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24 FLOWERS FOR A CUTTING GARDEN

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The saying “I’d rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck” sums up how many people feel about the simple pleasures of a vase of freshly cut flowers. Whether they are roses or another type of bloom, nothing brings more sparkle to a room than a bouquet of flowers harvested from your own backyard.

A cutting garden doesn’t have to be large to keep your vases full all season long. Even a small bed strategically planted with a variety of spring- and summer-blooming bulbs, brightly colored annuals, and a few long-blooming perennials and shrubs can yield a bountiful supply of homegrown bouquets.

Read more: How to Create a Cut Flower Garden .

On this page: Cut Garden Flowers | Tips for Keeping Cut Flowers Fresh

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• CUT GARDEN FLOWERS
• KEEPING CUT FLOWERS FRESH

CUT GARDEN FLOWERS A TO Z

'Grape Crush' New England aster. Photo by: Proven Winners.

ASTER ( Symphotrichum and Aster )

Plant type: Perennial Zones: 3-8 Bloom time: August through October Height/Spread: 1 to 6 feet tall, 1 to 3 feet wide

These easy-to-grow, late-season bloomers are a wonderful choice for fall bouquets, especially taller varieties whose long stems are ideal for cutting. For the longest vase life, harvest asters once the flowers have fully opened. To encourage the growth of more blooms, pinch back the stems several times before mid-July.

Learn more about growing asters .

Pictured: 'Grape Crush' aster from Proven Winners.

Photo by: darkmoon1968 / Pixabay

BLACK-EYED SUSAN ( Rudbeckia spp.)

Plant type: Perennial Zones: 3-9 Bloom time: Midsummer until frost Height: From 10 inches to 7 feet tall, depending on the cultivar

These prolific native wildflowers bloom in abundance from midsummer through autumn in cheery shades of yellow, orange, and gold. Like most wildflowers, they are also drought tolerant and low maintenance. For the longest vase life, cut when the petals have unfurled but before the tiny disk flowers have opened.

Learn more about growing black-eyed Susan .

'Kobold' blazing star. Photo by: Proven Winners.

BLAZING STAR ( Liatris spicata )

Plant type: Perennial Zones: 3-9 Bloom time: Mid to late summer Height: 1 to 5 feet tall

Blazing star’s fuzzy florets of bright purple or white flowers bloom from the top down on unbranched stems, giving them a unique bottlebrush effect that provides vertical interest in fresh or dried flower arrangements. Because of its slender, upright form, blazing star also takes up minimal space, making it a good choice for smaller cutting gardens.

Learn more about growing blazing star .

Pictured: 'Kobold' blazing star from Proven Winners.

Intenz Lipstick celosia. Photo by: Proven Winners.

CELOSIA ( Celosia spp.)

Plant type: Annual Bloom time: Summer through fall Height/Spread: 1 to 3 feet tall, 6 to 18 inches wide

A longtime favorite for cutting, these heat-loving flowers come in a variety of eye-catching forms ranging from feathery plumes to crested cockscombs, in vibrant shades of red, orange, yellow, and pink. Freshly cut flowers will last as long as two weeks in a vase or can be dried for other ornamental uses.

Color Coded™ ‘Yellow My Darling’ coneflower. Photo by: Proven Winners.

CONEFLOWER ( Echinacea spp.)

Plant type: Perennial Zones: 3-9 Bloom time: Summer to early fall Height: 1 to 4 feet tall, up to 2 feet wide

With their long stems and large daisy-like blooms, coneflowers are ideal for adding height and bright color to a mixed bouquet. Even the spiky orange centers, with the petals removed, can be used as interesting accents in floral arrangements. By planting early- and late-blooming varieties, you can harvest flowers for cutting for up to five months.

Learn more about growing coneflower .

Pictured: Color Coded™ ‘Yellow My Darling’ coneflower from Proven Winners.

Photo by: Janet Loughrey.

COSMOS ( Cosmos bipinnatus )

Plant type: Annual Bloom time: Midsummer until frost Height/Spread: 1 to 6 feet tall, 1 to 2 feet wide

The cheerful daisy-like flowers of this cottage garden favorite bloom prolifically all summer long, with one plant producing dozens of flowers. In fact, the more you pick of this cut-and-come-again flower, the more it blooms, giving you an ample supply for all your summer bouquets. Both single- and double-flowered types are available, in shades of crimson, rose, pink, lavender, and white.

Learn more about growing cosmos .

Photo by: Roger Foley.

DAFFODIL ( Narcissus spp.)

Plant type: Bulb Zones: Typically 4-8, but may vary Bloom time: Early to late spring Height: 6 to 30 inches, depending on variety

One of the first flowers to bloom in spring, with thousands of varieties to choose from. Although long-stemmed varieties are perfect for traditional floral arrangements, a few vases of miniature daffodils can make a charming spring display. For the longest vase life, take your cuttings before the flowers have fully opened.

Learn more about growing daffodil flowers .

Dalina® Grande Tequila. Photo by: Proven Winners.

