8 Easy Container Plants to Grow From Seed
Get beautiful blooms and herbs in summer by starting these choice garden picks from seed in spring
Kim Gamel
May 13, 2020
Houzz Contributor
I love growing container gardens throughout my landscape. While I appreciate the instant gratification of a 4-inch starter pot, buying dozens of them to fill all those containers gets expensive. One way to combat this is by starting a number of easy-to-grow flowers and herbs from seed.
Another good reason to grow container plants from seed? You can get your gardening fix while the garden is just starting to wake up. Most seeds will need to be started indoors prior to the last frost. Be sure to follow planting instructions on the seed packets; they are a wealth of information, including how deep to plant and when to start.
Another good reason to grow container plants from seed? You can get your gardening fix while the garden is just starting to wake up. Most seeds will need to be started indoors prior to the last frost. Be sure to follow planting instructions on the seed packets; they are a wealth of information, including how deep to plant and when to start.
Burpee
Zinnia
(Zinnia angustifolia)
Zinnias are perfect for container gardens, as they bloom nonstop until frost. They are also very sun and drought tolerant. Their mounding growth habit makes them a perfect filler for containers. With a variety of colors to choose from, they will be useful in many of your designs.
Zinnias are simple to start from seeds. Put the seedlings out after the last frost date or when overnight temperatures stay above 60 degrees Fahrenheit, or 15.6 degrees Celsius.
Where it will grow: Grow everywhere an annual
Water requirement: Dry to medium moisture; prefer well-drained soil
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 9 to 12 inches tall and wide
(Zinnia angustifolia)
Zinnias are perfect for container gardens, as they bloom nonstop until frost. They are also very sun and drought tolerant. Their mounding growth habit makes them a perfect filler for containers. With a variety of colors to choose from, they will be useful in many of your designs.
Zinnias are simple to start from seeds. Put the seedlings out after the last frost date or when overnight temperatures stay above 60 degrees Fahrenheit, or 15.6 degrees Celsius.
Where it will grow: Grow everywhere an annual
Water requirement: Dry to medium moisture; prefer well-drained soil
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 9 to 12 inches tall and wide
Marigold
(Tagetes patula)
Marigold is another constant bloomer for summer. It has cheerful yellow and orange blooms and forms a 6- to 10-inch clump when mature. Its natural ability to repel bugs and even deer may be even better than its appearance. This makes marigolds ideal companions in your edible container gardens.
Marigold seeds are long, very light and can blow away easily, so be sure to sow in a spot free from drafts. Wait to plant your marigold seedlings outside after the last frost.
Where it will grow: Grow everywhere an annual
Water requirement: Medium moisture; prefer well-drained soil
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 6 to 12 inches tall and wide
Learn more about growing marigolds
(Tagetes patula)
Marigold is another constant bloomer for summer. It has cheerful yellow and orange blooms and forms a 6- to 10-inch clump when mature. Its natural ability to repel bugs and even deer may be even better than its appearance. This makes marigolds ideal companions in your edible container gardens.
Marigold seeds are long, very light and can blow away easily, so be sure to sow in a spot free from drafts. Wait to plant your marigold seedlings outside after the last frost.
Where it will grow: Grow everywhere an annual
Water requirement: Medium moisture; prefer well-drained soil
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 6 to 12 inches tall and wide
Learn more about growing marigolds
Nasturtium
(Tropaeolum spp.)
Nasturtium is a great plant, not only because the yellow, orange and red blooms are pretty, but because they are also edible. They taste peppery and are a nice way to decorate salads and soups. I love to put nasturtium in herb and edible gardens for color.
Because the seeds have a tough outer coat, you will need to take an extra step of soaking them for 24 hours prior to planting. Once planted, the seeds will germinate in about a week.
Where it will grow: Grow everywhere an annual
Water requirement: Medium moisture; prefers well-drained soil
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 1 to 3 feet wide and as tall as 10 feet
(Tropaeolum spp.)
Nasturtium is a great plant, not only because the yellow, orange and red blooms are pretty, but because they are also edible. They taste peppery and are a nice way to decorate salads and soups. I love to put nasturtium in herb and edible gardens for color.
Because the seeds have a tough outer coat, you will need to take an extra step of soaking them for 24 hours prior to planting. Once planted, the seeds will germinate in about a week.
Where it will grow: Grow everywhere an annual
Water requirement: Medium moisture; prefers well-drained soil
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 1 to 3 feet wide and as tall as 10 feet
Moss Rose
(Portulaca grandiflora)
I love moss rose for its ability to take a lot of direct sun and dry conditions. Moss rose is a succulent with small cup-shaped flowers and needle-like foliage. It grows only to about 6 inches tall, so it works great at the edges of containers.
Moss rose comes in a wide variety of colors and looks lovely spilling over the sides of a pot, as in this photo. Because it cannot take freezing temps, it’s best to plant after the average last frost.
Where it will grow: Grow everywhere an annual
Water requirement: Dry to medium moisture; prefers well-drained soil
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 3 to 9 inches tall and 6 to 12 inches wide
(Portulaca grandiflora)
I love moss rose for its ability to take a lot of direct sun and dry conditions. Moss rose is a succulent with small cup-shaped flowers and needle-like foliage. It grows only to about 6 inches tall, so it works great at the edges of containers.
Moss rose comes in a wide variety of colors and looks lovely spilling over the sides of a pot, as in this photo. Because it cannot take freezing temps, it’s best to plant after the average last frost.
