Old-fashioned flowers are having a well-earned comeback in gardens, as nostalgia gardening brings them firmly back onto sowing lists.
There’s something reassuringly familiar about them. For me, it brings me back to my grandparents’ garden, where I first fell for many of these flowers, returning year after year with very little effort.
Many of these are heirloom varieties long associated with cottage garden planting. As hardy annuals, they’re among the easiest flowers to grow from seed, with several happily self-seeding and returning year after year. Pollinators tend to follow.
Their appeal isn’t just practical either. From love-in-a-mist to kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate, these are flowers with unforgettable names and personalities to match.
Read on for the old-fashioned flowers worth planting this year, including a few you may not have come across before.
1. Johnny jump up (Viola tricolour) 
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Also known as viola or heart’s ease, I’ve always had a special fondness for this flower because my own grandfather’s name was John. This tiny spring charmer with white, purple and yellow petals is the heirloom variety. It’s a profuse self-seeder that will “jump up” again next spring, so you need only plant it once in a sunny area.
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2. Four o’clocks (Mirabilis jalapa)
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The fragrant trumpet-shaped blooms of these flowers come in an array of colours ranging from pink, yellow, purple and multi-colour. As you may have guessed, they don’t open until late afternoon or early evening, making them a very special treat to enjoy after a long day.
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3. Kiss me over the garden gate (Polygonum orientale)
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This charming plant has pretty pink tassel-like flowers in late autumn. This plant is an aggressive seeder and is considered invasive in some regions, so plant it in a pot where you can contain its spread. It may have earned its common name from the way the flowers drape elegantly over a fence.
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4. Love-lies-bleeding (Amaranthus caudatus)
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Popular with Victorians for whom flowers symbolised different aspects of love and friendship, this flower is truly eye-catching with its dramatic, long, red tassels that appear in mid to late summer. Also known as amaranth, this is one that stands out in any garden borders. It’s stunning in dried arrangements.
5. Love-in-a-Mist (Nigella damascena)
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Also known as nigella, this elegant-looking star-shaped flower comes in white, pink or shades of blue. The airy, delicate foliage surrounds the flower, as if it were in a mist. Plant this where you can enjoy the intricacy of each bloom. The adorable seedpods look amazing in dried arrangements, too.
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6. Bishop’s flower (Ammi spp.)
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Also known as ammi or false Queen Anne’s lace, these flowers have long sturdy stems topped by lacy flowers, which make a gorgeous filler in bouquets. Bishop’s flower is found in shades of white, pink or pale green. It may have received its common name because it resembles the lacework on religious garments.
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7. Touch-me-not (Impatiens balsamina)
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These heirloom plants boast pink, white, red or salmon flowers from summer to first frost. Also called balsam, this flower is known as touch-me-not because the seed capsules burst open when handled.
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Arricca Elin SanSone is a writer, editor, and content creator who specializes in lifestyle and gardening. With a background in health reporting, she applies these same research skills when writing about the science of growing things. She trials new plants in her expansive garden, and her houseplant collection consists of 60+ varieties. Arricca has written thousands of articles for publications such as Country Living, House Beautiful, Good Housekeeping, Prevention, VERANDA, Southern Living, and more. She’s happiest when digging in the dirt, baking, or spending time with the people and dogs she loves.
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