DAHLIA ( Dahlia spp. and hybrids)

Plant type: Tuber Zones: 7-10 Bloom time: Midsummer until frost Height/spread: 1 to 6 feet tall, 1 to 3 feet wide

These tried-and-true garden performers come in a dizzying array of colors and sizes, and just a few plants will give you armloads of blooms. Since dahlias don't open much after they’ve been harvested, wait to pick the flowers when they are at their prime. For the best flower production, pinch or cut back your plants early on—when they are about 8 to 12 inches tall—to encourage the growth of multiple stems.

Learn more about growing dahlias .

Pictured: Dalina® Grande Tequila from Proven Winners.

New Millennium™ Pink Punch. Photo by: Proven Winners.

DELPHINIUM ( Delphinium hybrids)

Plant type: Perennial Zones: 3-7 Bloom time: Early to midsummer Height/spread: 2 to 6 feet tall, 1 to 2 feet wide

The glorious spikes of delphinium bring stature and elegance to flower arrangements because of their striking colors and upright form. To get a second bloom from your plants in late summer or early fall, cut the stalks back immediately after flowering.

Learn more about growing delphinuim .

Pictured: New Millennium™ Pink Punch from Proven Winners.

Artist® Blue. Photo by: Proven Winners.

FLOSS FLOWER ( Ageratum )

Plant type: Annual Bloom time: Late spring until frost Height/spread: 4 to 36 inches tall, 6 to 18 inches wide

Fluffy pompom-like blooms in soft shades of blue, purple, or pink make outstanding cut flowers because of their unique form and wonderful fragrance. Newer varieties with longer stems are perfect for picking, giving you blooms that will last more than a week in a vase.

Learn more about growing floss flower .

Pictured: Artist® Blue from Proven Winners.

'Priscilla' gladiolus. Photo by: Shannon Marie Ferguson.

GLADIOLUS ( Gladiolus x hortulanus )

Plant type: Corm Zones: 8-10 Bloom time: Early summer to frost Height: 2 to 5 feet

Nothing is more dramatic in a summer bouquet than the bold spikes of freshly cut garden glads. This cutting garden favorite is not only easy to grow, it also takes up very little space when planted in long rows. And because the corms are inexpensive, you can grow them as annuals and plant different colors and varieties each year. The best time to cut glads is when one or two of the lower buds have opened fully. The remaining buds will open when the spike is placed in water.

Learn more about growing gladiolus .

'Beverly Sills' iris. Photo by: Garden World Images, Ltd. / Alamy Stock Photo.

IRIS ( Iris germanica )

Plant type: Rhizome Bloom time: Spring to summer Height/spread: 1 to 4 feet tall, 1 to 2 feet wide

The exotic blooms of the iris come in nearly every color of the rainbow, and by planting varieties with different bloom times, you extend the harvest for many weeks. For the longest vase life, cut the flowers when the first bloom on each stalk begins to unfurl. Because the buds on each stem open in succession, the younger buds will open as older flowers fade.

Learn more about growing iris .

Photo by: ESB Essentials / Shutterstock

MARIGOLD ( Tagetes spp.)

Plant type: Annual Bloom time: Late spring until frost Height/spread: 6 inches to 4 feet tall, 6 inches to 2 feet wide

Marigolds and other flowers in shades of orange and yellow are especially striking when mixed with blue or purple flowers in summer and fall bouquets, such as salvia and blazing star. To save garden space, you can also interplant marigolds in your vegetable patch to help repel unwanted pests.

Learn more about growing marigolds .

'Millennium' allium. Photo by: Proven Winners.

ORNAMENTAL ONION ( Allium spp.)

Plant type: Bulb Zones: 3-8 Bloom time: Early summer Height/spread: 1 to 3 feet tall, 3 to 18 inches wide

With their stiff, leafless stems and spherical lollipop-like blooms, alliums of all types are dramatic-looking cut flowers and are often used to add wow-factor to mixed bouquets. Because they belong to the onion family, alliums may give off a pungent aroma, especially when first cut. To minimize the smell, change the vase water frequently and avoid crushing or damaging the stems.

Learn more about growing ornamental onion plants .

Pictured: Millennium ornamental onion from Proven Winners.

Photo by: PaylessImages / 123RF.

PEONY ( Paeonia spp.)

Plant type: Perennial Zones: 2-8 Bloom time: May to June Height/spread: 1 to 3 feet tall and wide

Peonies are one of the most popular cut flowers because of their large, billowy blooms and remarkable range of colors and forms. For the best vase life, harvest the flowers when the buds are somewhat closed but soft, like a marshmallow. You can even store your cut blooms in the refrigerator for display later if you have an over-abundance (see these peony storage tips from Michigan State University Extension).

Learn more about growing peonies .

Photo by: Hong Vo / Shutterstock.

RANUNCULUS ( Ranunculus asiaticus )

Plant type: Tuber Zones: 8-11, can be grown as an annual in cooler climates Bloom time: Early spring to summer Height: Up to 2 feet

These show-stopping spring bloomers (also called Persian buttercups) have long been a favorite of commercial florists because of their brilliantly colored rose-like flowers and long vase life. Because of their early bloom time, they are a great alternative to roses or peonies in spring bouquets.

