Biennial Flowers

Biennial Flowers provide ornamental, pollinator-friendly structure; sow seeds late spring to midsummer for flowering next year, and grow in full sun to partial shade and well-drained, moderately fertile soil.
Alphabetically, A-Z Alphabetically, A-Z
  • €4,95

    Beautiful Pink Musk Mallow Seeds for Perennial GardensDiscover the charm of musk mallow seeds (Malva moschata) that bring delicate pink musk mallow flowers to your garden. This perennial flowering plant is prized for its large,...

  • €4,95

    Vibrant Organic Dianthus Seeds for Garden BordersDiscover the charm of organic dianthus seeds with this mixed single-flowered variety, known as Thousand Beauties. These Dianthus barbatus seeds produce biennial flowering plants that add a burst of...

  • €4,95

    Vibrant Red Chantenay Carrot for Ornamental GardensThe Red Chantenay Carrot (Daucus carota) is a striking biennial flowering plant valued for its unique red ornamental carrot blooms. Known as the “purple kisses carrot,” this variety showcases...

  • €4,95

    Vibrant Large-Flowered Swiss Giants Viola Seeds Discover the charm of Swiss Giants Viola seeds, featuring a stunning mix of large-flowered violas from the Viola wittrockiana species. These versatile plants can be cultivated as annual and...

  • €4,95

    Vibrant Viola Alpine Lake Blue Seeds for Garden BordersDiscover the charm of Viola Alpine Lake Blue seeds, featuring striking large flowers that bring a deep blue hue with a distinct dark center. This variety, part...

  • €4,95

    Vibrant Viola Alpine Lake Seeds for Colorful BordersDiscover the charm of Viola Alpine Lake seeds, featuring large-flowered violas that bring a burst of color to any garden. These alpine flower seeds are perfect for gardeners...

  • €4,95

    Large-Flowered Viola Coronation Gold Seeds Discover the charm of Viola Coronation Gold seeds, featuring stunning large-flowered violas from the renowned Swiss Giants group. These Viola wittrockiana plants showcase vibrant yellow summer flowers that brighten garden...

  • €4,95

    Vibrant Viola Seeds for Colorful Garden BordersDiscover the charm of viola seeds with the Aalsmeer Giants variety, perfect for adding lively color to your garden borders and pots. These Viola wittrockiana seeds produce stunning annual...

  • €4,95

    Vibrant Viola Seeds for Borders and BedsDiscover the charm of viola seeds from the Aalsmeerse Giants mixed collection, featuring large-flowered varieties of Viola wittrockiana. These versatile violas can be grown as annuals or biennials, producing...

  • €4,95

    Elegant Large-Flowered Viola Seeds for Garden BordersDiscover the charm of viola seeds from the renowned Dutch Giants group, featuring the striking Viola wittrockiana Red Wing variety. These red wing viola seeds produce large, vibrant flowers...

  • €4,95

    Large-Flowered Viola Seeds for Vibrant Borders Discover the charm of viola seeds from the Red Wing variety, known for their striking large-flowered blooms. These Viola wittrockiana plants, often called 'Dutch Giants,' bring a rich red...

  • €4,95

    Large-Flowered Viola Seeds for Stunning Garden BloomsViola seeds Silverbride offer gardeners the chance to cultivate striking annual biennial flowers known for their impressive size and distinctive coloration. These Viola wittrockiana seeds produce large-flowered violas featuring...

  • €4,95

    Vibrant Viola Seeds in Pastel ShadesDiscover the charm of viola seeds with the Trimardeau Mixed variety, featuring an extensive palette of soft pastel colors perfect for enhancing any garden. These Viola wittrockiana seeds offer flexibility...

  • €4,95

    Large-Flowered Viola Seeds for Vibrant GardensDiscover the charm of viola seeds Violin Sunset Red, featuring large, colorful viola flowers that brighten any garden space. These Viola wittrockiana seeds produce stunning flowering violas ideal for both...

  • €4,95

    Vibrant Large-Flowered Viola Seeds for BordersDiscover the charm of viola seeds with the Violin Sunset Red variety, a striking selection from the Viola wittrockiana species. These large-flowered violas showcase a bright red color with a...

  • €4,95

    Vibrant Annual and Biennial Viola Swiss Giants FlowersViola Swiss Giants seeds offer a stunning display of mixed viola colors, perfect for gardeners seeking versatile flowering plant seeds. These Viola wittrockiana seeds produce garden violas that...

