Many flowers in the home garden also make excellent cut flowers. With a few notable exceptions (like hosta and lily-of-the-valley), most species grown for cut flowers prefer full sun and well-drained soils.
Perennials | Annuals & Tender Perennials | Woody Plants | Foliage | More Information
Perennials
The perennials listed below make excellent cut flowers. They are listed roughly in order of bloom time.
Spring Bloomers
- Daffodil (Narcissus)
- Hyacinth (Hyacinthus)
- Tulip (Tulipa)
- Lily-of-the-Valley (Convallaria)
- Bleeding Heart (Lamprocapnos)
- Columbine (Aquilegia)
- Coral Bells (Heuchera)
- Ox-eye Daisy (Leucanthemum)
- Peony (Paeonia)
- Bearded Iris (Iris)
Summer Bloomers
- Avens (Geum)
- Delphinium (Delphinium)
- Lavender (Lavandula)
- Asiatic & Oriental Lily (Lilium)
- Baby's Breath (Gypsophila)
- Tickseed (Coreopsis)
- Yarrow (Achillea)
- Spiked Speedwell (Veronica)
- Daylily (Hemerocallis)
- Bee Balm (Monarda)
- Garden Phlox (Phlox)
- Blanket Flower (Gaillardia)
- Chives (Allium)
- Hosta (Hosta)
- Blazing Star (Liatris)
- Globe Thistle (Echinops)
- Coneflower (Echinacea)
- False Sunflower (Heliopsis)
Fall Bloomers
- Stokes' Aster (Stokesia)
- Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)
- Sneezewed (Helenium)
- Russian Sage (Salvia (syn: Perovskia))
- Aster (Symphyotrichum)
- Windflower (Anemone)
- Goldenrod (Solidago)
- Northern Sea Oats (Chasmanthium)
- Tall Sedum (Hylotylephium)
- Mum (Chrysanthemum)
Annuals & Tender Perennials
The following annulas and tender perennials make excellent cut flowers. The list is organized by approximate height from shortest to tallest.
- Pot Marigold (Calendula)
- Marigold (Tagetes)
- Statice (Limonium)
- Stock (Matthiola)
- Lisianthus (Eustoma)
- Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena)
- Snapdragon (Antirrhinum)
- Cock's Comb (Celosia)
- Salvia (Salvia)
- Zinnia (Zinnia)
- Bachelor's Button (Centaurea)
- Bells of Ireland (Moluccella)
- Larkspur (Consolida)
- Sweet Pea (Sweet Pea)
- Pineapple Sage (Salvia elegans)
- Cosmos (Cosmos)
- Dill (Anethum graveolens)
- Dahlia (Dahlia)
- Gladiolus (Gladiolus)
- Ornamental Millet (Pennisetum)
- Sunflower (Helianthus)
Woody Plants
The following shrubs produce excellent cut flowers. They are listed roughly in order of bloom time.
- Witch Hazel (Hamamelis) — Winter/Spring
- Pussy Willow (Salix) — Spring
- Forsythia (Forsythia) — Spring
- Flowering Quince (Chaenomeles) — Spring
- Bridal Wreath (Spiraea) — Spring
- Lilac (Syringa) — Spring
- Rose (Rosa) — Summer
- Hydrangea (Hydrangea) — Summer
- Butterfly Bush (Buddleia) — Summer
- Seven Sons Flower (Heptacodium) — Fall
Plants with Good Foliage to Use in Cut Flower Arrangements
Blossoms are not the only thing you can collect from your garden for use in cut floral arrangements. These garden plants have colorful or interesting foliage that works well in floral arrangements.
Perennials
- Coral Bells (Heuchera)
- Lady's Mantle (Alchemilla)
- Mint (Mentha)
- Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium)
- Christmas Fern (Polystichum)
- Hosta (Hosta)
- Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum)
- Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia)
- Switchgrass (Panicum)
- Maiden Grass (Miscanthus)
Annuals & Tender Perennials
- Licorice Plant (Helichrysum)
- Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
- Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus (syn: Rosemarinus officinalis))
- Ornamental Kale/Cabbage (Brassica)
- Canna (Canna)
- Elephant's Ear (Colocasia)
Shrubs
- Ninebark (Physocarpus)
- Holly (Ilex)
- Smoketree (Cotinus)