Learn more about growing ranunculus .

Oso Easy Double Red™ rose. Photo by: Proven Winners.

ROSE ( Rosa spp.)

Plant type: Shrub Zones: Typically 4-11, but can vary Bloom time: Spring through summer Height/spread: 1 to 12 feet tall, 1 to 15 feet wide

With their showy blooms and intoxicating scent, roses are even more heavenly indoors in a vase than they are in the garden. Varieties with long stems and large fragrant blooms, such as hybrid tea roses, often make the best cut flowers, but even miniature roses look charming when tucked into small bouquets.

Learn more about the best types of roses for your garden .

Pictured: Oso Easy Double Red™ rose from Proven Winners.

Color Spires® 'Violet Riot' salvia. Photo by: Proven Winners.

SALVIA ( Salvia spp.)

Plant type: Perennial Zones: 5-9 Bloom time: Late spring until frost Height/spread: 1 to 6 feet tall and wide

Salvia (ornamental sage) is a must in the cutting garden because of its long bloom time, aromatic foliage, and spiky purple flowers. As a bonus, you can also dry the leaves to add to potpourri.

Learn more about growing salvia plants .

Pictured: Color Spires® 'Violet Riot' from Proven Winners.

Amazing Daisies® Daisy May® Shasta daisy. Photo by: Proven Winners.

SHASTA DAISY ( Leucanthemum superbum )

Plant type: Perennial Zones: 5-9 Bloom time: Early summer to fall Height/spread: 6 to 48 inches tall, 10 to 24 inches wide

All types of Shasta daisies are excellent additions to summer bouquets because of their strong stems and bright, cheery blooms. In addition to the classic single-petaled form, you can also find double, quilled, and fringed types, some even sporting yellow petals.

Learn more about growing Shasta daisies .

Pictured: Amazing Daisies® Daisy May® from Proven Winners.

Photo by: All America Selections

SUNFLOWER ( Helianthus spp.)

Plant type: Annual or perennial Zones: 4-8 for perennial varieties Bloom time: Summer through fall Height/spread: Up to 16 feet tall

Sunflowers are often the superstars of late summer and fall flower arrangements. In addition to the classic bright yellow blooms, you’ll also find varieties with deep red petals, fuzzy double yellow flowers, and white petals with chocolaty brown centers. Varieties with large flower heads look great gathered together in large bunches, while those with smaller blooms work nicely in mixed bouquets.

Learn more about growing sunflowers .

Photo by: Katherine Anderson.

SWEET PEA ( Lathyrus odorata )

Plant type: Annual Bloom time: Early spring to early summer Height: Climbs to 6 feet when trained on stakes or a trellis

Dainty ruffled flowers in a wide range of colors have an irresistible scent of honey and orange blossoms. In Zone 7 and above, sow seeds in late fall for early spring blooms. In colder climates, sow in early spring. To get the longest season of production from your sweet pea plants, do not let the flowers go to seed. Cut them regularly to keep the blooms coming.

Learn more about growing sweeet pea flowers .

Photo by: Hudson Valley Seed Library.

TULIP ( Tulipa spp.)

Plant type: Bulb Bloom time: Early to late spring Height: 6 to 24 inches tall

With their tall, elegant stems and velvety petals, tulips are the quintessential flower in spring bouquets. For the most riveting displays, grow multicolored forms, such as the breathtaking parrot tulip , or blend varieties that bloom in complementary colors. When kept out of direct sunlight, heat, and drafts, a bunch of freshly cut tulips will last at least a week in a vase.

Learn more about growing tulips .

'Firefly Sunshine' yarrow. Photo by: Proven Winners.

YARROW ( Achillea spp.)

Plant type: Perennial Zones: 3-9 Bloom time: Early summer to early fall Height/spread: 1 to 4 feet tall, 1 to 3 feet wide

The broad, flat-topped flowers clusters of yarrow are particularly well-suited for layering or stacking in floral arrangements or to add a horizontal component to offset vertical design elements. They have a great vase life, too, lasting well over a week when harvested at their peak. Also save a few clippings for use in dried floral arrangements by hanging them in bundles upside down in a cool, dry place.

Learn more about growing yarrow plants .

Pictured: 'Firefly Sunshine' from Proven Winners.

'Queeny Lime Orange' zinnia. Photo by: All America Selections.

ZINNIA ( Zinnia spp.)

Plant type: Annual Bloom time: Late spring until frost Height/spread: 1 to 4 feet tall, 1 to 2 feet wide

One of the best cut-and-come-again flowers, offering great variety in color and form. Once they get established and start growing, these amazing plants will keep on producing nonstop if you harvest the blooms regularly. Be sure to cut the stems just above the leaf nodes because this is where new growth and flowers will form.

Learn more about growing zinnias .

For more: See this Cut Flower Guide for Shrubs from Proven Winners.

TIPS FOR KEEPING CUT FLOWERS FRESH

Harvest during the coolest part of the day. The best time to cut your flowers is early in the morning or late in the evening rather than during the heat of midday, when water loss due to transpiration is much greater. This will help them recover faster because they won’t be wilted, parched, and thirsty.

