Filtered seeds
Flowers for partial shade
The seeds that match your filters, A to Z. Open one to see how to grow it, or switch a filter off to widen the list.
47 seeds, A to Z
Open a seed to see how to grow it.

African Marigold
Tagetes erecta
Difficulty: EasyGrows in pots
Ageratum
Ageratum houstonianum
Difficulty: EasyGrows in pots
Balloon Flower
Platycodon grandiflorus
Difficulty: Moderate
Black-Eyed Susan Vine
Thunbergia alata
Difficulty: EasyGrows in pots
Blazing Star
Liatris spicata
Difficulty: Moderate
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
Difficulty: Moderate
Canterbury Bells
Campanula medium
Difficulty: ModerateGrows in pots
Carnation
Dianthus caryophyllus
Difficulty: ModerateGrows in pots
Carpathian Bellflower
Campanula carpatica
Difficulty: EasyGrows in pots
Cerinthe
Cerinthe major
Difficulty: EasyGrows in pots
Chinese Forget-Me-Not
Cynoglossum amabile
Difficulty: EasyGrows in pots
Coleus
Coleus scutellarioides
Difficulty: EasyGrows in pots
Columbine
Aquilegia vulgaris
Difficulty: Easy
Cornflower
Centaurea cyanus
Difficulty: EasyGrows in pots
Dusty Miller
Jacobaea maritima
Difficulty: EasyGrows in pots
Dwarf Morning Glory
Convolvulus tricolor
Difficulty: EasyGrows in pots
Forget-Me-Not
Myosotis sylvatica
Difficulty: EasyGrows in pots
French Marigold
Tagetes patula
Difficulty: EasyGrows in pots
Geum
Geum chiloense
Difficulty: ModerateGrows in pots
Globe Thistle
Echinops ritro
Difficulty: Easy
Gloriosa Daisy
Rudbeckia hirta 'Gloriosa'
Difficulty: Easy
Godetia
Clarkia amoena
Difficulty: Easy
Gomphrena
Gomphrena globosa
Difficulty: EasyGrows in pots
Impatiens
Impatiens walleriana
Difficulty: EasyGrows in pots
Joe Pye Weed
Eutrochium purpureum
Difficulty: Moderate
Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
Difficulty: EasyGrows in pots
Lavatera
Malva trimestris
Difficulty: EasyGrows in pots
Linaria
Linaria maroccana
Difficulty: Moderate
Lisianthus
Eustoma grandiflorum
Difficulty: ChallengingGrows in pots
Maltese Cross
Silene chalcedonica
Difficulty: Easy
Nasturtium
Tropaeolum majus
Difficulty: EasyGrows in pots
Nemesia
Nemesia strumosa
Difficulty: EasyGrows in pots
Nemophila
Nemophila menziesii
Difficulty: EasyGrows in pots
Obedient Plant
Physostegia virginiana
Difficulty: EasyGrows in pots
Oriental Poppy
Papaver orientale
Difficulty: Moderate
Pansy
Viola × wittrockiana
Difficulty: ModerateGrows in pots
Pasque Flower
Pulsatilla vulgaris
Difficulty: ModerateGrows in pots
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Difficulty: EasyGrows in pots
Rose Campion
Silene coronaria
Difficulty: Easy
Rose Mallow
Hibiscus moscheutos
Difficulty: ModerateGrows in pots
Scarlet Flax
Linum grandiflorum
Difficulty: Easy
Scarlet Sage
Salvia splendens
Difficulty: EasyGrows in pots
Snapdragon
Antirrhinum majus
Difficulty: ModerateGrows in pots
Sneezeweed
Helenium autumnale
Difficulty: Easy
Sweet Alyssum
Lobularia maritima
Difficulty: EasyGrows in pots
Torenia
Torenia fournieri
Difficulty: ModerateGrows in pots
Woodland Sage
Salvia nemorosa
Difficulty: EasyGrows in pots
Categories
Browse by category
Each category has its own page with every seed in it, A to Z.
Planting calendar
When to start each seed
Counted from your area's average last spring frost date. Find yours from a local weather service or garden center, then count back or forward.
8+ weeks before
Start indoors early
4–7 weeks before
Indoors or a cold frame
African Marigold6–8 wk beforeIndoors
Black-Eyed Susan Vine6–8 wk beforeIndoors
Carnation6–8 wk beforeIndoors
Cornflower6–8 wk beforeIndoors
Gomphrena6–8 wk beforeIndoors
Lavatera6–8 wk beforeIndoors
Nemophila6–8 wk beforeIndoors
Torenia6–8 wk beforeIndoors
Sweet Alyssum5–6 wk beforeIndoors
Cerinthe4–6 wk beforeIndoors
Dwarf Morning Glory4–6 wk beforeIndoors
Nasturtium4–6 wk beforeIndoors
1–3 weeks before
Hardy seeds go out
From the last frost
Sow at or after the last frost
Quick wins
Fastest to sprout
Days from sowing until the first shoots appear, in good conditions.
Pet friendly
Safe around cats and dogs
Listed as non-toxic to both cats and dogs. Each seed's page has the details.
Not safe for pets: carnation, dusty miller.
Small spaces
Perfect for pots and balconies
Every seed here grows in a container. Where it's known, you'll see the smallest pot to use.
Questions
Using the seed list
- How many seeds are on SeedBattle?
- 223 so far, in 4 categories: vegetables, herbs, flowers and fruits & other. A new seed appears here as soon as its page is published.
- How do the filters work?
- Choose a category, a difficulty, an amount of sun or "Grows in pots". Each group takes one choice at a time, and choosing it again switches it off. Choices from different groups add up, so Easy plus Grows in pots shows only the easy seeds that grow in containers.
- What order are the seeds in?
- A to Z by their common name. Each page shows up to 48 seeds, with a link to the next page when there are more.
- How is difficulty rated?
- Every seed is rated easy, moderate or challenging by our editors, going by how easily it grows from seed.
- What do the sun filters mean?
- Full sun means 6 or more hours of direct sun, partial shade a few hours, and full shade little or no direct sun. Many seeds grow in more than one, so they show up under each.
- What does "Grows in pots" mean?
- Trusted growing sources say the seed can be grown in a container. Where the smallest pot to use is known, you'll find it on the seed's page.
- Can I compare seeds?
- Yes. The compare page lines up the growing facts of up to three seeds side by side, from germination and spacing to sun, water and pet safety.
Not sure which one to grow?
Put up to three seeds side by side and compare germination, spacing, sun, water, frost tolerance and pet safety.






