouquets.
Sow them into trays in spring and plant them out once the seedlings are strong and the soil is warming. Give them plenty of sunshine and good airflow, and avoid overcrowding.
Asters are one of those flowers that can keep the cutting garden looking lovely when some of the early spring varieties are beginning to fade.
13. Celosia
Celosia is full of personality! With its unusual flowers and rich colours, it brings something completely different to the garden and the vase.
It loves warmth, so start it under cover or sow once spring has properly warmed up. Don’t rush it into cold soil. Celosia appreciates sunshine, warmth and good drainage.
It is also a fantastic flower for drying, so grow a few extra plants if you would like to make arrangements that last well beyond summer.
14. Gomphrena
Gomphrena is another warm-loving flower that is absolutely worth the wait. The little rounded blooms look like colourful buttons, and they are wonderful for both fresh and dried arrangements.
Start the seeds in trays in a warm, bright position. Once the seedlings are established and the weather is reliably warmer, plant them out into full sun.
Gomphrena is a very useful flower for adding little pops of colour throughout a bouquet. It may be small, but it works incredibly hard!
15. Statice
Statice is a lovely choice for anyone who enjoys drying flowers. The papery blooms hold their colour beautifully and are useful for adding structure to dried arrangements.
Sow statice in trays or directly into the garden once the soil has warmed. Choose a sunny position with good drainage, as these plants do not enjoy sitting in wet soil.
It is also a very useful cut flower fresh, especially when you want something that will last well in a vase.
16. Rudbeckia
Rudbeckia brings the sunshine! The golden flowers with their dark centres are cheerful, generous and perfect for late-summer arrangements. 🌻
The ‘Sahara’ variety is especially beautiful, with double flowers in dusky autumnal shades of burgundy, bronze, blush and warm gold. It is ideal for that later part of summer when some of the garden is beginning to look a little tired, as Rudbeckia seems to come into its own just when you need another flush of colour.
Start the seeds in trays, or sow directly once the soil is warm enough. Give the plants full sun and enough room to develop into strong, healthy clumps.
Rudbeckia is a particularly good choice if you like flowers with a natural, meadow-style feel. It looks beautiful planted in groups rather than dotted about too sparsely, and the muted colours of ‘Sahara’ are fantastic in a vase with grasses, seed heads and other late-season flowers.
17. Echinacea
Echinacea is a beautiful flower for a more established garden, with strong stems and distinctive daisy-like blooms.
It can take a little patience, so do not worry if it seems slow at first. Sow it into trays and give the seedlings plenty of light while they develop. Once planted out, choose a sunny position with free-draining soil.
Echinacea is well worth growing for its long-lasting flowers and lovely architectural shape. It also brings plenty of interest to the garden when in full bloom.
18. Tithonia, or Mexican Sunflower
Tithonia is such an underrated jewel of the late-summer garden! Its bright orange flowers glow in the sunshine, bringing warmth, height and a real sense of joy just when the garden is beginning to transition into autumn. 🧡
It is also wonderfully easy to grow. Once it has warmth, sunshine and a little room to stretch out, it is remarkably uncomplicated and gives so much in return. I honestly don’t understand why it isn’t more popular! It deserves a much bigger place in our late-summer gardens.
It is a wonderful flower for pollinators and makes a beautiful statement planted in a sunny spot. The tall stems and vivid blooms bring lovely energy to the garden, while also giving you something spectacular to look forward to later in the season.
Tithonia loves warmth, so start it in trays or wait until the soil has warmed before direct sowing. Give it plenty of sunshine and room to grow, as it can become quite tall.
19. Phlox drummondii
Phlox drummondii produces pretty clusters of flowers in a beautiful range of colours, including pinks, whites, purples and reds.
It is lovely in borders, containers and cutting gardens, and makes a cheerful filler flower for arrangements. Sow it into trays or directly into prepared soil once conditions are suitable.
Keep picking the flowers regularly to encourage a longer flowering season. It is a lovely choice if you enjoy plenty of colour without needing tall plants.
20. Queen Anne’s Lace
Queen Anne’s Lace, also known as Daucus carota, brings a soft, natural look to the garden and is incredibly useful for floristry.
The delicate white flower heads add airiness to bouquets and combine beautifully with bold flowers such as zinnias, sunflowers and cosmos.
Sow directly into the garden where you want it to grow, as it can dislike root disturbance. Choose a sunny, well-drained position and allow it room to develop.
It has that wildflower-meets-florist feeling that makes a bouquet look gathered rather than overly arranged. I love flowers like that! 🤍
A quick note about sowing poppies in spring
Poppies are still very much worth including in your spring sowing plans, especially while the nights are cool and the soil is not yet too warm.
Surface sow them directly where you want them to grow, as poppy seeds need light to germinate. Try not to cover them with soil, and keep the area gently moist while you wait for those tiny seedlings to appear.
Because poppies dislike root disturbance, direct sowing is usually the easiest option. Thin the seedlings carefully once they are large enough, rather than trying to move them.
If you would like more detailed poppy-growing advice, you can read our guides on how to grow poppies from seed and what to sow in winter in New Zealand.
And if you are looking for beautiful varieties to grow, take a look at Peony Poppy Seeds, Angels Choir Mix, Lilac Pompom, Poppy Amazing Grey and White Peony Poppy.
But for this guide, we are keeping the spotlight firmly on the many other spring favourites that deserve a place in your garden too! 🌸
A few spring-sowing tips
Spring weather in New Zealand can be wonderfully unpredictable. One day feels like summer, and the next day has you reaching for a jersey again!
A few simple things will help your seeds get off to the best possible start:
- Use fresh, good-quality seed-raising mix.
- Keep newly sown seeds consistently moist, but not soggy.
- Give seedlings plenty of light so they do not become tall and weak.
- Protect young seedlings from slugs, snails and hungry birds.
- Harden seedlings off before planting them outside.
- Sow a little more than you think you need, because not every seedling will make it through the early stages.
- Make a note of what you sow and when. Future-you will be very grateful!
And please don’t feel that you need to sow everything in one weekend. A few seeds now, a few more in a couple of weeks, and another little sowing after that can give you flowers at different stages all through the season.
Want to go even deeper? 🌱
If you have caught the seed-growing bug and want even more detail, we have plenty more growing advice for you!
Have a browse through our Growing from seed guides for more practical help with starting flowers from seed, including sowing advice, germination tips, growing conditions and troubleshooting.
And if you are wanting to take things further, our CHBotanics Propagation from Seeds Manual — Professional Edition goes into much more depth for serious home growers, flower farmers and professional seed growers.
There is always more to learn, more seeds to try and another beautiful variety waiting to be grown. So if you are wanting even more, check these out and keep growing! 🌸😊
Get sowing this spring! 🌱
There is something so exciting about sowing a seed and imagining the flowers that are still to come.
That tiny seed could become a bright calendula, a tall sunflower, a delicate nigella, a beautiful scabiosa or a whole vase full of cosmos. It is a little bit of hope, patience and possibility, all tucked inside a seed packet.
So choose a sunny day, gather your seed-raising mix, and sow something beautiful this spring. Your future garden will thank you! 🌸
Happy Gardening,
Cathy 😊🌱
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