Don't let the stems dry out. Cut flowers rely on healthy stems to bring them water, so it’s important to keep them fresh. Carry a bucket of cool, clean water with you to the cutting garden at harvest time to plunge the stems into so they don’t dry out before you place your flowers in a vase. Clipping the stems at an angle with a sharp pruner and recutting them underwater will also facilitate water uptake.

Strip away lower foliage. Remove any leaves at the base of the stem that might rest below the waterline of the vase. Any foliage sitting in the water will rot and lead to bacterial growth, which will significantly decrease the life of your freshly cut flowers.

Use clean containers. Another way to minimize bacteria in the water is to sanitize your vase or container before filling it. Don’t use anything that isn’t clean enough to drink from.

Change the water often. Refreshing the water in your vase every few days is the best way to keep your cut flowers vibrant longer. This is also a good opportunity to remove withering foliage and flowers and to recut the stems so they will continue to take up water. Another tip: Your cut flowers will absorb water more efficiently if it’s lukewarm (about 100° F) rather than ice cold. That’s because the molecules in warm water move faster and speed water uptake.

Use a floral preservative. Those packets of powdered preservative you get from the florist, which are typically a blend of sugars and bacteria inhibitors, can be quite effective at lengthening the life of your bouquets. But you can also make your own preservative using common household products. Try this homemade preservative recipe from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

Place your cut flowers in a cool spot. To extend the life of your blooms, keep your floral arrangements in a cool location away from direct sunlight, especially during the summertime. Also consider refrigerating your cut flowers overnight, as many florists do, to slow down water loss and keep the flowers looking crisp and fresh.

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7 Best YouTube Channels To Inspire Cut Flower Gardeners

This list is for you if you need some garden inspiration or entertainment! These seven channels run the gamut from zone 3 growing in Canada to a donation garden in Kentucky to a cottage garden in Sweden. Each channel has a distinct style and loads of information to share.

You’ll notice that many of these flower gardeners are also flower farmers. Flower farmers have lots of experience growing cut flowers and, as such, have valuable information to pass on. And who knows, maybe some of you aspire also to become flower farmers!

Ready to plan and grow a thriving garden packed with flowers and veggies?

It’s easier than you think! Learn how with:

• Expert tips for your garden, from sunny to shady
• Quick reference plant combinations
• 1 sample layout included
• 5 blank layout templates for various garden sizes

Start planning your best garden now so you’re ready for next season

Download your free Companion Planting Toolkit now:

1. tonya, with the flowers (formerly freshcutky).

Tonya, with the flowers is a cut flower channel located in Kentucky, USA. Tonya grows her cut flowers to donate to her local community. She’d initially planned to start with donating freshly grown vegetables but found that wasn’t an option. Fortunately, she found an organization to help disperse her cut flowers instead. On her channel, Tonya takes the viewer along to learn how to grow specific flowers, demonstrates growing tips, and shares tours of her backyard cut flower garden.

Watch this video to learn more about her donation garden and get tips if you’re interested in doing the same.

2. Root Design Company

Roots Design Company is run by two sisters, Rosita and LaRonda, based in Ohio, USA. They share their tips about planning a cut flower garden, arranging flowers in what they call “redneck couture” style, and delightful tours through their cut flower garden. The sisters are floral designers and grow much of their own inventory for their design work.

One of my favorite videos on this channel follows LaRonda making a gorgeous arrangement with phlox, sage, zinnias, dahlias, and celosia. The setting and music are very relaxing and make for an excellent follow-along video.

3. Shifting Roots

Kristen of Shifting Roots focuses on showing folks how to garden successfully in cold climates. She lives in zone 3 in Canada, so she knows plenty about working with a short growing season. Kristen has vegetables and flowers in her backyard and sells some of her cut flowers. She hosts DIY bouquet events, pop-ups, and provides some bridal bouquets.

Kristen also shares information about becoming a flower farmer, such as in the video below. She describes starting with minimum start-up costs and space in case you’re interested in leveling up your cut flower growing to begin selling some blooms.

4. Sara’s Homestead and Flower Farm

Sara’s Homestead and Flower Farm is in Sweden and chronicles the creation of a small flower garden at her roadside cottage. She transformed a bare sloping yard from a grassy hill to a swath of beautiful flowers that garner attention and compliments from passers-by. She also grows vegetables and composts on-site, sharing tips about all her systems.

Especially inspiring to me is the video below, in which Sara shows how she started her cottage garden from scratch. From digging up sod to enjoying the beautiful blooms in the following seasons, Sara is an excellent example of what you can do with some hard work.

Update for 2022: Sara recently bought her village’s plant nursery and flower farm. I can’t wait to follow the journey, which you can check out in this video: I Bought the Local Nursery and Flower Farm .

5. Garden Answer

Laura of Garden Answer (and hubby Aaron) has a hugely popular channel that covers their family plant nursery and property. She grows just about everything under the sun, from landscape plants to vegetables to cut flowers. She shares gardening tips and techniques, creates stunning flower arrangements, and even home improvement projects around the property.