  • €4,95

    Vibrant Viola Trimardeau Seeds for Garden BordersDiscover the charm of Viola Trimardeau seeds, perfect for adding colorful accents to your garden borders and flower beds. This seed mix features medium-sized violas from the 'Trimardeau' group...

  • €4,95

    Vibrant Wallflower Seeds for Colorful Garden BordersDiscover wallflower seeds from the Cheiranthus (erisymum) cheirii variety, known for their richly flowering and colorful display. These biennial flowering plants produce compact growth flowers that brighten any garden...

  • €4,95

    Vibrant Wallflower Seeds for Fragrant Garden BloomsDiscover the charm of wallflower seeds with the Cheiranthus (erisymum) cheirii Fair Lady Mix, perfect for adding color and fragrance to spring gardens. This biennial wallflower seeds mix produces...

Shop By Flower Categories

Bestselling Flower Seeds

Discover our all-time favorite flower seeds here — trusted by gardeners worldwide!

Shop now

Two-year bloomers for an enduring garden display

Biennial Flowers Seeds offer a dependable route to a structured, seasonal flowering display. True to the biennial life cycle, these two-year flower seeds typically form a first-year rosette of foliage before a natural cooling period encourages the second-year bloom. This rhythm suits designs that value continuity and texture in borders, bedding, and cottage-style plantings. Drawn from a curated mix of biennial flower seeds and biennial ornamental seeds, the range supports planting schemes that benefit from staggered interest and resilient performance through winter as overwintering rosettes quietly establish ahead of the following season.

With Biennial Flowers Seeds, plantings gain reliable structure, fragrance, and an extended flowering window that complements perennial and annual companions. Many are naturally attractive to pollinating insects, adding biodiversity with pollinator friendly flowers that enrich wildlife value across mixed borders and cut flower gardens. Selected varieties of biennial bedding plants and biennial cottage garden flowers sit comfortably among traditional cottage garden plants, while some reseeding biennials may lightly persist, offering gentle continuity year to year. As Biennial Flowers Seeds progress from sturdy, cold hardy seedlings into vigorous second-year performers, they create a steady cadence of stems for a refined, long-lasting display. This category also aligns naturally with Biennial flowering plants that respond well to seasonal cues, including those with a mild vernalization requirement.

Cultural needs are straightforward: most thrive in full sun to partial shade and prefer well-drained, moderately fertile soil. For consistent results, Biennial Flowers Seeds are typically sown late spring to midsummer for flowering the following season; in mild climates autumn sowing may be possible. Seeds can be direct sown outdoors or started in seed trays or modules before transplanting; thin young plants to give rosettes room to establish. Gentle winter protection may help exposed sites, while light deadheading after flowering can manage self-seeding where a tidier finish is preferred. Integrated into borders or mixed schemes, Biennial Flowers Seeds anchor plantings with dependable rhythm, bridging seasons and enhancing overall garden character.

Biennial flowering plants

Explore related flower categories to compare growth habits and site conditions while planning biennial displays. From annuals and perennials to drought-tolerant or shade-friendly choices, these links help coordinate color and bloom time across beds and borders. Adjust sowing to your climate: start after the last frost in cool springs, or consider autumn sowing in mild climates for robust plants and earlier show the following year.

Biennial flowering plants

Biennial flowers grow a first-year rosette then flower the following season after natural vernalization. For best results, sow late spring to midsummer for flowering the following year; in mild climates autumn sowing may be possible. Provide full sun to partial shade and well-drained, moderately fertile soil; water to keep the root zone evenly moist but never waterlogged. You can direct sow outdoors or start in seed trays or modules, then harden off and transplant seedlings, allowing space for good airflow as rosettes expand. Cold-hardy seedlings will overwinter as compact foliage; offer light winter protection where freeze–thaw is severe. Thin young plants to reduce competition and encourage sturdy stems.

  • Recognize the biennial life cycle: a first-year rosette followed by second-year bloom after vernalization.
  • Sow late spring to midsummer; start in seed trays or modules or direct sow outdoors, then harden off seedlings after last frost.
  • Support overwintering rosettes with light winter protection where conditions are harsh; keep well-drained soil evenly moist, not waterlogged.
  • Deadhead after flowering to limit reseeding biennials, or leave some spent stems for self-seeding flowers.
  • Many types are pollinator friendly; allow uninterrupted bloom to support visiting insects.
  • Valued as ornamental cottage garden plants and useful in a cut flower garden for seasonal structure.

What are biennial flowers, and how does their life cycle work?

