What Are Self-Seeding Flowers?

Common Self-Seeding Flowers

• Common garden flowers including gloriosa daisies, larkspur, columbine, marigolds, cleome, bachelor's buttons, alyssum, spider flower, baby's breath, larkspur, zebra mallow, nasturtium, Shirley poppies, sweet Williams, moss rose, godetia, China aster, morning glory and German chamomile are self-seeding. Both annuals and perennials can be self-seeding. Discovering which flowers have reseeded themselves and where they are located in the garden is one of the special pleasures of spring gardening.

Seed Distribution

• Seeds are distributed by the wind and carried to new locations by birds and wildlife. Seeds are also brushed off by people and pets, and the seeds are transported to new locations.

Favorable Habitat

• Plant hardiness is an important element in establishing plants that are self-seeding and sustainable. Determine if the plant is one that can handle the cold or freezing temperatures in your local area. Visit the National Arboretum website to determine the United States hardiness zone for your garden location. Plant flowers that are adaptive to your climate conditions.

Invasive Species

• Baby's breath can become invasive if not managed in the garden. If plants sprout up in spots where they are not desired, simply pull the young plant out by the roots. All members of the mint family, including peppermint, spearmint, cat mint and pineapple mint present graceful, small flowers and add a delightful fragrance to the garden. They spread readily by root rhizomes and seeds scattered on the wind. If you do not want mint to spread throughout your garden, it is best restricted to container planting.