Flowers provide tonnes of benefits with their vibrant colours, characterful shapes and gorgeous fragrances, so why not try growing them from seeds? Whether you're a green-fingered professional or a complete beginner, there are plenty of seeds available that are easy to grow. No matter if you're growing in pots, gardens, patios, or a balcony, your outdoor space will be thriving in no time!
However, choosing flower seeds can be quite the task, especially when there are so many options available. Our handy buying guide will help you choose the best seeds for your space, style and aspirations, along with our ranking of the 10 best easy to grow flower seeds in the UK. We've included wildflowers, annual flower seeds, and perennial flower seeds and featured brands such as Mr Fothergill's, Suttons and Johnsons.
For those after a quick look, here is our Top 5:
For a more in-depth look at the comprehensive top 10 selection, make sure to read on to learn more about the different types of easy to grow flower seeds available and understand how our ranking was determined.
This article's chosen EC site price listings are reflective of its publishing date.
Image | 1 ![]() Pronto Seed | 2 ![]() Johnson's | 3 ![]() Mr Fothergill's | 4 ![]() OwnGrown | 5 ![]() Suttons Seeds | 6 ![]() RP Seeds | 7 ![]() Pretty Wild Seeds | 8 ![]() Suttons | 9 ![]() Groseeds | 10 ![]() The Little Botanical |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Bumper Flower Seeds | Nigella Persian Jewels Mixed | Trailing Rapide Petunia Mixed Flower Seeds | Colourful Balcony | Sweet Pea Seeds - Old Fashioned Scented Mix | Woodland & Shade Mix | Sunflower | Sweet William Electron, Mixed | Aquilegia - McKanas Giant Mixed | The Little Botanical Seedbom Garden Bundle |
Features | The Ultimate Package of Seeds to Suit All Gardening Aspirations | Fast-Growing Colourful Jewel-Like Flowers Ideal for Sunny Flowerbeds | Create Impressive Displays With These Beautiful Weather Tolerant Flowers | Create a Beautiful Floral Paradise With These Long-Lasting Window Box Flower Seeds | A Traditional, English, Fragrant Flower That Loves to Climb | Go Wild With This Versatile Blend of Native Wildflowers | Bring Fun and Height to Your Garden With Some Towering Sunflowers | Beautifully Bushy Bi-coloured Flowers Suited to a Partially Shaded Area | Gorgeous Bi-coloured Bell Shaped Flowers Ideal for Shady Gardens | A Unique and Fun Gift for Those Flower and Wildlife-Loving Friends |
Price | £8.99 | £2.99 | £3.79 | £2.95 | £1.99 | £9.99 | £2.45 | £2.15 | £2.49 | £41.00 |
Location | Flowerbeds, containers and hanging baskets | Flowerbeds, containers | Hanging baskets, window boxes, ground cover | WIndow boxes | Flowerbeds | Woodland, shady areas | Flowerbeds, containers | Flowerbeds, containers | Flowerbeds, wooded areas | Lawn, containers |
Types of Flower(s) | All | Hardy annual | Annual | All | Hardy annual | All | Annual | Hardy biennial | Perennial | Annual |
Sowing Season | January to October | March to May or August to October | January to March | April to June | April | - | March to May | April to July | March to April | March to June |
Blooming Season | May to October | May to September or following year for late sowing | June to October | June to October | June to September | May to October | July to October | May to June the following year | May to August | July to September |
Maintenance Level | High and low | Low | High | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low |
Light Condition(s) | Full sun | Full sun | Full sun | Full sun | Full sun | Shade | Full sun | Partial shade | Full sun, partial shade | Full sun |
Sowing Method | Germination and transplanting is required for some, broadcasting | Drilling | Sow indoors and then plant out in May | Broadcasting | Drilling | Broadcasting | Drilling | Drilling | Drilling | - |
Number of Seeds | Over 3000 | 500 | 100 | - | 30 | - | 100 | 200 | 150 | - |
Link |
There's so much choice out there when it comes to planting flower seeds. The best thing to do first is to decide where you're going to plant them and see which types of plants work best in that environment.
Looking to add colour to your porch? Browse our 10 best hanging baskets for some great options.
Hardy annuals such as Nigellas are fast-growing flowers that love sunny spots in flowerbeds. Sow in early spring for the flowers to blossom in late spring and last in bloom for the summer. Unfortunately, they only last for one season but are perfect if you like to experiment with different colours, designs and styles each year.
If you've missed the spring sowing season, choose a biennial such as Sweet William to plant in a large container or flower bed. They are very similar to annuals in terms of sowing and maintenance, but they are planted in the summer, ready to flower the following spring. You will just need to be patient to see the fruits of your labour!
