15 Cut Flowers to Grow for Stunning Homemade Bouquets

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A vase of bracing flowers works a bit like magic . It brightens up the home , brings the open in , and can even say “ I love you ” without words . But if you ’ve ever dreamed of dabbling in flower coiffure or merely require to save money on your flower budget , many of the most popular track saucy prime are astonishingly easy to mature in your own cut garden .

“ grow cut flower can be for everyone , you just have to learn the basics first , ” says Madison Jones , owner ofSeal Point Farm , a sustainable flower farm in coastal Maine . Jones recommends beginning with sluttish - to - farm varieties of flowers , like zinnias , cosmos , and sunflowers . “ You just have to be heedful which cut bloom seeds you ’re purchasing , ” Jones advises . “ Some helianthus plant life can be 8 feet tall with one monolithic flower ! ”

Homemade cut flower bouquet from the garden in a clear glass vase.

Photo: Sue Zellers/Moment via Getty Images

To get you started , we ’ve put together this inclination of 15foolproof flowersfor garden fledgling , including the best sunflower for acut flower gardenand other easy - care plants . You ’ll also find a few harvest and forethought tips tokeep cut flowers freshand make your cutting flower garden even more generative .

1. Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus)

A classic for summertime fragrancy , helianthus commonly frisk gilt yellow flower petal , but you’re able to find sunflowers with maroon , lemon yellow , and white flush too . Jones notes that Procut varieties are particularly expert for bouquets since they produce individual - stemmed flowers , but branching sunflower can also be grow in a cut garden for minuscule - stem arrangements . Dwarf sunflowersare ideal for pocket-sized space garden , while pollen - loose sunflowers are sodding for mess - free designs .

Best For : Full sun , companion planting , containersBloom meter : summertime to return

2. Zinnias (Zinnia elegans)

It ’s no surprisal thatzinniasare one of the most pop cutting bloom for gardens . Not only are these plants easy to grow from semen , but they make out in unlike shapes , sizes , and colors to suit any floral figure . While double - bloomed old maid steal the show in bouquets , single - bloomed zinnias are ideal for companion planting and attracting pollinator .

easily For : Companion planting , garden margin , containersBloom Time : belated spring to fall

3. Peonies (Paeonia lactiflora)

If you want a snub flower that get to a openhanded impingement , peoniesare hard to beat . These plants produce highly fragranced flowers in a dizzying array of pinks and clean that ca n’t help but dazzle . Florists often use peonies on their own in bouquets , but afloral intention classcan assistant you describe even more manner to dash peony with other flower favorites !

Best For : Spring flowers , scent gardensBloom Time : Late spring to early summertime

4. Cosmos (Cosmosspp.)

Whether you set about them indoors in spring or directly sow them in the garden , cosmos are one of the gentle cut flowers to grow from come . While these plants are mostly grown for their sheer , pinkish and white blooms , their feathery leaves can also be used to add texture to bouquets . Harvesting cosmos encourages flora to rebloom and makes these trim back garden flowers even more productive !

Best For : Textured foliage , long bloom timeBloom metre : Early summertime to fall

5. Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus)

With their curious shapes and playful colors , snapdragon bring an unexpected twist to floral transcription . These plant life typically bloom in spring and surrender , but stop blossom when temperature climb in summer . Toenjoy snapdragonsa bit longer , glean flowers when about 2/3 of the buds are still closed .

well For : Cool conditions , unique formBloom Time : bound and fall

6. Dahlias (Dahliaspp.)

Anyone who loves bold colors and heavy blooms get laid dahlia are must - have efflorescence for a cutting garden . Ranging in size of it from 2 - in minis to massive dinner platedahlias , you may feel Dahlia pinnata in change color , shapes , and size to befit your tastes . Just keep in mind that dahlias unremarkably need staking and genus Tuber should be winter indoors in zona 7 and below .

well For : Big bloom , cottage gardensBloom Time : Mid - summer to fall

7. Sweet Peas (Lathyrus odoratus)

A top alternative for spring and pin gardens , sweet pea plants cover chilly temperatures good than most cut flowers , but they pine in hot conditions . Most sweet pea plant blooms emit a delectable aroma , but some varieties are more fragrant than others . Harvest sweet peas when just a few bud have come out to open up and keep these plant near a trellis for tidy stems .

