Garden Plants That Make Good Cut Flowers

cut flowers grown locally in iowaMany 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

Perennials for Good Cut Flowers
Common NameGenusSeason of Bloom
Bearded IrisIrisSpring
Coral BellsHeucheraSpring
DaffodilNarcissusSpring
HyacinthHyacinthusSpring
Lily-of-the-ValleyConvallariaSpring
PeonyPaeoniaSpring
TulipTulipaSpring
ColumbineAquilegiaSpring
Bleeding HeartLamprocapnosSpring
Ox-eye DaisyLeucanthemumSpring
Baby's BreathGypsophilaSummer
Bee BalmMonardaSummer
Blazing StarLiatrisSummer
ConeflowerEchinaceaSummer
DaylilyHemerocallisSummer
DelphiniumDelphiniumSummer
Globe ThistleEchinopsSummer
HostaHostaSummer
Asiatic & Oriental LilyLiliumSummer
Garden PhloxPhloxSummer
Spiked SpeedwellVeronicaSummer
YarrowAchilleaSummer
Blanket FlowerGaillardiaSummer
TickseedCoreopsisSummer
False SunflowerHeliopsisSummer
AvensGeumSummer
Stokes' AsterStokesiaFall
Tall SedumHylotylephium Fall
Black-eyed SusanRudbeckiaFall
MumChrysanthemumFall
GoldenrodSolidagoFall
SneezewedHeleniumFall
AsterSymphyotrichumFall
WindflowerAnemoneFall
Russian SageSalvia (syn: Perovskia)Fall
Northern Sea OatsChasmanthiumFall

Annuals & Tender Perennials

Annuals & Tender Perennials for Good Cut Flowers
Common NameGenus
ZinniaZinnia
CosmosCosmos
SunflowerHelianthus
LarkspurConsolida
MarigoldTagetes
LisianthusEustoma
SalviaSalvia
SnapdragonAntirrhinum
Cock's CombCelosia
StaticeLimonium
Pot MarigoldCalendula
StockMatthiola
Bells of IrelandMoluccella
Bachelor's ButtonCentaurea
Globe AmaranthGomphrena
Sweet PeaSweet Pea
Ornamental MilletPennisetum
GladiolusGladiolus
DahliaDahlia

Woody Plants

Trees and Shrubs for Good Cut Flowers
Common NameGenusSeason of Bloom
ForsythiaForsythiaSpring
Pussy WillowSalixSpring
LilacSyringaSpring
Bridal WreathSpiraeaSpring
Witch HazelHamamelisWinter/Spring
Flowering QuinceChaenomelesSpring
Butterfly BushBuddleiaSummer
HydrangeaHydrangeaSummer
RoseRosaSummer
Seven Sons FlowerHeptacodiumFall

Plants with Good Foliage to Use in Cut Flower Arrangements

Good Foliage Plants for Floral Arrangements
Common NameGenusType of Plant
HostaHostaPerennial
Coral BellsHeucheraPerennial
Japanese Painted FernAthyriumPerennial
Ostrich FernMatteucciaPerennial
Christmas FernPolystichumPerennial
Solomon's SealPolygonatumPerennial
Lady's MantleAlchemillaPerennial
SwitchgrassPanicumPerennial
Maiden grassMiscanthusPerennial
CannaCannaTender Perennial
Elephant's EarColocasiaTender Perennial
Licorice PlantHelichrysumAnnual
Ornamental Kale/CabbageBrassicaAnnual
NinebarkPhysocarpusShrub
HollyIlexShrub
SmoketreeCotinusShrub

More Information

Last reviewed:
February 2026