Winter Sowing Perennials: Cold-Hardy Flowers That Come Back Every Year

One of the things I love most about winter sowing is that it reminds me gardening doesn’t have to be rushed. This year I am winter sowing perennials to start building my garden beds. I love how it is a slower, steadier kind of gardening — the kind that trusts the process. Because I don’t know about you but for me it seems so weird to put out seeds in the winter. But honestly when I step back and look at how the garden and plants and flowers grow this is how nature works so why does it feel so weird?

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Winter Sowing Perennials

Perennials are flowers that come back year after year, and many of them actually need winter’s cold to grow well. If you’ve ever wanted a garden that gets better with time (instead of starting from scratch every spring), winter sowing perennials is such a good place to begin.

Last year, I experimented with winter sowing using the ziplock bag method and learned so much along the way. This year, I’m trying the milk jug method after seeing how successful it was for my mom — her perennial seedlings were strong, healthy, and ready to go when spring arrived. Sometimes the simplest methods really are the best.

Why Winter Sowing Works So Well for Perennials

Many perennial seeds naturally fall to the ground in late summer or fall and sit through winter before sprouting in spring. Winter sowing simply mimics that natural process. Makes sense, right?

Cold temperatures help break seed dormancy, freeze-and-thaw cycles signal when it’s safe to grow, and seedlings emerge stronger because they’re adapted to outdoor conditions from the very beginning. The seeds know what to do! It’s slower than starting seeds indoors — but it’s also simpler, lower stress, and incredibly rewarding. Lazy girl approved!

Cold-Hardy Perennials I’m Winter Sowing in Zone 5

Winter sowing works in zones 3-9 which is an amazing range! I am in zone 5b here in Northern Colorado and here is my list for this year.

1. Yarrow

Yarrow is one of my absolute favorites and I have the pink and yellow variety already in our front beds but of course I want more. It’s tough, drought-tolerant once established, and comes back reliably every year. Winter sowing gives yarrow a great start, and it often blooms earlier than you expect. Plus, yarrow looks so pretty mixed with zinnias and eventually dried!

2. Foxglove

Foxglove is a classic cottage-garden flower that truly loves cold weather. Most varieties are biennial, meaning they bloom in their second year — but winter sowing can sometimes lead to earlier blooms. Once you have foxglove in your garden, it often reseeds itself gently.

3. Hollyhocks

Hollyhocks are old-fashioned garden staples and are perfect for winter sowing. My mom winter sowed these last year and I was so jealous and decided I had to try them as well. She lives 15 minutes from me and had so much success! They’re typically biennial, but they reseed so easily that they feel perennial over time. These tall blooms are beautiful along fences or the back of garden beds. I feel like they would be pretty in front of our fence in our front yard!

4. Black-Eyed Susans

Black-eyed Susans are my husband’s favorites and they are reliable, cheerful, and incredibly forgiving. They’re one of the perennials most likely to bloom in the first year when started early, especially with winter sowing. If I can keep the bunnies away from them they should throve here in our Colorado garden!

5. Echinacea (Coneflower)

Coneflowers are hardy, long-lived perennials that benefit from cold stratification. They may take a year to settle in, but once they do, they come back stronger every season and are loved by pollinators. We have several of these in our front beds from the nursery so I am excited to try growing them myself!

6. Delphiniums

Delphiniums thrive in cooler climates and benefit from winter sowing. They can take a little patience, but those tall blue and purple spikes are worth the wait. Did you see that Better Homes and Gardens named it the flower of the year? Love it!

7. Lupine

My friend Emilie from flowerpeople.com sent me some of her Lupine seeds and I can’t wait to see how they do with winter sowing! Lupine is another perennial that appreciates winter’s chill. From what I have hear winter sowing helps soften the seed coat naturally, leading to better germination and healthier plants. So I shall try it!

8. Columbine

Columbine is a lovely, delicate-looking flower that’s surprisingly tough. It handles cold well, does beautifully in Zone 5, and often reseeds once established. It is our state flower too so I must have them in our garden!

9. Shasta Daisies

Shasta daisies are classic, dependable perennials that return year after year. Winter sowing helps produce sturdy plants that bloom reliably in summer. I am still on the fence with this one so convince me!

Where to Get Seeds for Winter Sowing

• I have perennials from Emilie at flowerpeople.com and Outsidepride.com and dollarheirloom.com
• Here is my Amazon seed and supply list
• Walmart, Dollar Tree, Lowes, Home Depot, Ace Hardware, Target all have seeds

Will Perennials Bloom the First Year?

This is one of the most common questions I get — and the honest answer is: sometimes. Most perennials focus on root and leaf growth the first year and bloom in their second year. Some, like black-eyed Susans or yarrow, may surprise you with first-year blooms — especially when winter sown — but it’s best to think of perennials as a long-term investment in your garden. Year one builds the plant. Year two brings the blooms.

A Gentle Reminder for Perennial Gardening

Winter sowing perennials teaches patience in the best way. You’re planting something that may not look like much at first, but over time it becomes a reliable part of your garden — returning each spring, stronger than before. You don’t have to plant everything. (really telling myself this!)
You don’t have to get it perfect. You just have to start and try.

If you’re new to winter sowing, you might want to begin with cold-hardy annuals first. I shared my favorite beginner-friendly options here → 9 Easy Cold-Hardy Annuals to Try with Winter Sowing

Plant the seeds — and trust the process and just remember to have fun! Gardening is all about experimenting and taking a few risks!

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xoxo,

Kelly