Growing perennials is ideal if you're looking for a long-term commitment, as you can sow them almost anytime. Perennials will survive outdoors year-round by dying back in the autumn with the roots re-sprouting in the spring and flowering again year after year. Choose a native British wildflower mix for shady areas to add unique colour to your garden that lasts through the winter months.
When shopping for flower seeds, you also want to think about the sowing methods, as many of them will be different. For example, annuals such as Aquilegia and Sweet Pea are sown directly into the ground by drilling holes at regular intervals and placing your seeds in. This makes them ideal for creating formality and structure in your garden.
By far the easiest to sow are wildflower mixes, as these can be sown by simply scattering them on well-raked, weed-free soil and adding water. Maintenance is just as easy, with regular watering until they are fully grown and then it's a matter of keeping them hydrated.
Other seeds require a bit more thought, time and commitment. Seeds such as Petunias need germinating indoors early in the year and nurtured until they are big and hardy enough to be planted outside. These are great for the green-fingered amongst us and those with a bit more space and time on their hands.
Keep your plants thriving and well-hydrated and with a new watering can, we have some great options.
This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.
£8.99
Location | Flowerbeds, containers and hanging baskets |
---|---|
Types of Flower(s) | All |
Sowing Season | January to October |
Blooming Season | May to October |
Maintenance Level | High and low |
Light Condition(s) | Full sun |
Sowing Method | Germination and transplanting is required for some, broadcasting |
Number of Seeds | Over 3000 |
£2.99
Location | Flowerbeds, containers |
---|---|
Types of Flower(s) | Hardy annual |
Sowing Season | March to May or August to October |
Blooming Season | May to September or following year for late sowing |
Maintenance Level | Low |
Light Condition(s) | Full sun |
Sowing Method | Drilling |
Number of Seeds | 500 |
£3.79
Location | Hanging baskets, window boxes, ground cover |
---|---|
Types of Flower(s) | Annual |
Sowing Season | January to March |
Blooming Season | June to October |
Maintenance Level | High |
Light Condition(s) | Full sun |
Sowing Method | Sow indoors and then plant out in May |
Number of Seeds | 100 |
£2.95
Location | WIndow boxes |
---|---|
Types of Flower(s) | All |
Sowing Season | April to June |
Blooming Season | June to October |
Maintenance Level | Low |
Light Condition(s) | Full sun |
Sowing Method | Broadcasting |
Number of Seeds | - |
£1.99
Location | Flowerbeds |
---|---|
Types of Flower(s) | Hardy annual |
Sowing Season | April |
Blooming Season | June to September |
Maintenance Level | Low |
Light Condition(s) | Full sun |
Sowing Method | Drilling |
Number of Seeds | 30 |
£9.99
Location | Woodland, shady areas |
---|---|
Types of Flower(s) | All |
Sowing Season | - |
Blooming Season | May to October |
Maintenance Level | Low |
Light Condition(s) | Shade |
Sowing Method | Broadcasting |
Number of Seeds | - |
£2.45
Location | Flowerbeds, containers |
---|---|
Types of Flower(s) | Annual |
Sowing Season | March to May |
Blooming Season | July to October |
Maintenance Level | Low |
Light Condition(s) | Full sun |
Sowing Method | Drilling |
Number of Seeds | 100 |
£2.15
Location | Flowerbeds, containers |
---|---|
Types of Flower(s) | Hardy biennial |
Sowing Season | April to July |
Blooming Season | May to June the following year |
Maintenance Level | Low |
Light Condition(s) | Partial shade |
Sowing Method | Drilling |
Number of Seeds | 200 |
£2.49
Location | Flowerbeds, wooded areas |
---|---|
Types of Flower(s) | Perennial |
Sowing Season | March to April |
Blooming Season | May to August |
Maintenance Level | Low |
Light Condition(s) | Full sun, partial shade |
Sowing Method | Drilling |
Number of Seeds | 150 |
£41.00
Location | Lawn, containers |
---|---|
Types of Flower(s) | Annual |
Sowing Season | March to June |
Blooming Season | July to September |
Maintenance Level | Low |
Light Condition(s) | Full sun |
Sowing Method | - |
Number of Seeds | - |
Written and researched by Amanda Norman
Household goods
PC and cameras
Home appliances and electronics
Cosmetics and skincare
Health
Food and drinks
Kitchen supplies
Clothing
Shoes
Accessories
Kids and baby
Interior and furniture
Hobbies
Outdoor
DIY and tools
Sports and fitness
Pets
Books, CDs, DVDs
Games
Cars and motorcycles
Gifts
Housing equipment and renovation
Travel
Smartphones and mobile phones
Music
Smartphone applications