2025 Seed Trial Favorites

Nasturtium

I trialed 10 different varieties of nasturtium, this one is my favorite. Warm Flowers Garden Box.

Reasons to grow:

  • pollinators love them

  • great groundcover

  • great variety of colors

  • edible

Photography by Deanne Tibbetts

Warm Flowers Garden Box
Warm Flowers Garden Box

I trialed 4 varieties and I am looking forward to trying a bunch more in 2026. This one is an annual and blooms all summer long. Warm Flowers Garden Box

Reasons to grow:

  • great cut flower

  • pollinator magnet

  • vibrant blue color

Salvia

Asarina

Sometimes called vining snapdragon. Warm Flowers Garden Box

Reasons to grow:

  • fast climber

  • tubular flowers attract hummingbirds

  • assorted colors

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Snapdragon

This dwarf snapdragon blooms from early spring until late fall. Cool Flowers Garden Box

Reasons to grow:

  • cold hardy

  • prolific bloomer

  • grows in part shade

  • lots of colors

  • pollinator magnet

  • great in pots

Cool Flowers Garden Box

Basketflower

By far my favorite new annual. I will plant these with Procut White Lite Sunflowers in 2026. Warm Flowers Garden Box

Reasons to grow:

  • great cut flower

  • great dried flower

  • pollinators love it

  • a stunner in the garden bed

Warm Flowers Garden Box

Dianthus

There are many different kinds of dianthus but this is the only one I have trialed. I look forward to trying others in 2026. Warm Flower Garden Box

Reasons to grow

  • heavenly scent

  • blooms from early spring through fall

  • flowers profusely

  • interesting and unusual flower

  • great for pollinators

  • great for bud vases

Warm Flowers Garden Box

Celosia

I’m not a fan of the larger, coral style celosia but I love these little pink plumes. Warm Season Garden Box

Reasons to grow

  • looks as good dried as it does fresh

  • great addition to bouquets

  • sends up new growth when you cut it back

Warm Flowers Garden Box

Viola

There are more color choices for viola than ever but I love this classic sweet blue and white variety. Cool Flowers Garden Box

Reasons to grow

  • early spring blooms

  • reseeds

  • edible

  • grow well in pots or the garden bed

  • prolific blooms

  • cut back for a second flush of flowers

Cool Flowers Garden Box

Poppy

These were sprinkled on the snow in January. Cool Flowers Garden Box

Reasons to grow:

  • amazing colors

  • easy to grow, direct seed in winter or spring

  • seed pods are great for dried flower arrangements

  • early spring bloomer

Cool Flowers Garden Box

Petunia

This is the first petunia I have grown from seed and she did not disappoint. I am looking forward to trying some other varieties in 2026. Warm Flowers Garden Box

Reasons to grow

  • beautiful blooms

  • pollinators love it

  • amazing color

  • interesting foliage

  • tall bloom stalks for a petunia

  • great potted plant

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Calmintha

This is a perennial, similar to catmint but a dwarf, only about 8” tall. Warm Season Garden Box

Reasons to grow

  • deer don’t like it

  • smells like mint

  • great for borders

  • pollinator magnet

  • sweet little purple flowers

Warm Flowers Garden Box

Impatiens

This was my first year growing impatiens. They are a staple for the shade and you can’t beat them for a pot garden. Warm Flowers Garden Box

Reasons to grow

  • bright pop of color for shade

  • grows in containers

  • deep saturated colors in pink, red, purple, white, and orange

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Rose Rhapsody

Fall Garden Box

This perennial salvia blooms in early spring when nothing else is in bloom. Fall Planted Perennial

Reasons to grow

  • pollinators love it

  • reblooms after you cut it back

  • great cut flower

Aster

Annual Asters come in lots of colors from pastel pink to saturated deep purple. Some varieties even have these needle like petals that add texture to the garden and to your bouquets.

Reasons to Grow: unique blooms, wide range of colors, pollinators love them, great cut flower

Warm Flowers Garden Box