Bachelor’s buttons are low-maintenance, make a lovely garden border, and are often found in pollinator mixes. Sow seeds directly in fall, indoors over the winter, or directly in-ground in late winter or early spring as soon as the soil can be worked.
Perennial Scabiosa can be easily expanded by splitting clumps of established plants and replanting. Try spreading seeds along a rock wall or creating a border with other pollinator-friendly flowers.
Winter sowing is a great option for Echinacea. Echinacea can be transplanted when it’s quite large, and it takes a long time to establish and mature, so starting seeds in the winter is a great option.
This annual can be tricky when sown in the spring because they prefer cooler temperatures for germination. Scatter some directly in prepared garden beds in fall or winter sow using the milk jug method any time in winter.
They tolerate the cold and self-seed fairly easily. If you already have a patch, let some go to seed in the fall, and they’ll germinate on their own the following spring. Winter-sow them and transplant them as soon as the soil can be worked.
If using the milk jug method, sow seeds in January or February. Some light is required, so push the seeds down to keep them from blowing away, then leave them be for the winter, watering as needed.
These germinate easily and perform very well when winter sown. Sow seeds in late January or February and transplant them in April when you can work the soil. If you have access to protected tunnel space, try directly sowing them in the ground.
Resembling an ornamental grass, the foliage on blue lily turf is dark green and grows in a lovely arching shape. The clumps of foliage create a perfect bed for the spiked flowers, which bloom from summer into fall.