Best For : Cool conditions , vertical growing , fragrance gardensBloom Time : Spring and come down

8. Daffodils (Narcissusspp.)

Invite spring in with other blossom daffodil , which flower in February and March in many area . While classical yellow daffodils are the most democratic , you could find daffodils in other colors , include white , orange , and pinkish . Even better , you could turn daffodils indoors in wad as long as you keep them aside from pets and provide them with plenty of brightness , H2O , andfertilizer for indoor plant .

Best For : coolheaded weather , garden borders , containersBloom metre : outflow

9. Strawflower (Xerochrysum bracteatum)

With a bit of practice , you canmaster the prowess of preserving flowersand enjoy homegrown , dried bouquets in fall and winter . But strawflowers make this task even easier . These late season flowers carry minimal moisture in their papery petals , which helps them dry out quickly and preserves their soma in dried bouquets .

Best For : dry out flowers , former time of year bloomsBloom Time : summertime to fall

10. Lavender (Lavandulaspp.)

Lavender also dries beautifully , but it can be used impudent in bouquets and flowered arrangements for ticklish color and robust fragrancy . Many type of lavender are available to plate gardener , but English lavender is a particularly various option , which can be grown as an edible or decorative plant . Just be certain to grow lavender in well - draining soil to foreclose soggy roots !

well For : Fragrance gardens , desiccated flowersBloom Time : summertime

11. Tulips (Tulipaspp.)

Another spring favorite , tulips bloom early in the class and then die back , leaves and all , by late spring . Thanks to their brightly colored petals , these plants are often include inplant subscription boxes , but you do n’t need to restrict your tulip bloom to container gardens . Tulips depend especially appeal planted en masse shot in people of color - coordinated presentation , but they can also be used for a pop of color in garden borders .

comfortably For : Large plantings , garden bordersBloom clip : Spring

12. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

White yarrow is the most common form of the flower , but you may also notice these pollinator plants in shade of pink and yellow . Use fresh yarrow as makeweight flowers in bouquets or hang - ironical yarrow blooms upside down and sum up them to dry arrangements .

Best For : Pollinator gardens , dehydrated flowersBloom Time : recent saltation to precipitate

13. Rose (Rosaspp.)

No listing of emasculated flower would be complete without rose wine . you could findroses in a wide varietyof colours and sizes , and some even produce heavy fragranced blooms for odorous nosegay . Hybrid afternoon tea roses are commonly grown in cutting gardens since they produce long , straight stem and braggy , odorous blooms , but you could also find dwarf blush wine for container gardens or climbing roses for vertical growing .

Best For : Fragrance gardens , containersBloom Time : Late spring to fall

14. Bells of Ireland (Moluccella laevis)

Bells of Ireland have an strange flavour with green , bell - shaped blooms that bear out in any arrangement . These flower last a comparatively retentive time in a vase , but you may keep them fresh even longer by trimming the stems at a tenuous slant , using a clean vase , and make your own DIY bloom food for thought with 3 cups of piss , 1 cupful of clear lemon lime sal soda ( not dieting ) , and 1/4 teaspoon of bleach .

well For : Dried flowers , cottage gardensBloom meter : tardy spring to fall

15. Rudbeckia (Rudbeciaspp.)

Black - eyed Susans are the most wide known case of rudbeckia , but you may find plants with unlike colored flower petal in shades of fire railway locomotive red , lemon yellowness , and more . Plant rudbeckia in full sunshine and well - drain soil , and these low - maintenance plants will self - sow in and share their protein - pack seeds with savage birds . bouquet with yarrow and genus Rudbeckia have a classic appeal , but you could mix and mate these late pratfall with other fall flowers , like snapdragons and sweet peas too !

well For : previous season flowers , attracting birdsBloom Time : Summer to settle

Our Best Advice for Beginner Gardeners

A field of tall sunflowers with a blue sky background.

Photo: David C Thomlinson/The Image Bank via Getty Images

We ’ll avail you set up your first garden — whether that ’s a few pots on your terrace , a raised bottom , or an in - ground secret plan out back — and select the right plants for your soil and part .

Pink zinnia flowers.