Laura takes you along the cut the flowers needed for her gorgeous arrangements, then shows the process and final product along the way. Check out this video to see a midsummer arrangement from her gardens.

6. Northlawn Flower Farm

Danielle of Northlawn Flower Farm grows in zone 6b on a beautifully landscaped half-acre. She gives loads of advice about integrating cut flowers into landscaping, rather than having separate beds for cutting. She sells flowers at her roadside stand and to florists and, of course, brings flowers into the house in beautiful arrangements.

Her garden tours are particularly relaxing as she highlights the pollinators throughout her garden to the background of soothing music.

7. Flower Hill Farm

Nicole of Flower Hill Farm in upstate New York is one of the best cut flower growers on YouTube. She has a quirky sense of humor, is honest and transparent about her successes and failures, and is just fun to watch. As her name suggests, she is a flower farmer and sells via bouquet subscriptions and bouquet bars on her front porch.

In this video, 20 Farming Facts, you can see Nicole’s personality shine as she shares her flower-farming perspective with a good dose of humor.

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You Can’t Eat The Grass is another good YouTube channel.

Agreed! Serina and Ian are so fun to watch. It’s been fun to watch them grow over the last couple of years.

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Cut Flower Garden

Floret Farm's Cut Flower Garden

Grow, harvest & arrange stunning seasonal blooms.

Grow the flower garden of your dreams. In this striking guide you will find everything you need to grow, harvest, and arrange stunning seasonal blooms. With equal parts instruction and inspiration, Floret Farm’s Cut Flower Garden welcomes you into Erin Benzakein’s abundant, bloom-filled world, and is a feast for every flower lover’s eyes and soul.

From the first page to the last, you’ll find easy-to-follow steps for planting, cultivating, and harvesting more than 175 varieties of flowers including cottage garden favorites, new hybrids, and heirloom varieties that are central to today’s seasonally focused floral designs.

Floret Farm’s Cut Flower Garden

Learn how to grow, harvest, and arrange stunning seasonal blooms.

With equal parts instruction and inspiration, Floret Farm’s Cut Flower Garden welcomes you into Erin Benzakein’s abundant, bloom-filled world, and is a feast for every flower lover’s eyes and soul.

Showcasing the lush fields and overflowing bouquets that have gained Floret so many followers, each chapter is packed with gorgeous photography along with everything you need to know to start growing your own cut flowers. Erin’s personal stories of life on her small farm accompany the expert growing and bouquet-making secrets that she’s developed through years of having her hands in the dirt and creating in her design studio.

From the first page to the last, you’ll find easy-to-follow steps for planting, cultivating, and harvesting more than 175 varieties of flowers including cottage garden favorites, new hybrids, and heirloom varieties that are central to today’s seasonally focused floral designs. You’ll also learn the secrets to Erin’s airy, natural, lush aesthetic, and find how-to guides for making spectacular bouquets, garlands, and wreaths to show off your blooms. Stunning images will make you feel like you’re personally experiencing each season in Floret’s fields, and inspire you to grow the cut flower garden of your dreams, wherever you live.

Erin and the flowers she grows radiate beauty and passion in equal measure. Through this passion a magical phenomenon occurs where all of us believe that we too can grow the most beautiful flowers imaginable. And now, with  Floret Farm’s Cut Flower Garden we can! Full of insightful know-how and practical advice this book is for anyone who longs to grow the most beautiful and the healthiest flowers imaginable.

“Among a sea of new florists and floral books, Floret stands out. Erin Benzakein’s integrity, openness and passion for flowers is unmistakable. In her debut book she not only introduces us to the basics of growing our own flowers, she shares her deep love and understanding of gardening in a way that will leave even the most doubtful grower feeling inspired to get their hands in the dirt.”

“One of the leading voices in the farmer-florist movement, Erin is a tireless advocate for locally-grown flowers. Here she has put together an indispensable four-season growing guide that will inspire you to sow your own cutting garden—whether you plant one row or hundreds.”

“I’ve been an avid fan of Erin’s beautiful photos of her flower farm on Instagram for years.  Now, seeing her work preserved for posterity in a book is pure magic.”

“Erin Benzakein is my flower hero and her book is my new flower bible. Not only is she the undisputed heart and soul of the farmer-florist movement, her arrangements are some of the most exquisite I’ve ever seen. Her first book is deliciously gorgeous and incredibly comprehensive- combining practical advice alongside a huge overdose of seasonal inspiration. Her secrets for extending the vase life of each variety are mind bendingly useful and will be referenced time and time again. My copy will be soil covered and weather beaten before long and cherished all the more for it.”

“I met Erin Benzakein more than ten years ago when she was a young mom growing sweet peas and dreaming of making her living from flowers. With passion, focus and seemingly limitless endurance, Erin has achieved her dream. And now she’s sharing that dream with the world – everyone from fellow flower enthusiasts to emerging farmer-florists to veteran designers yearning for a new, seasonal and sustainable model of floristry. The essentials are all here in the pages of Floret Farm’s Cut Flower Garden, and like everything Erin does, it is both lovely and practical. This is a comprehensive, must-have companion as you pursue your own authentic life in flowers.”

