How to Mix Flower Seeds For A Custom Garden

If you’ve ever looked at a seed rack or catalog, chances are you’ve noticed packets of “full sun mix” or “hummingbird favorites.” When you buy a packet labeled as a “mix,” it’s made up of many different types of flowers known to grow well together.

There are plenty of mixes available to purchase that have been curated for you, but if you want to mix your own flower seed mix, it’s easy to do.

You can mix flower seeds from two or more types of annual and perennial flowers to create specific color combinations, attract certain pollinators and birds, or grow in certain conditions such as full sun or shade. Just be sure to select flowers that have similar sun and water needs. 

Creating a seed mix is easy, but here are a few guidelines to follow to get you started.

Can you mix flower seeds together?

You can mix different types of flower seeds as long as they all need the same amount of sunlight and water to grow. Using seeds that have the same growing habit is also important.

For example, a vining flower such as sweet peas, they’ll need a trellis to climb. If you include other flowers that don’t climb in the mix, such as zinnias, they might be shaded out by the taller sweet peas.

On the other hand, if you mixed sweet peas with morning glory seeds, both flowers are climbers, and they could share a trellis.

Benefits of Mixing Flower Seeds

There are several benefits to mixing different flower seeds together. One of the main benefits is that it can help you experiment with different colors and combinations until you find the perfect look for your garden.

Planting certain combinations together is possible by transplanting seedlings, but if you want to scatter seeds directly in the garden, then a seed mix is a great way to do it.

Mixing flower seeds is also a great way to use leftover seed packets. Your seed storage container can quickly get cluttered with packets containing just a sprinkle of leftover seeds, so why not combine them with another flower and build a custom mix?

Tips for making your own flower seed mixes

Mixes are pre-planned seed mixes that come in packets with different flowers all mixed together. Mixing your own flower seeds helps you experiment with colors and combinations until you achieve the perfect look for your garden.

1. Combine flowers that have the same growth habits, such as a low-growing mix or a climbing vine mix.
2. Mix flowers that have complimentary colors. For example, a mix with white, green, and purple will make a beautiful display. Another combination would be yellow, white, and cream.
3. Keep drought-tolerant flowers together. Mix cosmos, black eyed Susan, and salvia together for a butterfly-attracting, water-wise mix.
4. Try mixing flower shapes for a layered look. For example, spiky snapdragons, round marigolds, and daisy-like calendula can all be sown in early spring and produce a variety of bloom shapes.

Get creative and experiment with your own mixes! If you have some half-empty seed packets lying around that you want to use, mix the seeds and sow them in the garden.

The worst that could happen is that you have one or two varieties that dominate the others. But if the best happens, then you have a flower bed full of various flowers just waiting to be picked into a beautiful bouquet for your home.

Try a curated flower mix

If you want a backup, you can buy a pre-made flower mix from companies such as American Meadows and Botanical Interests. Both companies have combinations for practically every climate and type of garden.

Here are a few that look like fun:

Botanical Interests

Bring Home The Butterflies: A mix of 27 flowers such as cosmos, borage, dill, and pincushion flower (scabiosa) will attract butterflies all summer long.

Made In The Shade: For part shade gardens, this mix uses snapdragons, columbine, candytuft, and 12 others to beautify your shady spots.

If a shady yard has stopped you from growing flowers in the past, don’t let it! I have a great article for you with some perfect flower suggestions: Can Cut Flowers Grow In Part Shade? (Yes! Try These 9 Types).

American Meadows

Spring Into Summer Wildflower Mix: Wildflowers are the original mixed flowers, and you can create your own mixed meadow with this seed packet of 45 different annuals and perennials such as calendula and coreopsis.

Fairy Garden Mix: This miniature mix tops out at two feet tall and includes delicate flowers such as alyssum, daisies, and flax to add whimsy to your garden.

Build a fairy garden in a container and bring the magic to your patio. As a bonus, you’ll also get beautiful bouquets! Read more about growing in containers here: 12 Cut Flowers To Grow In Containers (Plus tips for success).

It’s your turn to mix your own flower seeds

Mixing flower seeds together is easy and beneficial because it helps you create color combinations, try out different plants, and experiment with what is possible to grow in your garden. You can pick up a few packets of mixed flowers or even start mixing your own flower seeds now with the varieties you already have.