Which perennials from seeds?

[coreopsis]

Because there's no much choice in perennials in the local garden centres and the ones online seem to be a bit expensive(if you add them up together) I decided to grow some perennials from seeds and plonk them in different areas of the garden.
Last year I had:

Sweet William-easy to grow and lovely display
Primrose-about 3 flowers left(majority eaten by bl**dy rabbits)-slow germination and growth
Gaillardia(blanket flower)-this will be 1st flowering season.Germination not speedy but not slow either.No special requirements.Planted in the ground last autumn.
Campanula(mixed T&M)-Germination and growing easy but seems to be invasiveso planted in the bucket and will see.
Most of the flower seeds I'm using are Suttons.

This year I want to grow:
Coreopsis(surprise,surprise)Early Sunrise and Illico-I love the look of this flowers-hence my nickname
Platycodon-Blue Pygmy
Lobelia F1 Fan Mix-I saw it in one of the gardens and I MUST have it
Eryngium Blue Hobbit-as above(actually I was after Sea Holly but couldn't find the seeds)
Primula Denticulata
Armeria-I think I had one but destroyed while sorting out the rockery(had to pull out huge ugly heather and small maple tree)
Monarda didyma-Bergamot(speaks for itself as I'm Lady Grey and Earl Grey fan)
I'd love to grow things like Delphiniums but it's too windy here sometimes and I don't want them to lay on the ground being eaten by slugs.

I wanted to ask you about any suggestions,have you grown any perennials from seed,are they easy,what requirements(if any),are they invasive and which are you happy with and you'd recommend.

[Capsid]

Echinacea, fantastic long flowering and brilliant for the butterflies.

[RobintheBobin]

Morning - I grew Gaura lindheimeri by seed last year and it was fabulously successful and very pretty

Sorry can't think of any else as I experimented with growing annuals from seed last year - a great success and the beats the generic 'bedding plant' one gets from garden centres, etc.

[IgglePiggle]

Dahlia's are really easy to grow, and flower till the frost hits them!

Red hot pokers are easy ish to grow as well

[vicky]

Verbenea bonariensis is easy peasy and I probably have some seeds somewhere if you fancy them, flowers in the first year too.
Fennel is great too, grows 5-6ft and the bees love it, again seeds offered!

[greendean]

grow all my perennials from seed and no real problems. i usually sow them late spring in unheated greenhouse in 3" pots then prick out and plant them before summer hols. favourites are geum and aqulegia. but also do delphinium, penstemon and monarda

[IgglePiggle]

I just chuck mine in a seed tray and leave them to it outside

[dammad49]

Hi coreopsis,
my OH thinks Im mad 'cos I cant pass an interesting plant without checking for seedpods. One I snaffled last year was from a plant which looked like a very large flag iris (6-8 feet + flower stem). It was obviously an expensive item in a corporate display garden, the reason I mention it is I saw these plants during a force 10 gale, which took the roof off the nearbye smoking shelter, and they were really impressive lashing around without any damage at all. I've germinated some of the seed in JI loam based seed, in a placcy bag on top of the fridge but have lots left - no idea where to put them, plants are like kittens when it comes to finding homes. If you fancy trying them just pm detail and I'll put some in the post. If any grape can identify them from this Id appreciate it.

As to your question (apologies for digression) I'd suggest Rosemary and Lavender, both easy from seed and can be cut into hedges as mini windbreaks, Sage for the stuffing. Sedum for the bees, Aquilegia Tiddlywinks (Dobies) as perennial bedding, Rue for the rabbits (seed available - also supposed to discourage pussy **ats)

Invasive plants Ive had problems with: Chinese Lantern, Alstroemaria, species crocus, bluebells, fennel & oregano(deseed before they drop).
Other than those, if you fancy it, grow it. Good luck.

[coreopsis]

Thanks very much for all your kind seed offers but I have to use mine first-about 80 packets-that should keep me busy for a while.
As for lavender-I tried to grow it from seed but without success.I think it was Munstead-it germinated,grew into small clumps and died.Strange,because soil here is ideal for lavender-sandy with lots of stones.
Echinacea-forgot to mention but have some seeds as well and will give it a go this year.

[IgglePiggle]

As for lavender-I tried to grow it from seed but without success.I think it was Munstead-it germinated,grew into small clumps and died.Strange,because soil here is ideal for lavender-sandy with lots of stones.

Mine is the same at the moment, but they haven't died yet... Nor have they grown much...