My Favorite Cut Flower Plant Varieties For The Home Gardener.
I remember when I first learned about growing cut flowers. I was completely overwhelmed with all the little bits of information out there. It was too late in the season to start seeds, but I wanted a garden; I wanted cut flowers.
I searched the greenhouse for plant varieties. Let me tell you, that was a failure. I went to the store to find seeds I could direct sow. That was also a failure.
I did manage to find some zinnia seeds that I planted that year. I didn’t get any cut flowers, but I did get some beautiful zinnias in my garden!
After this frustrating experience, I wondered if there were others like me. Maybe you want to grow a cut flower garden but don’t have the time, energy, or space to start seeds. You don’t want to order cut flower plants in trays of 100’s and pay ridiculous prices on shipping. You want a few plants to fill your garden so you can share your flowers with others.
Today, I will tell you about my five favorite cut flower plant varieties and how you can get them. Let’s get started.
Lisianthus
Lisianthus is the rose of summer. She might be a slow grower, but in my mind, Lisianthus should be in every cut flower garden.
Lisianthus is an elegant flower that can be kept in the vase for up to two weeks.
Recommended Varieties:
Echo
ABC
Voyager
Doublini
Planting:
Lisianthus loves to be planted in cool soil. Lisianthus is often referred to as having a cool start and a hot finish.
Plant close together, no more than 6 inches apart. Since Lisianthus grows so slowly, make sure to weed weekly. Eventually, it will crowd out the weeds, but it definitely takes a while.
Growing Problems:
Weed pressure is probably the worst. Some varieties of Lisianthus need to be netted because as the flowers open, they become too heavy for the stems.
I have never had any insect problems with Lisianthus.
Harvesting:
Harvest Lisianthus once the first flower has bloomed and died. I like to wait until several flowers have opened.
The flowers will not continue to open after cutting, so cut it at your favorite look.
Place in clean, fresh water.
Zinnia
Zinnias are considered a “cut and come again” flower, meaning the more you cut them, the more flowers they produce.
Zinnia’s are the workhorse of your cut flower garden. The more you cut zinnia, the more they flower. Mixing the varieties and sizes of your zinnias will give you a ton of texture and color for your bouquets.
Recommended Varieties:
Benary Giant
Oklahoma
State Fair Mix
Queen Series
Planting:
Plant 9 to 12 inches apart. I suggest netting zinnia to keep them from falling over. Once they fall over, it’s hard to correct them. Cutting them back is probably the best way to correct that.
Growing Problems:
Zinnias are susceptible to powdery mildew.
Powdery mildew is white mildew that grows on the leaves and eventually kills the plant. I have found through experience that using a product called First Saturday Lime has significantly reduced powdery mildew. I sprinkle it on my soil at planting time and again on the plants every month.
Japanese Beetles also really love zinnias. The best way to combat these is by picking them off every morning into a bucket of soapy water. Do NOT squish them. It causes more beetles to come!
Harvesting:
The best way to check if zinnias are ready to be cut is what we call the stem test - grab the zinnia by the stem and jiggle it back and forth. If the stem is very firm and the top head of the flower doesn’t move too much, the zinnia is ready to harvest. If the stem flops back and forth, causing the zinnia’s head to flop around like a bobblehead, it’s not quite ready to harvest.
Remember to remove any old flowers. Letting your cut flower go to seed slows down the cut flower production.
Zinnias are a “dirty” flower. This means they make the water dirty. Dirty water means bacteria, and bacteria means dead flowers. To combat this, use a small amount of flower food or add 1 to 2 drops of bleach to your vase water. Change water frequently.
BIGGEST TIP: Cut deep into the plant, even if it means cutting off side shoots with buds and blooms. I like to leave the bottom 2 to 3 sets of leaves. If you cut short, your stems will be shorter. You can do it. I promise it will be worth it!
Snapdragons
Snapdragons take me back to my childhood. My mom often had them growing around our landscape and house. They were so fun to pinch and make the dragon’s mouth open and close!
