The top 25 cut flowers for a home garden include roses, sunflowers, zinnias, dahlias and peonies. These flowers offer a range of colors, shapes and blooming seasons, allowing for diverse and beautiful bouquets throughout the year. Proper care, including regular watering, fertilizing and deadheading, is essential for abundant blooms.
As a floriculturist with over two decades of experience in cultivating cut flowers, I’m thrilled to share this comprehensive guide on the best flowers for your cut flower garden. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting, this list will help you create a garden that provides stunning bouquets throughout the seasons.
Annual Cut Flowers
Annual flowers bloom for one season and need to be replanted each year. They often provide abundant blooms throughout their growing season.
1. Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus)
- Tall, cheerful flowers available in various sizes and colors
- Easy to grow from seed
- Bloom time: Summer to early fall
2. Zinnias (Zinnia elegans)
- Colorful, daisy-like flowers
- Long-lasting in bouquets
- Bloom time: Summer to fall
3. Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus)
- Delicate flowers with ferny foliage
- Available in pastel and bright colors
- Bloom time: Summer to fall
4. Sweet Peas (Lathyrus odoratus)
- Fragrant, butterfly-like blooms
- Excellent for climbing structures
- Bloom time: Spring to early summer
5. Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus)
- Tall spikes of colorful blooms
- Great for adding height to arrangements
- Bloom time: Spring to fall
For more information on growing annual flowers, visit the University of Minnesota Extension’s annual flower guide.
Perennial Cut Flowers
Perennials return year after year, often increasing in size and bloom production over time.
6. Peonies (Paeonia)
- Large, fragrant blooms
- Long-lived plants
- Bloom time: Late spring to early summer
7. Coneflowers (Echinacea)
- Daisy-like flowers with prominent centers
- Drought-tolerant once established
- Bloom time: Summer to fall
8. Black-Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia)
- Cheerful yellow flowers with dark centers
- Easy to grow and maintain
- Bloom time: Summer to fall
9. Shasta Daisies (Leucanthemum x superbum)
- Classic white daisies with yellow centers
- Long-lasting cut flowers
- Bloom time: Summer
10. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
- Flat-topped flower clusters
- Available in various colors
- Bloom time: Summer
Learn more about perennial care from the Chicago Botanic Garden’s perennial care guide.
Bulbs and Corms
These plants grow from underground storage structures and often provide early spring color.
11. Tulips (Tulipa)
- Wide variety of colors and shapes
- Plant in fall for spring blooms
- Bloom time: Spring
12. Daffodils (Narcissus)
- Cheerful yellow or white flowers
- Naturalize well in many areas
- Bloom time: Early to mid-spring
13. Gladiolus (Gladiolus)
- Tall spikes of colorful flowers
- Plant in succession for continuous blooms
- Bloom time: Summer to fall
14. Dahlias (Dahlia)
- Wide range of colors and flower forms
- Excellent for late-season bouquets
- Bloom time: Summer to fall
15. Lilies (Lilium)
- Fragrant, showy flowers
- Available in many colors and styles
- Bloom time: Summer
For expert advice on growing bulbs, check out the Royal Horticultural Society’s bulb planting guide.
Shrubs and Woody
These plants provide structure to the garden and often offer unique stems or foliage for arrangements.
16. Roses (Rosa)
- Classic cut flowers with a wide range of colors
- Many varieties suitable for cutting
- Bloom time: Late spring to fall
17. Hydrangeas (Hydrangea)
- Large, showy flower clusters
- Long-lasting in arrangements
- Bloom time: Summer to fall
18. Lilacs (Syringa)
- Fragrant, clustered blooms
- Available in various colors
- Bloom time: Spring
19. Forsythia (Forsythia)
- Early spring yellow blooms
- Branches can be forced indoors
- Bloom time: Early spring
20. Viburnum (Viburnum)
- Clusters of small flowers, often fragrant
- Some varieties offer colorful berries
- Bloom time: Spring to early summer
Learn about pruning shrubs for better blooms from the Purdue University Extension’s pruning guide.
Filler and Foliage
These plants add texture and bulk to arrangements, complementing showier blooms.
21. Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila)
- Delicate, cloud-like flowers
- Excellent filler for bouquets
- Bloom time: Summer
22. Statice (Limonium sinuatum)
- Papery flowers in various colors
- Dries well for long-lasting arrangements
- Bloom time: Summer to fall
23. Bells of Ireland (Moluccella laevis)
- Tall spikes of green bell-shaped calyces
- Adds unique structure to arrangements
- Bloom time: Summer
24. Dusty Miller (Jacobaea maritima)
- Silvery-gray foliage
- Provides contrast in arrangements
- Grown for foliage
25. Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus)
- Fragrant, silvery-blue foliage
- Long-lasting in arrangements
- Grown for foliage
For tips on using foliage in arrangements, visit the University of Illinois Extension’s floral design basics.
Creating a cut flower garden with these 25 varieties will provide you with an abundance of blooms for beautiful bouquets throughout the year. Remember to consider your climate, soil conditions, and personal preferences when selecting flowers for your garden. Regular care, including watering, fertilizing and deadheading, will ensure healthy plants and prolific blooms. Happy gardening and flower arranging!
For more in-depth information on cut flower gardening, check out the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers’ resources.
For more gardening tips and plant care guides, visit usagardenhub.com.
