Calhoun County, AL – I am sharing my favorite seeds that I harvest yearly. Castor Beans are seeds that can grow to over 7 feet tall in hot weather. Castor Beans produce wine/bronze stalks with leaves contrasting nicely with red, yellow, and orange flower colors. Orange Tickseed can grow in the sun to over 9 feet tall. Tickseed produces ferny, plush, fanned leaves (bees & butterflies flock to it). Mammoth Sunflower seeds produce summer giant stalks up to 9 feet tall. White Shasta Daisies have yellow disk centers, and are perennials. Shasta Daisies spread easily once roots are established. And Shasta Daisies transplant is easy. Yellow Asters are perennials. Asters can grow to over 4 feet tall. Yellow Wild Hybrid Hibiscus (Mallow) grows 4 feet tall, producing dozens of seed pods every season. Mexican Torch Orange Sunflowers grow up to 9 feet tall. Torch stalks attract bees & butterflies and are a seed source for winter birds. Double Scarlet Flame Zinnas grow up to 7 feet tall, with flower heads twice the size of ordinary Zinnas. Blanket flowers are tri-colored yellow, orange, and maroon. Blanket flowers are perennial and have winter-tolerant roots. I am including in my favorite seeds I grow & collect yearly, an ornamental bean. I grew for the first time in 2024 Red Vining Purple Hyacinth Beans. I planted 5 beans, and 3 survived. Creating 9-foot reddish purple vines, with lavender blooms, then purple dangling pods. I hope you enjoy my list of seed favorites. I think you will certainly be happy you tried these seeds. Most landscapes with trees, shrubs, vines, bulbs, corms, tubers, and rhizomes would be less than eye-appealing without the bonus of seeds you plant. Tip: Harvest your seeds before a winter freeze. Be sure you dry the seeds before storage, to stop mold.
Betty Clark is a contributing writer. She has been an organic gardener since 1998. The signature flower she grows is Dahlias. She has a straw bale garden, raised bed garden, and in-ground garden. Both her surnames are agricultural farming families (8 generations). Her hobbies include ancestry research, antiques, continued education classes, and workshops. She also has a background in marketing & promotions including expos. To contact Betty Clark with gardening questions: [email protected]
