10 Flowers That Are Surprisingly Hard to Grow From Seed

A vibrant display of blooming ranunculus flowers with layered petals — Credit:
Tammi Mild / Getty

Growing your favorite flowers from seed can be an incredibly fulfilling journey, offering the chance to witness the entire life cycle of a plant. That said, not all flower varieties are worth the work. Some can struggle to germinate, taking too long to grow or becoming susceptible to diseases. In those cases, purchasing certain flowers from seedlings or tubers might be more practical and enjoyable. This way, you can still have a vibrant garden without the added stress of tricky varieties. Ahead, experts share which flowers you should never grow from seed and offer valuable tips and practical solutions to ensure you successfully cultivate beautiful flowers in your garden.

Christina Koether, a garden designer and flower farmer
Susan McBride, flower farmer at Golden Brook Farm in Camden, Maine

01 of 10

Anise Hyssop

Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) is an upright, clump-forming perennial, featuring purple flowers that bloom from mid-summer to early fall. Its leaves have a distinct licorice scent, adding fragrance to growing areas. While it can be grown from seed, it is much faster and easier to propagate from cuttings. "Cut a stem with three sets of leaves, remove the bottom two, and place the cutting in a cup of water," says Christina Koether, a garden designer and flower farmer. Keep it in a cool spot and change the water every few days. Roots will form in about a week. "Once they reach an inch or two in length, transplant into a small pot of soil, then plant in the garden a week or so later," she says.

02 of 10

Bee Balm

Bee balm (Monarda), also known as bergamot, is an herbaceous perennial plant with vibrant flowers that have a strong, aromatic fragrance. When grown from seed, bee balm is more prone to powdery mildew, says Koether, which was bred out of cultivated varieties. She adds that this plant grows best when propagated from stem cuttings, similar to anise hyssop. "If the stems are square rather than round, they tend to root quickly in water or soil," she says.

03 of 10

False Goat's Beard

False goat's beard (Astilbe) enhances garden spaces with elegant, fern-like foliage and plume-like flower panicles. However, astilbe seeds are very small, slow to germinate, and can take several years to produce flowers, according to Koether. A more efficient and reliable method for propagation is dividing established clumps. Koether suggests digging up a mature plant and splitting it into thirds using a shovel. "These plants are resilient and will recover well," she says, adding that you should replant and divide them every few years.

04 of 10

Peonies

Loved for their large, fragrant, and showy flowers, peonies (Paeonia) are popular for floral arrangements and flower gardens. The downside? Peonies grown from seed can take more than four years to bloom, and often vary in flower type and quality, says Koether. To reproduce a known variety, gardeners divide the root systems, called tubers. Tubers are sold based on the number of eyes or growing points. "The more eyes a tuber has, the larger and more vigorous the plant, though it will also be more expensive," she says.

05 of 10

Tulips

Tulips (Tulipa), a popular springtime flower, can take four years or longer to bloom when grown from seed, and they often do not resemble the parent plant. According to Koether, commercial growers in the Netherlands follow a complex, multi-year process to hybridize, plant, grow, dig, and store tulip bulbs. This process is challenging to replicate at home, so purchasing bulbs in the spring or summer is much easier. These bulbs are typically shipped in the fall when it's time to plant them.

06 of 10

Ranunculus

Commonly known as buttercups or Persian buttercups, ranunculus offers showy, multi-petaled flowers that resemble roses or peonies. This enchanting flower is usually grown from tubers, as growing it from seed is a slow and delicate process that often leads to inconsistent flowering. "Even planting tubers can be challenging in colder climates," says Koether. She notes the tubers resemble small octopuses and can be purchased online for planting in either fall or spring. In USDA zone 7 or colder, fall-planted ranunculus will require winter protection.

07 of 10

Bearded Iris

When grown from seed, this summertime showstopper may take three years to flower and differ from the parent plant. To preserve the variety, growers divide and replant the rhizomes of bearded iris (Iris x germanica). Koether explains that this method ensures the flower color and form remain true. "Buy rhizomes online or potted plants at your local garden center to guarantee what the flower will look like," she says.

08 of 10

Dahlia

While you technically can start dahlias (Dahlia spp.) from seed, Susan McBride, flower farmer at Golden Brook Farm, explains that starting tubers from the previous year is much easier. "You get many tubers from one plant, and the babies will be identical to the parent," she says. This allows you to have more control over the varieties you are growing. To ensure you enjoy the same blooms the following year, McBride recommends storing the tubers in a cool, dry place, like a basement, over the winter. In early spring, you can pot them up and pre-sprout them indoors and then transplant them outside after all danger of frost has passed.

09 of 10

Purpletop Vervain

A rapidly growing, clump-forming tender perennial, purpletop vervain (Verbena bonariensis) features tall, slender stems with clusters of small purple flowers. While growing this flower from seed is possible, McBride notes it can be tricky. Instead of starting purpletop vervain from seed, she buys small seedlings from a nursery with a heated greenhouse that maintains proper growing conditions. Purchasing seedlings avoids much of the work and potential frustration associated with starting seeds.

10 of 10

Prairie Gentian

Loved for their large, ruffled petals that resemble roses or peonies, prairie gentian (Lisianthus) comes in various colors, including white, pink, purple, and blue. However, due to their finicky germination, slow growth, and susceptibility to diseases, McBride notes it’s often better to grow this plant from seedlings or plugs to avoid these challenges.