12 Easy to Grow Flowers for Your Classroom

Spring is coming and now is a good time to plan your upcoming plant and plant life cycle units. Many teachers integrate planting seeds into their science units at this time of year, then use the newly sprouted seedlings as gifts for Mother's Day. Listed below are some photos and basic information about 12 easy-to-grow flowers that'd be perfect for your indoor gardening activities. Enjoy!

12 Easy to Grow Flowers for Your Classroom
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About These Flowers

I selected these 12 flowers to add to my list for several reasons. Firstly, these flowers are super cute. They are colorful and cheerful and will make your students smile. Secondly, these seeds are quick to germinate. Some will germinate in as little as seven days. 

Note: If you and your students are going to plant these seeds outside, keep in mind that outdoor conditions will vary depending on where you live. Seeds planted outside may take longer to germinate than those planted indoors. You can talk to someone at your local garden center to find out which flowers will do well in your area's climate. Whether you plant your seeds inside or outside, please follow the directions on the back of the seed packets you purchase.

colored illustration of a plant's life cycle

Petunia

Petunias are cheerful flowers that come in a variety of colors and shapes, some of the most popular colors being pink, white, and purple. Petunias are easily recognizable because of their trumpet-shaped blooms.



Poppy

Poppies are popular choices for gardening because of their historical significance. They are a symbol of both Remembrance and hope for a peaceful future. Red poppies are worn on Veterans Day as a show of support for the Armed Forces community. Some types of poppy seeds can even be used in cooking.



Sunflower

Sunflowers are a favorite summertime flower. Their bright blooms face the sun and will change directions to follow the sun each day. Yellow and brown sunflowers are the most common but they can also be red, orange, striped, and even blue. Sunflower seeds are edible and a tasty treat for people and animals.




Nasturtium

Nasturtiums are an old-fashioned flower that has been around for generations. Both hybrid and heirloom nasturtium seeds are available on the market. Nasturtiums come in a variety of colors and can tolerate poor soil and temperature changes. Also, nasturtiums are edible. People enjoy cooking with nasturtiums because of their flavor and health benefits.



Alyssum

Alyssums are dainty flowers that don't grow very high but can spread wide in open areas. White alyssums are sometimes called carpets of snow and purple ones are sometimes called royal carpets. Alyssums are popular plants because of their cuteness and their ability to attract butterflies that may be in the area.



Marigold (aka Calendula)

Marigolds are popular flowers that bloom all summer long. Backyard farmers sometimes plant marigolds next to their tomato plants to keep the pests away. Marigolds come in a variety of reds, yellows, oranges, and gold. Their blooms can be large and up to 2 inches wide.



Zinnia

Zinnias are popular flowers for children to grow because they come in so many different colors. They can be red, yellow, white, pink, orange, purple, and even lime green. Zinnias are also popular because they help to attract butterflies that may be in the area.

A field of brightly colored zinnias


Cosmos

Cosmos are cute little flowers that look a bit like daisies because of their yellow center. Their petals, however, come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Pinks, pale purples, and white are the most common colors. Cosmos are easy to grow because they can survive poor soil conditions and temperature changes. 


Cornflower (aka Bachelor Buttons)

Cornflowers are cheerful flowers that come in shades of pink and purple. Their flower bloom on long stems that can reach up to 30 inches high. Bachelor buttons got their name due to an old practice when men wore a cornflower in a buttonhole of their suit, indicating they were in love and ready for courting!


Sweet Pea (aka Lathyrus)

Sweet pea flowers and veggie sweet peas are two completely different species and shouldn't be confused. Sweet pea flowers have ruffled petals that look like someone painted them with watercolors. Even though sweet peas can tolerate hot temperatures, they do best in the coolness of the shade and away from direct sun. Sweet peas are also climbers and will need something like a trellis to support them when they get taller.


Morning Glory

Morning glories are another climbing flower that will need a trellis-type structure to grow on when they get taller. Children love watching morning glories grow because morning glory blooms will open in the morning when the sun comes up and close in the evening when the sun goes down. Morning glories come in a variety of colors but blues and purples are the most common.


Daisy

When people think about daisies, they think about cute flowers with white petals and sunny yellow centers. But... did you know that there are roughly 20,000 different types of daisies out there? Daisies come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. They can tolerate poor soil conditions and temperature changes. Interestingly... daisies, zinnias, cosmos, cornflowers, marigolds, and sunflowers all come from the same family!





Did you enjoy this list of easy-to-grow flowers? If so, check out these other blog posts for more plants and gardening activities:




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