Self-Seeding Plants
There are many benefits to cultivating self-seeding plants. They don’t require a lot of work, they are beneficial to pollinators and they can save you money on seeds. Who doesn’t love free flowers?! Moderate self-seeding can help the ecosystem of your garden thrive and that is exciting to watch! But if a plant happens to self-sow too aggressively, the joy of watching your garden grow can quickly turn to annoyance if these plants start to compete with others in your garden. Some plants are known for their seeding and are hard to control, so they can easily become pesky weeds. The level of self seeding is unpredictable and is usually dependent on things such as soil type, temperature and moisture levels. A general rule is, the shorter the lifespan of a plant, the more seedlings it will produce. Be mindful of how much your plants are likely to spread before you plant them, give them ample space in your garden and thin accordingly each year. If you are interested in planting some self seeding flowers in your garden this year, consider some of our favorites: Echinacea, Alyssum, Coreopsis and Rudbeckia.
