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
A close-up of Phacelia flowers, with delicate purple petals and green foliage, from Bishy Barnabees Cottage Garden. These bee-friendly blooms are often grown from Phacelia seeds as beneficial green manure in gardens.
Annual

Phacelia

Coiled lavender-blue flower spikes that uncurl as they…

Sow: Mar–Sep
£1.95 View
Two bees gather nectar from a large, light purple Poppy Hungarian Blue flower by Bishy Barnabees Cottage Garden, featuring a dark center and green leaves, with another poppy blooming in the background. This variety is known for edible poppy seeds.
Annual

Poppy Hungarian Blue

Large single violet-purple bowls, eight to ten centimetres…

Sow: Mar–May · Sep–Oct
£2.20 View
A close-up of a Bishy Barnabees Cottage Garden Sweet Pea Swan Lake flower in bloom, with blurred green foliage and colorful blooms behind it under a partly cloudy sky. Ideal for elegant wedding bouquets.
Annual

Sweet Pea Swan Lake

Huge ruffled snow-white blooms on long stems with a good traditional scent

Sow: Jan–Mar · Oct–Nov
£2.40 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.