Cut Flowers That Easily Reseed Themselves (So You Don't Have to Seed Start Them Ever Again!)

I love volunteer flowers! Any cut flower that I don’t have to seed start again is a welcome relief from the work of flower farming. It also sweetens the deal when I can arrange with flowers that grow on their own, as it makes the money I spent on special varieties the previous growing season feel worth it. Who doesn’t love free flowers?

Fall can be an incredibly busy time of year, so it’s easy to forget to seed save. Luck for you, if you plant the cut flowers in this list, you won’t really have to worry about it! In my cold climate cutting garden, these flowers reliably reseed themselves year after year and are a welcome sight each growing season.

A woman stands next to a wooden planter in a sunlit garden, holding a watering can. She is wearing a pink shirt, beige shorts, and a white striped outer layer. The scene includes a greenhouse door pushed open and various plants and foliage.

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How to encourage cut flowers to reseed

You can encourage your cut flowers to reseed by allowing some flowers to reach complete maturity. Also, in fall, make sure you don’t remove dead flowers from your cutting garden! This ensures you’ll have the best chance of seeing volunteers the following growing season, and you should be pleasantly surprised when these plants reappear in May. If it’s a dry year, water the area regularly to encourage germination. Other than that, the flowers basically do the work for you!

Self-sowing flowers for cold climates

These flowers are not perennials, but they almost behave like them since they’re such reliable re-seeders. Make sure you plant these annuals in a location where you hope to have them for years to come!

1. Amaranth

Amaranth thrives where other flowers fail. This cut-and-come-again flower is one of my favourites for arranging!

Close-up photo of a pink flowering amaranth plant with green, serrated leaves. The plant's flower clusters are fuzzy and elongated, standing out against a blurred green and dark background.

2. Bachelor’s Buttons

Bachelor’s Buttons come in gorgeous shades of blue, purple, pink, and white and are a favourite flower for pollinators!

Close-up of a single blue cornflower with ruffled petals and dark central disc, set against a blurred green background of foliage and grass. The flower is slightly tilted, growing from a slender stem.

Related: 44 Pollinator-Friendly Flowers and Herbs to Help Save the Bees

3. Bells of Ireland

Bells of Ireland can be tough to germinate. Just letting them reseed is sometimes a more reliable method!

A bunch of fresh green Bells of Ireland is displayed on a white background. The leaves are vibrant, with some showcasing small round seed pods. The herbs appear freshly picked, with crisp and healthy foliage.

Related: 4 Foolproof Ways to Germinate Bells of Ireland

4. Calendula

Calendula flowers are easy to save seeds from and are a welcome volunteer in the cutting garden. They are beautiful in bouquets and, if processed properly, can be used in homemade beauty products, teas, and more!

Close-up of two blooming calendula flowers in a garden. The flowers, with light yellow petals and brown centers, are surrounded by green foliage. Sunlight softly illuminates the scene, casting gentle shadows on the leaves below.

5. Cosmos

A close-up of a vibrant pink cosmos flower with multiple layers of petals and a yellow center, set against a blurred green background.

6. Feverfew

Feverfew is actually a perennial in Zone 3, so it can both reseed and become a perennial plant!

Close-up of multiple small, white feverfew flowers with yellow centers arranged on green stems against a lush, green, blurred background. The flowers appear delicate and clustered, enhancing the serene and natural atmosphere of the image.

7. Forget Me Nots

A close-up of small pink forget-me-not flowers blooming amidst lush green foliage in a garden. The background features more green plants and some orange flowers, with a hint of a white structure partially visible. The setting is outdoor with natural lighting.

8. Frosted Explosion Grass

I love Frosted Explosion Grass and use it in as many bouquets as possible.

Close-up of green frosted explosion grass plants with thin, elongated leaves. The plants have fine, delicate tendrils tipped with small purple and yellow dots, creating a starburst effect. The background shows more lush greenery.

Related: 10+ Best Greens & Fillers for Cold Climate Flower Farmers

9. Garden Huckleberries

Garden Huckleberries are best consumed cooked and sweetened. However, my favourite way to use them is to add a pop of unexpected texture to cut flower arrangements!

A close-up image of a green plant with clusters of small, round black and green huckleberries growing among the leaves. The foliage is lush and vibrant, and the background is slightly blurred, highlighting the plant and its berries.

10. Nigella (Love in a Mist)

Nigella are cool-loving cut flowers that can be harvested for their blooms or their seed pods.

A single white nigella flower with thin, spiky leaves stands out against a blurred green background. The flower has delicate petals and a green center, giving it a soft and intricate appearance.

11. Poppies

Poppies are cold-hardy and perfect for cut flower growers in Zone 3 or similar climates.

Close-up of lavender poppies blooming in a lush garden under a bright blue sky. The delicate petals of the flowers catch the sunlight, standing out against the green foliage and trees in the background.

Related: How to Grow Poppies in Zone 3

12. Saponaria

Saponaria is my favourite substitute for Baby’s Breath. It’s easy to grow and is extremely cold-tolerant.

Close-up of delicate white saponaria flowers with thin stems and tiny green buds, blooming in a lush garden. The background is a blur of greenery and an indistinct structure, highlighting the fine, fragile beauty of the flowers in the foreground.

If you liked this blog post, find me on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram for more cold-climate vegetable gardening tips, delicious recipes, and cut flower goodness! I also make weekly videos over on my YouTube channel. I hope to see you there!

READY TO GROW YOUR OWN BEAUTIFUL CUT FLOWER GARDEN, WITHOUT THE HASSEL?

I’ve taken all the guesswork out of creating a cut flower garden with my e-book, Cut Flowers Made Simple. Whether you’re a farmer florist, a beginner gardener, or anything in between, you’ll be able to start your own cut flower garden, with or without seed starting, growing annual flowers.

Cut Flowers That Easily Reseed Themselves (So You Don’t Have to Seed Start Them Ever Again!)