Perennials That Can Be Sown in the Fall

Seeds of certain hardy perennials need a period of chill before germinating.

Filed under: Fall Gardening, Perennials, Fall, Gardening

Q. Which perennials can be sown by seed in the fall?

A. For hardy perennials that need stratification (a period of chill), there are good reasons to sow seeds in the fall, i.e., low cost and no transplant shock. And even better, you don't have to worry about refrigeratoring the seeds: Nature does it for you.

These perennials can be sown in late fall:

allium

blanket flower

columbine

coneflower

penstemon

pink (dianthus)

primrose

rudbeckia (the perennial types)

shasta daisy

Keep in mind that plants grown from seed don't necessarily look like the parent. You can't propagate cultivars from seed.

Before you put down the seed, prepare the bed well. Work plenty of organic matter into the soil to help with moisture retention. Cover the seed bed with a light mulch such as newspaper. When germination starts, remove the newspaper.