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The 15 Best Blooms for a Cut-Flower Garden (So You Can Create Your Own Bouquets at Home)

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Part of the pleasure of planting a garden is enjoying the gorgeous blooms. But why not bring the beauty indoors, too? Many annual and perennial flowers are easy to grow and attract pollinators, and they also make amazing cut flowers for bouquets—whether it’s a centerpiece for your dining table or a single bud on your nightstand. Even if you only have a balcony or a small deck, you can still enjoy a cut flower garden (simply plant flowers in pots and containers) and reap the same benefits.

If you’re planting perennials, make sure you choose those that will survive winters in your USDA Hardiness zone (find yours here). And read the plant tag or description so you’ll know exactly what kind of light your plant needs. For example, full sun is considered 6 or more hours of direct sunlight, while part sun is about half that. Finally, remember that no matter what type of flower you cut for bouquets, remove all the foliage below the water line in your vase and change the water every few days for a longer-lasting bouquet.

The 12 Most Romantic Flowers for Your Garden


Here are the best flowers to plant for a beautiful cutting garden:

cut flower garden daffodil
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1. Daffodil

Daffodils are some of the earliest flowers of spring with their golden nodding heads—a welcome sight when you just can’t stand one more gray winter’s day. Some types are fragrant, too. Bonus: Rodents tend to leave these bulbs alone. Plant in the fall for blooms the following spring.

cut flower garden lavender
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2. Lavender

Lavender is stunning when planted en masse and also makes for a long-lasting cut flower. It dries well, so you can display for months or dry the flower buds to use in drawer sachets or to mix into scones.

cut flower garden sunflower
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3. Sunflower

Few things signal summer quite like the bright faces of sunflowers. They’re available in many different sizes and make excellent cut flowers that last more than a week in a vase.

cut flower garden peony
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4. Peony

This shrubby perennial has glossy dark green foliage and stunning, fragrant blooms that appear in late spring. Make sure not to plant too deep or they won’t bloom. Harvest the blooms when they’re only slightly open (still somewhat in bud) for the longest vase life. Don’t worry about ants crawling on them; they’re not pests but are just sipping the nectar. Simply shake them off before you bring your peonies indoors.

cut flower garden dahlia
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5. Dahlia

Dahlias make exquisite bouquets, and they’re available in every color and size, from tiny pom poms to giant dinner plate-sized blooms. Plant the tubers in spring after all danger of frost is past for summer blooms. Or plant seeds, though it will take longer for plants to mature. In cold climates, you’ll need to lift the tubers out after a frost and save them for replanting next year.

cut flower garden anemone
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6. Anemone

Anemones have papery petals that come in colors ranging from pale blues to amethyst to deepest pink. Pollinators love them, and they have sturdy stems that make them excellent cut flowers which last more than a week in a vase. There are several different types that bloom in either spring or fall. Read the label so you’ll know what you’re buying and when to plant.

cut flower garden ranunculus
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7. Ranunculus

Ranunculus are gorgeous flowers that resemble roses with full, lush blooms in saturated colors on long, graceful stems. Different varieties may be planted in spring (for summer blooms) or fall (for blooms the next year). Double check the label so you know what you’re buying.

cut flower garden coneflower
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8. Coneflower

Vibrantly colored coneflowers come in every shade of the rainbow, from lemony yellow to hot pink and bright orange. These sturdy flowers range in height from 12 to 36 inches. Plant a mix of colors for the prettiest bouquet.

cut flower garden tulip
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9. Tulip

Tulips are a welcome sight after a long winter. These beautiful flowers bloom in early, mid or late spring, depending on the variety. Plant them in pots if you have problems with digging rodents, such as chipmunks. Most tulips are treated as annuals because they lose bloom power after the first season. Cut them when in bud for longest vase life. And no, you’re not imagining it: Tulips are one of the few flowers that keep growing in the vase!

cut flower garden bishop s flower
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10. Bishop’s Flower

Bishop’s flower is a native wildflower that looks like Queen Anne’s Lace, the roadside weed. (Bees and other pollinators adore this annual, BTW.) It’s a great filler for bouquets or looks lovely on its own in a country-style vase, such as a ceramic jug.

cut flower garden pincushion flower
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11. Pincushion Flower

The frilly blue blooms of the pincushion flower, also called scabiosa, are loved by pollinators. This perennial blooms from spring to frost, so you’ll get to enjoy them for a very long season. It’s absolutely delightful in small vases tucked here and there throughout your home.

cut flower garden lady s mantle
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12. Lady’s Mantle

Lady’s mantle has pretty scalloped leaves and pale green flowers in late spring. The long stems of this perennial make great cutting flowers for mixed bouquets. Deer generally leave it alone.

cut flower garden black eyed susan
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13. Black-eyed Susan

These sturdy perennials look like happy smiling faces. They’ll bloom from mid-summer to fall, and they make cheerful bouquets alone or mixed with other cottage-style flowers. Read the plant tag because some are perennial, and some last only two years (biennial) so they’re treated as annuals and replanted every year.

cut flower garden chrysanthemums
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14. Chrysanthemums

This iconic fall flower comes in every shade of the rainbow. They’re hardy and cold-tolerant so they’ll bloom a long time and make great cut flowers that last for a week or more indoors. They’re perennial if you get them in the ground in the spring. But fall-planted mums generally are considered annuals because their roots don’t have time to establish before winter.

cut flower garden cosmos
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15. Cosmos

These charming annuals are easy to grow from seed, and they come in tons of colors. Their lacey foliage is another plus. There are many different types, so mix it up and plant a bunch of different kinds for a vibrant, charming cutting garden.



purewow author

Freelance Gardening Editor

Arricca Elin SanSone is a gardener with more than 15 years of experience. In addition to PureWow, she writes for Prevention, Country Living, Veranda, The Spruce and many other...