Growing flowers from seed is one of the most rewarding parts of gardening. Watching tiny seedlings turn into colorful blooms never gets old. If spring got away from you and you’re just getting started, don’t worry. Plenty of annual flowers grow quickly from seed and will still put on a beautiful show before the season ends.
These 18 fast-growing annuals are perfect for filling flower beds, borders, raised beds, and containers with color. Many bloom just a few months after sowing, and some will even scatter their own seeds, returning the following year.
Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus)
Cosmos are a favorite for their airy foliage and cheerful daisy-like blooms. They grow quickly in full sun and well-drained soil, asking for very little once established. Flowers come in shades of pink, white, red, orange, and purple, making it easy to fit them into almost any garden.
Calendula
Calendula brings bright yellow and orange flowers that brighten garden beds from late spring into summer. It grows best in well-drained soil with plenty of sunlight and is one of the easiest flowers to start from seed.
Many gardeners also plant calendula near vegetables because its flowers help draw in pollinators while discouraging deer, rabbits, and some common garden pests.
Pansies
Pansies are known for their colorful blooms and compact size, making them a great choice for containers, window boxes, and flower beds. Their edible flowers are often used to decorate salads, cakes, and desserts. They grow best in rich, well-drained soil with morning sun.
California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
California poppies brighten the garden with glowing orange flowers and blue-green foliage. They’re drought-tolerant, easy to grow, and often reseed themselves. Scatter seeds in a sunny spot during spring, and they’ll reward you with blooms through much of summer.
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
Few flowers are as recognizable as sunflowers. Whether you choose towering giants or compact varieties, they grow quickly from seed and fill the garden with bright yellow blooms.
Plant seeds directly where they’ll grow since sunflowers dislike being transplanted. Give them full sun and fertile soil for the strongest plants.
Marigold (Tagetes spp.)
Marigolds are one of the easiest annual flowers for beginners. Their bushy plants produce nonstop blooms in shades of yellow, orange, and deep red through the warm months.
They enjoy sunny locations with well-drained soil and are known for attracting beneficial insects while helping discourage some garden pests.
Celosia
Celosia adds bold color and interesting texture with its feathery or crested blooms. It loves hot weather and sunny locations, making it a dependable choice for summer gardens. It grows well in flower beds and containers with very little attention.
Rocket Larkspur (Consolida ajacis)
Rocket larkspur produces tall flower spikes covered in blue, white, pink, or purple blossoms. These plants add height to borders and cottage gardens.
They prefer cooler weather and often reseed themselves. Give taller plants support if needed to keep the flower spikes standing upright.
Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus)
Cornflowers are classic cottage garden flowers with delicate blooms that attract bees and butterflies. They tolerate poor soil, dry conditions, and plenty of sunshine, making them an easy addition to almost any garden.
Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus)
Sweet peas reward gardeners with fragrant flowers in shades of pink, purple, red, and white. Their climbing vines quickly cover fences, trellises, and arches.
Plant them in fertile soil with plenty of sunshine, and remove spent flowers often to encourage more blooms.
Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima)
Sweet alyssum forms a low blanket of tiny flowers that spill over containers, edging, and rock walls. Its sweet fragrance attracts bees and other pollinators.
It grows well in full sun or light shade and tolerates dry conditions once established.
Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena globosa)
Globe amaranth stands out with its round, clover-like flowers in shades of pink, purple, red, and white. These sturdy blooms hold their color well, making them a favorite for fresh bouquets and dried arrangements.
They thrive in sunny locations with well-drained soil.
Petunia (Petunia × hybrida)
Petunias bloom steadily through summer with trumpet-shaped flowers in nearly every color. They’re perfect for hanging baskets, containers, borders, and flower beds.
Plant them in full sun and remove faded blooms from older varieties to keep flowers coming.
Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus)
Snapdragons produce tall spikes covered in colorful blooms that add height and texture to the garden. They perform best during the cooler parts of the growing season and enjoy fertile, well-drained soil with full sun or light afternoon shade.
Zinnia
Zinnias are one of the fastest-growing annual flowers you can plant. Their large blooms appear in nearly every color and continue until frost with regular picking or deadheading.
They thrive in sunny gardens with well-drained soil and are excellent at attracting butterflies.
Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)
Nasturtiums spread quickly across beds, trail over containers, and brighten the garden with bold orange, yellow, and red flowers. Both the flowers and leaves are edible, adding a peppery flavor to salads.
They grow well in poor soil and don’t need much watering once established.
Morning Glory
Morning glories climb quickly over fences, trellises, and arbors, opening fresh trumpet-shaped flowers each morning throughout the summer.
Give them full sun, well-drained soil, and something sturdy to climb for the best display.
Love-in-a-Mist (Nigella damascena)
Love-in-a-Mist produces delicate blue flowers surrounded by fine, feathery foliage that gives the plant its memorable name. It blooms during late spring and early summer and grows best when seeds are sown directly outdoors in early spring.
After flowering, the decorative seed pods continue adding interest to the garden and are often used in dried flower arrangements.
