Bishy Barnabee’s Cottage Garden

Annual Flower Seeds

130 cottage garden seeds, grown and trialled on our Norfolk farm

Quick picks
Sow this monthAutumn favouritesCut flowersFor the vasePollinatorsBees and butterfliesHardy annualsAutumn-sow readyEasy to growFirst-time friendlyUnder £2.50Stock up favourites
130 products
Close-up of delicate white Corncockle Bianca flowers by Bishy Barnabees Cottage Garden Ltd, featuring thin green stems in a lush garden with more white blooms, greenery, and a few orange flowers in the background.
Annual

Corncockle Bianca

The pure white form of Britain's lost cornfield flower

Sow: Mar–May · Sep
£2.35 View
Phlox Sugar Stars by Bishy Barnabees Cottage Garden features clusters of violet-blue, star-shaped flowers blooming amid green foliage, bordered by a white concrete edge with blurred grass and sky in the background.
Annual

Phlox Sugar Stars

Star-shaped flowers in violet-blue and deep indigo, each…

Sow: Mar–May
£2.20 View
Close-up of Nigella hispanica by Bishy Barnabees Cottage Garden, featuring royal violet-blue petals, dark feathery centers, green foliage, and unopened buds on mulched ground—hinting at its striking architectural seed pods.
Annual

Nigella hispanica

The Spanish one, and a considerably bigger plant than the Miss Jekyll types

Sow: Mar–May · Sep
£2.30 View
Corncockle by Bishy Barnabees Cottage Garden Ltd features tall, slender stems with vibrant purple blooms among clusters of daisies and green foliage, set against a partly cloudy rural landscape.
Annual

Corncockle

Large open magenta-pink trumpets with a pale centre…

Sow: Mar–May · Sep–Oct
£2.20 View
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Growing annual flowers — your questions answered

When should I sow annual flower seeds?

Most half-hardy annuals are sown indoors from late February to April, then transplanted outside once the risk of frost has passed. Hardy annuals can be sown directly outdoors from March onwards, or autumn-sown in September and October for stronger, earlier plants the following year.

What is the difference between hardy and half-hardy annuals?

Hardy annuals (HA) can withstand frost and cold conditions, so they can be sown directly outside or overwintered as young plants. Half-hardy annuals (HHA) need warmth to germinate and are killed by frost, so they are usually started indoors and only planted out after the last spring frost.

Can I sow annual seeds in autumn?

Yes — hardy annuals like cornflowers, larkspur, ammi majus, and sweet peas thrive when autumn-sown. They establish stronger root systems over winter and reward you with bigger plants and earlier flowers the following summer. Sow in modules and overwinter in a cold frame or unheated greenhouse for best results.

Which annuals are best for cut flowers?

For a productive cutting patch, look for varieties with long stems, vase life, and the ability to keep flowering when picked. Cosmos, zinnias, ammi majus, scabious, sweet peas, snapdragons, and cornflowers are all reliable performers. The more you cut, the more they bloom.