“Do you love flowers? You’re about to love them even more. Erin Benzakein’s gorgeous new book, Floret Farm’s Cut Flower Garden, is equal parts inspiration and education. The photos will send you straight to the garden, eager to dig in and get growing. And Erin’s clear, concise advice will help you do it well. She has succeeded in conveying the utter joy of growing flowers.”

“I’ve known of Erin’s work with cut flowers for a while now. In the market farming circle, she’s often referred to as the authority on the matter.  After reading her new book (which is awesome!!), I now understand why she’s so often praised. Filled with clear growing techniques, detailed harvesting instructions and other tips of the trade, this book is a true gift to anyone wanting to generate good income from the craft of flower farming on a small-scale. There is a great deal of interest in local, seasonal flowers and this book will help support and energize the movement even more.

“Floret Farm’s Cut Flower Garden is the perfect resource for the local flower movement. Erin Benzakein shows the enormous potential of in-season flowers with beautiful photography that does the blooms justice. Listing the crops by season is a brilliant way to help growers plan ahead to have a steady supply of blooms throughout the year. And the projects are great for showing how to create exceptional bouquets and arrangements. A lively read that will energize you to get growing and arranging.”

“Brimming full of flower growing advice, inspiration and stunning photography, ‘Floret Farm’s Cut Flower Garden’ is destined to become a ‘must-have’ bible for all flower growers…whether you’re an aspiring newbie or a seasoned professional. Erin’s captivating, personal writing style makes you feel that she’s sitting just across the room from you, generously sharing all her invaluable hints and tips on how to not only grow your own blooms in abundance, but also how to arrange them beautifully. This book is an absolutely un-put-downable read!”

“The creation of this beautiful book is testament to Erin Benzakein’s commitment to and passion for the local flower movement. The layout is simultaneously appealing and practical; Floret’s signature lush photographs beautifully illustrate all stages of cut flower production and design through the seasons. Inspirational and accessible, this is a volume that should grace every flower farmer’s bookshelf.”

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Rain on a Tin Roof

DIY and Home Decor Blog. Fly Your Freak Flag.

April 17, 2019 By Jenna 23 Comments

Creating a Cut Flower Garden for Beginners

Learn how to create a cut flower garden and enjoy fresh flower arrangements all summer long from your very own garden. Here, you’ll learn how to get started, the best cut flowers to grow and more tips for your new cutting garden.

Before motherhood, before the blog became my full-time job, and before life became so busy and hectic, I loved growing flowers – particularly flowers for cutting.

In the first house that Grunt and I bought together, we planted all kinds of flowers – rose bushes, zinnias, and Grunt even planted me a whole row of hydrangeas along the fence, which is my favorite kind of flower.

When we moved from that house, we dug up just about everything we had planted and transplanted it to our new home. And for a year or two, we still had beautiful cut flowers throughout the summer.

But as the Circus grew, our schedule got busier and busier and then trying to get the blog off the ground took up a huge portion of any other time I had on my hands. There wasn’t any time for growing cut flowers.

Early last year, I decided it was well past time to create a little more time for doing things for me. It was kind of like when Allie in The Notebook realized that she didn’t paint anymore. I didn’t grow flowers anymore.

So Grunt Labor helped me to create a spot in our yard specifically for a cutting garden.

And create a cutting garden we did.

It wasn’t elaborate and it was filled mostly with easy to grow flowers, but it made me so damn happy. Going outside planting the flowers, weeding, then cutting the flowers turned out to also be a wonderful stress reliever.

We had buckets and buckets of flowers throughout the summer – more than enough flowers for us and enough to create small arrangements to surprise friends and family with a little unexpected color to brighten their day, which had been another goal of mine with the cut flower garden.

I didn’t write about the garden on the blog last year, but I did share a lot from it on Instagram. A lot of people who followed me wanted to know more about getting a cutting garden started so here it is. As I said, my cut flower garden is not elaborate – it’s mostly filled with easy to grow plants, so this is a good guide for people who are just beginning with growing cut flowers.

Creating a Cutting Garden for Beginners

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Step 1: Find the best spot for your garden.

Most cut flowers need lots of sunshine, so keep that in mind when determining where to place your garden.

We placed my garden along a portion of the outside of our fence in a sunny location. My space is about 6 feet wide x 26 feet long. Your garden certainly doesn’t have to be this big or this small – go with any size your wish!

Step 2: Get your ground ready for planting.

Of course, it didn’t just start out looking like the photo above. To get the ground here ready for planting, Grunt used our tiller to break up the soil a few times, then I pulled out all the grass and weeds from the tilled-up dirt, used a rake to spread the soil around evenly, then planted. I also put landscape edging around the garden to create a barrier from the outside grass and hold in the mulch that I would later add.

No tiller? No problem.

If you don’t have a tiller or don’t want to till up the ground, then you could instead do a raised cut flower garden. You can buy a kit like this one to create a raised bed or use a tutorial like this one to create your own .

Step 3: Select your flowers/seeds.

