Sunflowers are usually fascinating for kids, as are nastruriums as well. Also, if any child chose to taste either seed they a harmless, so would not cause illness.

Pansies, too, make a nice potted plant for children.

Sunflowers were my first thought too. Alyssum is easy, and easy to care for, and will bloom well into fall.

I guess kids most likely don't want vegetables, lol, but lettuce is a really easy germinator, and they could eat their efforts, lol. But I guess you want flowers....

Gazanias are cool flowers. They open and close on cloudy days. What age group are you talking about?

Dee

Zinnias are easy to grow and, like sunflowers, the seeds are big enough to be easy to handle. Zinnias come in a wider color range than sunflowers, although there has been a lot of progress in sunflower breeding in the last couple of decades. For people who are bothered by sunflower pollen, they have pollen-free sunflower varieties.

MM

Hi,

My pick would be Marigolds. They are fun and easy to grow. My first garden, when I was 7, was a Marigold garden started from seed--and Mom helped me with the garden. I plant Marigolds each year for memories. Here is a picture of Marigolds from last summer.

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For children, seeds large enough to handle with easy germination, relatively quick to develop to bloom, would be good traits. All those things mentioned more or less fit.

And I would add to the list dwarf yellow cosmos, cosmos sulphureus. They are tolerant of neglect and also attractive to butterflies. Also, after the blooms fade the seeds develop in the open where the child can see them and easily collect some. The variety Bright Lights is cheap with a good range of yellow, orange, and red blooms.

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Here is a link that might be useful: butterflies on zinnia, cosmose, and dahlia

Sorry, I meant to say nasturtiums! Good point about the zinias and colour, too. Many colours of them and no plant pollen problem!

I have grown cosmos sulphureus. They are very pretty and mix well in any summer garden, especially with rudbeckia. They are about two or three feet tall.

Marigolds are super-easy from seed and so bright and cheerful - my vote goes to marigolds.

Thank you all so much! Great ideas. And beautiful pics!

Love the picture of the butterflies on the cosmos. I like the profusion zinnias they are real easy from seed in a pot even. Tons of flowers and not a lot of care.