15 Self-Seeding Flowers That Replant Themselves Each Year

Growing flowers that self-seed in the garden is a fun and rewarding way to grow plants. There is a sense of anticipation as plants return from one year to the next, often with surprising variations in color or form from the natural diversity found in seed. Gardening with self-sowing plants is also a great way to save money while establishing sustainable, long-lasting plantings.

Self-sowing flowers form the backbone of cottage gardens and meadow plantings, but they also work well in cut flower gardens, pollinator plantings, and mixed borders. Use self-seeding flowers to fill gaps between slow-growing shrubs or to establish plantings in hard-to-dig areas such as under trees or on slopes. Whether you are gardening on a budget or looking to fill a large space efficiently, consider growing self-seeding annual, biennial, and perennial flowers.

Self-sowing plants can often pop up in unexpected places. That’s part of their fun and whimsy. However, the young seedlings emerge in spring around the same time that garden weeds are popping up. Seek out photos online to familiarize yourself with the seedlings so you don’t accidentally weed them out!