Sowing these perennial seeds outdoors in fall is an easy way to get a head start on spring flowers.

Published on September 2, 2025

Credit:

Kritsada Panichgul

Growing perennials from seed is a budget-friendly way to fill your garden with long-lasting plants. Plus it provides you with many more choices than purchasing plants at a nursery. However, waiting until spring to start them delays flowering significantly. Whether collected or bought, perennial seeds are easy to sow in the fall so you can enjoy their flowers sooner. Just follow the steps below and, come spring, you’ll have lots of new perennials to add to your garden.

Why to Plant Perennial Seeds in Fall

Seed packages often include instructions for refrigerating perennial seeds for several weeks. This process of moist chilling is known as seed stratification. It helps break the seeds' dormancy so they'll sprout. And some seeds are covered in a very hard seed coat that inhibits germination by blocking water from getting through. You may see directions to nick the seed coat or use a file on it to get these seeds to sprout.

You could do all this, or you could let nature do the work. Winter conditions stratify seeds of many perennials and soften hard seed coats if you sow the seeds outdoors in late fall. With just a little attention, your seeds will be ready to burst into life with the first signs of spring.

Another bonus is that you can lighten your springtime garden chores by sowing perennials in the fall. You’ll probably have fewer weeds and pests to contend with as well, compared to sowing in spring.

Best Perennials to Sow in Fall

The following types of perennials come in lots of different varieties and are hardy across most USDA Hardiness Zones.

Beardtongue

Credit: Mike Jensen

With more than 200 species to choose from, there’s a beardtongue (Penstemon spp.) for almost every garden. These spring and summer blooming perennials range in height from 6 inches to 8 feet tall, depending on the species. Be sure to give them a sunny spot and well-drained soil. Zones 3-9

Bee Balm

Credit: Peter Krumhardt

A North American native that attracts loads of pollinators, bee balm (Monarda spp.) is easy to grow in full sun or part shade in moist soil. Its flowers, which come in shades of pink, lavender, and red, appear in early summer and continue through fall. Zones 3-9

Black-Eyed Susan

Credit:

Kritsada Panichgul

Perennial black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia spp.) make a splash in the sunny border; they are also terrific cut flowers. These native plants bloom over a long season, starting in mid-summer and continuing until frost. They attract pollinators and birds. Zones 3-11

Blanket Flower

Credit: David Speer

Blanket flowers (Gaillardia spp.) bloom from summer through fall. The flowers attract lots of pollinators, and birds love to sample their seeds. The cheerful blooms, which come in colors from red, yellow, and orange to purple and white, make great cut flowers. Just plant them in a sunny spot with well-drained soil. They are very drought-tolerant. Zones 3-10

Columbine

Credit: Graham Jimerson

The dainty petals of columbines (Aquilegia spp.) are surrounded by spurs, often of a contrasting color. Various species are adapted to a wide range of sites, from sunny rock gardens to moist woodlands. They bloom from spring to early summer in colors ranging from white and yellow to blue, pink, red, and purple. Zones 3-9

Coreopsis

Credit:

Kritsada Panichgul

Perennial coreopsis specieslook delicate but are very tough plants for the sunny garden. Their orange, yellow, pink, or red flowers attract birds and insect pollinators but are resistant to deer. Zones 3-9

Hardy Geranium

Credit: David Speer

Also called cranesbill, the hardy perennial geranium (Geranium spp.) is a low-growing and low-maintenance perennial that is a great choice for the front of a border in sun or part shade. Most selections bloom in spring through mid-summer in shades of pink, purple, blue, or white. Zones 3-9

Oriental Poppy

Credit:

Kindra Clineff

The brightly colored flowers of Oriental poppies (Papaver orientale), with their delicate, papery petals, bloom in mid to late spring, sometimes until early summer. These plants like lots of sun. They are best planted among other perennials since they die back in mid-summer. They are both drought-tolerant and deer-resistant. Zones 3-7

Oriental poppies are toxic to humans and pets.

Pincushion Flower

Credit:

Edward Gohlich

The delicate blossoms of pincushion flower (Scabiosa spp.), which resemble—you guessed it—little pincushions, appear continuously from spring through fall. Their pink, blue, purple, or white flowers blend easily with other perennials in a mixed bed. They prefer full sun and are both deer-resistant and drought-tolerant. Zones 3-11, depending on the species and variety.

Purple Coneflower

Credit: Kindra Clineff

Another North American native, purple coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) are a favorite of pollinators and birds. They grow easily in full sun and are resistant to deer and drought. They blend well with other perennials and ornamental grasses. Zones 3-9

How to Plant Perennial Seeds in Fall

Wait until after your first killing frost, but before the ground freezes, to sow your perennial seeds outdoors. Select a site that is accessible for watering during dry spells and protected from drying winds and foraging wildlife. Floating row covers provide excellent protection. A light covering with weed-free straw is another good option.

While you can sow the seeds in the garden where you want the plants to grow, you’re likely to be more successful if you plant them in a specific spot like a seedbed. You can also try using the seed snail technique. That way, it'll be easier to take care of them, and you are less likely to confuse the seedlings with weeds that sprout in the garden.

Follow the directions on the seed package for spacing and planting depth. Label the seeds you sow so you recognize them come spring. Water well after sowing. While you won't need to water much after this, don't let the seeds dry out completely over the winter months.

Watch for seedlings to emerge in early spring. Increase watering as needed until the seedlings have developed several sets of leaves. Then transplant them to their permanent location.

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  1. https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/poppy/