selfsown

Selfsown is a term used in horticulture and ecology to describe plants that establish themselves from seeds or plant parts that have dispersed from the parent plant without deliberate human sowing. It can apply to crops, ornamentals, wildflowers, and even some weeds.

Seeds or plant fragments may be shed, drop to the ground, or be carried by wind, water, animals, or human activity. Some species produce a persistent seed bank in the soil, allowing germination over successive seasons. Germination depends on environmental cues such as light, temperature, moisture, and stratification.

In gardens, selfsown plants contribute to naturalistic or meadow-like displays and can reduce maintenance by providing reliable volunteers. They may increase biodiversity and provide habitat for pollinators. However, self-sown plants can also compete with prepared beds, escape into unintended areas, or become invasive in some regions.

Managing selfsown growth involves either encouraging or suppressing it. To encourage self-sowing, gardeners may let seedheads mature, reduce disturbance, and provide conditions favorable to seedling establishment. To control, seedlings can be removed as soon as they appear, seed production can be cut off, or physical barriers can be used.

Some well-known self-seeders include many annual and biennial ornamentals and wildflowers, such as poppies, foxglove, nigella, calendula, cosmos, and sunflowers. The term is often contrasted with deliberately sown or cultivated plants and with introduced invasive species, where responsibility for spread may be a concern.