First-Year Flowering Perennials

Agastache
Antirrhinum
Belamcanda chinensis (blackberry lilly)
Campanula 'Brantwood'
Centranthus ruber
Coreopsis
Dalea purpurea
Delphinium 'Blue Butterfly'
Echinacea purpurea
Feverfew
Gaura
Indian Grass
Lavander 'Lady'
Linum perenne
Lupine 'Morello Cherry'
Lychnis chalcedonica
Malva 'Zebrina'
Oenothera
Papaver atlanticum
Papaver nudicaule
Papaver 'Double Tangerine Gem'
Penstemon 'Iron Maiden'
Platycodon grandiflorus
Ratibida columnaris
Rudbeckia hirta
Ruellia humilis
Salvia 'Rose Queen'
Salvia 'Violet Queen'
Scabiosa ochroleuca
Scutellaria
Shasta Daisy
Verbascum phoeniceum
Verbena
Viola

I've found it really depends on the weather and the plant. Some that were supposed to bloom their second year bloomed for me their first. Torture.

If they germinate early due to a warm spell like what we had last January, the cold weather that follows will trick them into believing they've been through a winter. The seedlings have to be a certain size for this to happen. One way to do this is to sow seeds in the fall when it's still warm, leave them in their containers over the winter, and they'll bloom the following summer. I'm trying this with echinacea this year. They sprouted last September. New growth has already been seen this year, so I know they're returning. Now, if they'll bloom. :)

Gaillardia  Blanket Flower!!! Two little plants flowered like gangbusters for me.
I sowed Double Gold this year. My pack said second year bloom.

Here is a link that might be useful: Seeds of Change

Thanks, shmooey. That is a FANTASTIC list!

Cool idea, token. I'm amazed that these little seedlings survive the cold. I always assumed they would be so fragile--Ha on me! I think I'll try that trick. Do you know any perenniel that SHOULDN'T be sown in the fall (other than those needing cold periods to germinate)?

Deanna in nh, don't forget that token is in NC, zone 7b. You are in 5a. In my zone (southern Ontario) I would not be starting new perennials in pots in the fall unless I had a hoop house or other protected area for them to overwinter in. If I were going to start them in the fall, I think that I would plant them directly in the ground.

Can we sow perenniel seeds rated for our zone early in the fall and have the seedlings survive?

Deanna,
In our zone with our winters I wouldn't bet on it. You can certainly try it, but I would do so with seeds I have plenty of or would be OK with if they did not come up the next spring.

shmooey - Nice list. I spend a couple of hours compiling a list this morning. Yours looks more comprehensive.

One thing still confuses me. I thought gaillardia bloomed the first year from seed, so I planted lots and lots of yellow and burgundy gaillardia. This was before someone mentioned that most gaillardias (the ones I planted) MAY produce a few flowers in the first year. Seems there are annual gaillardias that will produce a big show this year. I ordered seeds for Razzle Dazzle, an annual gaillardia, and will plant those seeds when they arrive.

This is not the only species where some bloom in the first year, others do not.

As Token pointed out, much depends on our climate - or even microzones. Some people may be able to get blooms in the first year, especially if WS or sown in the fall.

Great post, deanna, and great information from everybody!

Anyone have any experience or predictions with Bachelors' Buttons? So far they are the superstars of my small sample size of first time WSown sprouts. They are going gangbusters.

Exactly. In the upper zones, I would continue to sow all summer, letting the plants reach a more mature size. I would never try to overwinter some perennials where the temperatures drop below freezing. You want to make sure they are established before winter. So late July might be a good time to get them started. Use the same methods, covered containers, just keep them in full shade until they sprout. You'll need to water a lot more too.

I've had a few that try. But I actually cut the buds off the first year on my perennials. It's hard to do, but it never fails to reward me with much bigger plants and more blooms the second year.

Here are a few more WS'n perennials that have bloomed a little for me the first year. My experience has been that the earlier the seedlings are planted out, the greater chance you will get blooms the 1st year.

Asters - got a few blooms on all 4 species I Ws'd
Asclepias tuberosa - butterfly weed
Eupatorium rugosum - white snakeroot
Eupatorium coelestinum - blue mist flower
Ipomopsis rubra
Bronze fennel
Gaura lindhiermi

Cutting blooms off... now that would be hard!

I'm going to try mid-summer perennial sowing. That sounds really intriguing and rewarding! I've got plenty of shade in the woods and I have extra "keeping" beds for them to overwinter in the ground.

bumping this post up, it may be valuable to others as well
What is the concensus on WS Gallardia; will it bloom the first yr?
Making a bed in the front and want everything I put there to bloom.
One of the commenters said WS perennials are more likely to bloom, I'm hoping that is true for Gallardia and many of my other perennials.

Can anyone add to this list.

I've been away for awhile but sowed 350 jugs this yr. I'm very busy potting things up. Thanks to all the posters here for all your help, enthusiasm, and encouragement. thanks also to trudy who sent me heirloom seeds twice ( I gasve a set away to a blind man who wanted to sow them; cool huh?), so needed another.

I love WSing and will always do it every yr. I've never ever had this kind of success. Went from being a beginner perennial sower to a pro over night, LOL thanks to WSing.

Hope everyone is enjoying their Spring and everything is germinating.

One more ques, SORRY.
When do we give up on a jug?
I've put them all together, and have little activity out of about 30 out of the 350, I'd say thats pretty good. They are in a sunny locationa nd kept watered. They are under cold frame at night and to watrm up the jugs in the morning and top lifted during the warm days.

I know the Trees will take longer. I had a few trees germ for me already. Catapala, 1 Locust Germ and Golden Chain tree.

Having fun yet?
Micki