There are lots of different kinds of flowers that make great cut flowers for arrangements – some easier to grow than others and of course some need specific types of climates to grow well in. As you select your flowers to plant, be sure to look at the growing information and determine if the flower will grow well in your area. Use this tool to determine which growing zone you are in.

This is the flower plan for my cut flower garden this year. For reference, I am in growing zone 7.

Flowers for Cutting Garden:

Most of the area in the front of my cut flower garden layout is kind of my “play” area this year. I’m trying out new flowers here that I haven’t planted before.

• Gladiolus – Gladiolus are bulbs that can be planted in the spring and will bloom during the summer. These are taller plants, so I placed them in the back.
• Hollyhocks – Hollyhocks are perennials, so they will come back every year. These aren’t necessarily great cut flowers, but I love their look so I wanted to add some here anyway. I just planted my hollyhock seeds last year, so I didn’t have any flowers from them last year, but hopefully I will this year. The plants are already starting to make an appearance.
• Sunflowers – Sunflowers are a wonderful option for a cutting garden. I like to plant both taller sunflower varieties and medium height sunflowers to get a good mix. The ones I’m planning to go with this year are Sunflower Sunshine (I did these last year and they were wonderful!) and Teddy Bear Sunflowers (trying these out this year – I love their look!)
• Zinnias – In my opinion, you can’t ever have too many Zinnias! Zinnias are so easy to grow and such beautiful colorful flowers. I tend to plant more zinnias than anything else. Zinnias are foolproof – the perfect flowers for beginning cut flower growers. This year, I’m going with these varieties of Zinnia: Big Red (these were stunning last year!), Purple Prince (always a favorite), Envy (I actually forgot to plant green zinnias last year and was so mad at myself), Dancing Girls (these have a bit of a Dahlia look) and this Cut and Come Again Mix (truly, the more you cut on these, the more they keep coming back!).
• Amaranthus – a few of these seeds came in a mix of seeds I bought last year and I just fell in love with these weeping beauties. I’ve ordered both a green and deep purple variety of this flower to plant.
• Coneflowers – Coneflowers and I have a good history. These are simple, easy to grow flowers that once they are bigger, you can divide over and over again and plant them all over the place. These are perennials as well, so they will come back every year. While I do tend to buy seeds for much of my cut flower garden, I’ve always had more luck with coneflower plants ready to go than growing these from seed.
• Snapdragons – I tried snapdragons a long time ago and it didn’t work out too well, but this year, I’m giving them another go. This Madame Butterfly mix is just too pretty to not give a whirl.
• Cornflowers – these are purely for the Circus. I’ve not planted cornflowers before, but the blues in this mix just scream the Circus’ name!
• Snowman Marigolds – I usually turn my nose up at marigolds and I certainly wouldn’t consider them a cut flower, but this Snowman Hybrid variety stopped me in my tracks. They have a ruffled carnation look and I couldn’t resist trying them. It says they are good for cut flowers, so we shall see.
• Gomphrena – another new one for me. These little globe type flowers are very cute and if they grow well, I think they will make great fillers and accent flowers in arrangements.
• Wildcard – As of right now, I’m leaving this space open. There is a rose bush in this area I planted last year, but I’m not sure if it will stay there or not – we shall see!

Step 4: Planting Your Flowers

You’ll usually have a few options when it comes to planting – you can often choose from seeds, plants and of course, bulbs for some flowers.

If you buy plants of course, you’ll put them right in the ground. Many seeds can go right in the ground as well, depending on the current weather. Always read your seed packets to determine if you need to start your seeds indoors first or if you can put them outside.

Last year, I started my seeds indoors, but when I transplanted them outside, I also put some more seeds of the same varieties directly into the ground. Honestly, I couldn’t tell much difference between the flowers I had started indoors and the ones I started right in the ground. This year, I’ll be putting most of my seeds straight into the ground, unless the package suggests otherwise.

Keep in mind that you’ll want to place your taller flowers in the back and work your way up to shorter flowers. Read the seed and flower labels for details on each flower’s growing height and width.

Step 5: Water. Mulch. Weed.

Seeds just planted and seedlings won’t need a whole lot of water to start with. You’ll want to keep the soil moist, but don’t overwater. As the seedlings get bigger and stronger and turn into plants, water more and you can use plant food as well.

I also recommend that after the seedlings have grown quite a bit and are stronger to put a layer of mulch around around your plants. This helps to keep the water in and if you’re like me and you can’t get to watering every single day, this gives you a little leeway.

Mulching will also help to keep weeds at bay, but you’ll still have some. If you aren’t sure if it’s a weed or a seedling (it’s ok! It’s happened to me too!), wait a while to see. While seedlings and plants are still small, I like to just pull weeds with my hands, but as the plants get bigger and stronger, you can get a hoe or a hand garden tool in there and do some serious weeding.

Step 6: Enjoy all those gorgeous flowers!

We had bucketful after bucketful last summer and we enjoyed every bit of it.

Try to go out and cut at least 2-3 times per week. Deadhead any flowers that died before you could cut them as this will help with reblooming.

This is one of those gorgeous red zinnias I mentioned above.

This color of Zinnia is another favorite.

These sunflowers were beautiful last year!