Biennial flowers complete their life cycle over two growing seasons. In the first year they produce a first-year rosette of leaves and roots, storing energy. After experiencing winter cold (a vernalization requirement in many types), they send up flowering stems in the second-year bloom, set seed, and then die. Some short-lived perennials behave like biennials under garden conditions. Planning with this biennial life cycle in mind helps you time sowing and position plants so rosettes can establish before winter and flower strongly the following season.

When should I sow biennial flowers seeds outdoors, and is autumn sowing possible?

For reliable results, sow from late spring to midsummer once soil has warmed and the danger of hard frost has passed; this timing supports flowering the following season. In areas with mild winters, autumn sowing may be possible, as cold-hardy seedlings can overwinter as small rosettes. Avoid the hottest, driest spells to reduce stress. If starting late, consider sowing in modules under cover and planting out when nights are cooler. Always match timing to your climate cues: after last frost for spring/summer sowings, or before consistent freezes for autumn sowings.

How do I grow biennials from seed step by step, and should I direct sow or use modules?

Prepare well-drained, moderately fertile soil in full sun to partial shade. Either direct sow outdoors in a finely raked bed, or sow in seed trays or modules filled with a quality, free-draining mix. Lightly cover fine seed or press into the surface if light aids germination; keep evenly moist, not waterlogged. Once seedlings emerge, provide good light and ventilation. Thin young plants in situ or transplant seedlings to individual modules when they have true leaves. Harden off seedlings before planting out, spacing to allow airflow. Keep establishing rosettes weed-free and watered during dry spells, and protect from slugs and heavy trampling.

Do biennials bloom in the first or second year, and how long do they live?

Most biennials flower in the second year after a period of cold triggers bud formation. A few may bloom in the first year if sown very early and exposed to adequate chill, but this is less typical. After seeding, the parent plant usually completes its cycle and dies, so the individual lifespan is generally two seasons. To maintain displays, stagger sowings annually or allow some reseeding. Deadheading can extend the second-year display slightly, but it will not convert a biennial into a long-lived perennial.

Which biennial flowers are best for pollinators, and will they self-seed?

Pollinator friendly flowers with open, nectar- and pollen-rich blooms tend to perform best, supporting bees, hoverflies, and butterflies. Classic cottage garden plants such as foxgloves, wallflowers, honesty, and sweet william are valued for both wildlife benefits and their usefulness in mixed borders and the cut flower garden. Many reseeding biennials will self-seed if you leave some seed heads to mature; this can create naturalized drifts. For a tidier look or to prevent excess volunteers, deadhead after flowering, collecting seed selectively from strong, healthy plants.

When should I transplant biennial seedlings, how far apart should they be, and can they grow in containers?

Transplant seedlings when they have several true leaves and are sturdy enough to handle, ideally on a cool, overcast day. Handle by the leaves to protect delicate stems, and firm in at the same depth. Spacing varies: compact rosettes can sit closer, while taller or bushier kinds need more room for airflow and light; aim for enough space that mature leaves do not heavily overlap. Container growing is possible for compact biennials—use deep pots with drainage and a gritty, well-drained mix, water consistently, and provide winter protection from waterlogging and severe freezes so overwintering rosettes remain healthy.

Seeds and plant products are sourced from accredited growers and processors, with traceability maintained from batch to dispatch. Suppliers comply with current standards for quality, purity, labelling, and phytosanitary controls, and lots are checked for germination within accepted tolerances. Guidance provided is general and may vary with microclimate, soil, hardiness zone, and hemisphere, as conditions vary locally. Product pages include any specific cultivation and compliance details relevant to the item.

Two-year bloomers for an enduring garden display

Biennial flower seeds produce plants that focus on foliage and root development in their first growing season, then after exposure to winter chill, send up flowering stems and set seed in the second. Classic choices include foxglove, sweet William, wallflower, and hollyhock, valued for statuesque spikes, cottage-style charm, and pollinator appeal. Sow thinly after the last frost for first-year establishment, or in late summer so seedlings can form sturdy rosettes before cold arrives; in mild climates autumn sowing may be possible. Provide well-drained soil, consistent moisture, and sun to light shade depending on the species. Transplant carefully to avoid disturbing taproots, and stake taller kinds as they elongate. Deadhead to prolong bloom, or allow some seed to mature for naturalized continuity in future seasons. For a layered display, mix varying heights and bloom times alongside annuals and perennials. This category sits within Flowers Seeds, offering complementary textures and colors.