Where it will grow: Grow everywhere an annual
Water requirement: Dry to medium moisture; prefers well-drained soil
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 3 to 9 inches tall and 6 to 12 inches wide
Sweet Alyssum
(Lobularia maritima)
Sweet alyssum is a mainstay of container gardening due to its small, clumping stature and its constant and fragrant blooms. It typically comes in white or purple, with some mixture in between. While it can tolerate high summer temperatures, it prefers light afternoon shade and moist soils, so be sure to pair it with flowers with similar needs.
Alyssum seeds are quick to germinate and can be started indoors several weeks prior to the last frost.
Where it will grow: Grow everywhere an annual
Water requirement: Medium moisture; prefers well-drained soil
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: 3 to 9 inches tall and 6 to 12 inches wide
Learn more about growing sweet alyssum
(Lobularia maritima)
Sweet alyssum is a mainstay of container gardening due to its small, clumping stature and its constant and fragrant blooms. It typically comes in white or purple, with some mixture in between. While it can tolerate high summer temperatures, it prefers light afternoon shade and moist soils, so be sure to pair it with flowers with similar needs.
Alyssum seeds are quick to germinate and can be started indoors several weeks prior to the last frost.
Where it will grow: Grow everywhere an annual
Water requirement: Medium moisture; prefers well-drained soil
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: 3 to 9 inches tall and 6 to 12 inches wide
Learn more about growing sweet alyssum
Cilantro
(Coriandrum sativum)
In addition to flowers, several herbs can be grown easily from seed. If you like to cook, you will want to grow these herbs from seed so that you’ll have plenty on hand to add to your culinary creations.
This plant leads a double life: its seed is considered coriander, while its leaves are called cilantro. In either iteration, it’s a tasty and useful herb. Once planted, the herb grows quickly and will bolt, or go to seed, sooner than most. To keep a constant crop, you can plant the seeds every two weeks or so.
Where it will grow: Grow everywhere an annual
Water requirement: Medium moisture; prefers well-drained soil
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: Up to 2 feet tall and 1½ feet wide
Learn more about growing cilantro
(Coriandrum sativum)
In addition to flowers, several herbs can be grown easily from seed. If you like to cook, you will want to grow these herbs from seed so that you’ll have plenty on hand to add to your culinary creations.
This plant leads a double life: its seed is considered coriander, while its leaves are called cilantro. In either iteration, it’s a tasty and useful herb. Once planted, the herb grows quickly and will bolt, or go to seed, sooner than most. To keep a constant crop, you can plant the seeds every two weeks or so.
Where it will grow: Grow everywhere an annual
Water requirement: Medium moisture; prefers well-drained soil
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: Up to 2 feet tall and 1½ feet wide
Learn more about growing cilantro
Parsley
(Petroselinum crispum)
Parsley isn’t just garnish for your plate. It’s a mild-tasting herb that works well in many dishes. In addition to its usefulness, it also looks lovely in pots mixed with either herbs or flowers. Because it prefers moist soil, it makes a good companion for nasturtium and alyssum.
It comes in either curly or flat-leaf varieties and grows up to 1 foot, but can be kept compact through regular trimming and harvesting.
Where it will grow: Grow everywhere an annual
Water requirement: Medium to moist, well-drained soil
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: 9 to 12 inches tall and wide
Learn more about growing parsley
(Petroselinum crispum)
Parsley isn’t just garnish for your plate. It’s a mild-tasting herb that works well in many dishes. In addition to its usefulness, it also looks lovely in pots mixed with either herbs or flowers. Because it prefers moist soil, it makes a good companion for nasturtium and alyssum.
It comes in either curly or flat-leaf varieties and grows up to 1 foot, but can be kept compact through regular trimming and harvesting.
Where it will grow: Grow everywhere an annual
Water requirement: Medium to moist, well-drained soil
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: 9 to 12 inches tall and wide
Learn more about growing parsley
Basil
(Ocimum basilicum)
Basil comes in a wide range of varieties, but I love to use the more ornamental types (such as ‘Purple Ruffle’, shown here on the right) in containers.
Like cilantro, basil is quick to grow. To keep it from bolting, trim flower stems before they bloom. You can also continuously plant the seeds for a constant harvest.
Where it will grow: Grow everywhere an annual
Water requirement: Medium to moist, prefers well-drained soil
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 1½ to 2 feet tall and wide
Learn more about growing basil
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(Ocimum basilicum)
Basil comes in a wide range of varieties, but I love to use the more ornamental types (such as ‘Purple Ruffle’, shown here on the right) in containers.
Like cilantro, basil is quick to grow. To keep it from bolting, trim flower stems before they bloom. You can also continuously plant the seeds for a constant harvest.
Where it will grow: Grow everywhere an annual
Water requirement: Medium to moist, prefers well-drained soil
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 1½ to 2 feet tall and wide
Learn more about growing basil
More on Houzz
10 Easy Edibles to Grow in Containers
6 Things to Know Before You Start Growing Your Own Food
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I find some types of rubeckia are pretty easy to grow from seed. Last year I had a lot of luck with a yellow one with fuzzy leaves. I had them in my garden and in a pot. They bloom late in the season but they were profuse. I've also had luck with growing cleome (spider flowers) from seed. I always have pink but this year I've added purple as well. One thing I don't have any luck growing from seed are echinacea. They hate me. lol.
Nasturtium (and pansy) flowers are edible and look pretty in a spring or summer green salad.
Cilantro does not do well in New Orleans summers--when you want it the most! I have found Zinnia volunteers in my garden from previous summers. I probably pulled up a boatload of small plants when weeding.