Here’s a simple arrangement with some of the Gladiolus and Zinnias I grew.

I love doing clusters of flowers and adding height with smaller flowers above them. I also keep as many leaves as I can -they add good interest to arrangements. Unfortunately, the sunflower leaves don’t look good for very long though.

The biggest thing I can tell you to keep in mind is that, especially if you’re a beginner, don’t get discouraged if some of your flowers don’t do well or don’t take at all. Just enjoy what you have and try again next year with some new varieties. I had some that didn’t take at all last year and I’m sure that will be the case this year as well – it’s all part of it!

If you have any tips for growing cut flowers or the best flowers for cutting gardens, please share below in the comments – I’d love to hear them!

Looking for more outdoor inspiration?

10+ Creative Flower Pot Ideas – you won’t believe some of these!

DIY Flamingo Sprinkler – such a fun way to water!

Tips for Beautiful Planters All Summer Long – keep those flowers gorgeous from the beginning right up till the very end!

Our Front Yard Landscape Makeover – it’s a crazy difference!

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Reader Interactions

romeogirl says

April 17, 2019 at 9:35 am

I can’t wiat! I’ve been wanting to plant a cutting garden for years and finally have the perfect property. Thanks for the kick start!

April 17, 2019 at 9:56 am

Happy to help!! I absolutely love having my cut flower garden – I hope you do too!

Brooke says

April 17, 2019 at 9:51 am

I absolutely love this!!! I can’t wait to try this at a new house!

April 17, 2019 at 9:55 am

Go for it, Brooke – it brings so many smiles to my face!

April 17, 2019 at 12:30 pm

Can’t wait to get my garden going! Thanks for the inspiration! About the snapdragons…..they grow in winter in California (at least in Zone 9) and die off as soon as it gets warm….not sure about your climate but that might be the reason they didn’t take last year. Good luck!

May 1, 2019 at 9:26 am

Ahhhhh. Thanks so much for that info, Cindy!

Susan the Farm Quilter says

April 20, 2019 at 6:28 pm

You are making me even more excited to eventually return home so I can plant flowers all around my house…I have an east side that gets TONS of sun! The west is mostly shade, so I’ll have to plant shade-loving plants there. Love the new picture of you!

Thanks, Susan! I’ve got quite a few shady spots at the farm, so I’ve got to come up with a plan for those. 🙂

Ghastly Girl says

April 22, 2019 at 8:43 am

I love this! I have been wanting to do flowers in my garden but had no idea how to set it up. Thank you for sharing this information.

May 1, 2019 at 9:25 am

Awesome! So happy you found it helpful! It really isn’t all that hard, you just have to jump in, go for it and give yourself some grace!

April 27, 2019 at 10:29 am

Visiting from the Pieced Pastimes party where I saw your link and had to come over to learn more. I’ve been wanting to add cut flowers to our perennial beds for a few years now and found your post very helpful. Thank you! Pinned 🙂

May 1, 2019 at 9:24 am

So glad you found it helpful, Marie! Cut flower gardens really aren’t all that hard – you just have to jump in there and go for it!

Beverly says

April 28, 2019 at 1:31 pm

Jenna, I love cut flowers but we don’t have as many varieties here in southern Florida. I miss my flowers from up north. Congrats, you are being featured at Over The Moon Linky Party. Please stop by and check it out. Hugs, Bev

May 1, 2019 at 9:23 am

Thanks so much for the feature, Beverly!

Jane Anderson says

April 29, 2019 at 9:21 am

Hi Jenna! Thank you for sharing very important tips for all beginners. With the help of your blog we can cut and arrange flowers to grow in the garden. Thanks and keep sharing!

Glad it was helpful, Jane!

mireille says

April 30, 2019 at 12:36 pm

So pretty! I love fresh cut flowers! We planted some zinnias, cosmos and sunflowers this spring. They are coming up so am looking forward to some pretty blooms!

April 30, 2019 at 1:20 pm

I bet they will be beautiful, Mireille!

July 9, 2019 at 3:18 am

Hello Jenna! Your blog is awesome! It’s very difficult to cut and arrange garden. With the help of your tips, we can cut and arrange them to grow our flower garden. Thank you for sharing amazing tips. Keep posting!

Debbie says

March 20, 2020 at 10:56 pm

Jenna, Do you start all of your seeds early in flats, or can you wait until it’s warm enough to sow them in the ground? I tried that a couple of summers ago with some of the same varieties you’re growing and had pretty bad results. Maybe I need you and the Circus to come wave your Magic Wands over my seeds?

March 22, 2020 at 5:33 pm

I usually do a little of both, Debbie. 🙂 You can absolutely wait until it’s warm enough and sow most directly in the ground. The ones I start in containers help me to better lay out the garden and then I usually fill in more with seeds straight into the ground. It also staggers the blooming times some, so you’ll get “extra” flowers.

October 19, 2020 at 2:42 pm

Do you have any issues with ants being on your flowers once you cut them and bring them indoors? If you did how did you keep from bringing bugs inside?

July 25, 2021 at 7:42 pm

Is this a full sun garden?

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