Snapdragons are spike-shaped flowers for your garden. When harvested at the correct stage, they last a long time and fill in a bouquet well.
Recommended Varieties:
Rocket
Chantilly
Madame Butterfly
Planting:
Plant 9 inches apart. Plant 9 inches apart
Snapdragons will continue to bloom all summer if blooms are removed regularly.
Snapdragons may slow down during summer heat - give them plenty of water and some patience so they can rejuvenate for another flush of blooms.
Growing Problems:
Snapdragons don’t have a lot of growing problems.
Harvesting:
Make the first cut of the central stem at almost ground level, just above the lower 2 or 3 side shoots.
Cut future stems at the base of the stem at the branching point.
Harvest when the first bottom flower opens for the longest-lasting flowers.
Cosmos
Cosmos are a cut-and-come-again type of cut flower, meaning the more you cut them, the more cut flowers they produce. The cosmos foliage is a great green filler for your cut flower bouquets.
Cosmos need little attention to thrive. They might not be big, bold, or flashy, but they add a fantastic dreamy effect to your cut flower bouquets.
Recommended Varieties:
Double Click Series
Veloutte
Bipinnatus series
Planting:
Cosmos love warm weather.
Be sure to keep the soil moist after planting. Growing them closer together will help support them and keep them from falling over.
When your cosmos get around eight to ten inches tall, it’s best to pinch them back.
To pinch them, cut the plant back to two or three sets of leaves with a clean clipper or scissors. This doesn't seem very easy, but it will make for the best-cut flower plants with many stems.
Growing Problems:
Cosmos are susceptible to powdery mildew. Try to avoid overhead watering if possible.
Powdery mildew is white mildew that grows on the leaves and eventually kills the plant. I have found through experience that using a product called “First Saturday Lime” has dramatically reduced powdery mildew. I sprinkle it on my soil at planting time and again on the plants and soil every month.
Harvesting:
Cosmos are said to have a very short vase life, but that is because they are not being appropriately harvested. Once bees pollinate them, their lifespan is shortened. The trick is to harvest when the first bud starts to open.
I usually harvest large branching stems to extend the vase's life with multiple buds on a stem. If the first bloom shatters or wilts, three or four more will continue to blossom after that, giving a longer bloom window. We harvest each branching stem when the first bud opens, knowing the rest will open later.
Cut deep into your cosmos. Try for an 18-inch stem.
Remember to dead-head any blossoms that you have not cut. You do not want your cosmos to go to seed because they will stop producing flowers.
If you’re not already growing cosmos, you should give them a try!
Celosia
Celosia is underrated. It comes in so many different colors, shapes, and sizes. It also dries amazingly well and keeps on producing all summer long.
Celosia has plumes and crested, small and large flower heads. Some are cut and come again, and some are one and done. I only provide the cut and come-again varieties in my cut flower garden trays.
Recommended Varieties:
Flamingo Feather
Ruby Parfait
Chief Series
Planting:
Plant celosia 9 to 12 inches apart.
I suggest netting Celosia as well. A good wind or a strong thunderstorm will take it out, and once it’s tipped over, the only way to fix it is to cut it back.
Growing Problems:
Very few to none.
Harvesting:
Just like Zinnia, celosia does best with the wiggle test.
Make your cut at the base of the stem, just above the last 2 to 3 side shoots, to encourage branching.
A few varieties are one-cut plants, but most keep producing the more you cut them. Remove spent flowers.
Cut after the flowers are fully developed to keep them from wilting.
Keep cutting, and don’t let it go to seed.
These five-cut flowers will give you flowers all summer long and will fill out a bouquet nicely. They give you the different textures, heights, and colors for a really cohesive bouquet.
Looking to Grow More Varieties?
Do you wish you could grow your own cut flower garden?
Have you scoured the nursery for cut flower plants and can’t find what you're looking for? Seed starting can be daunting and a lot of work.
Comment below and tell me what you want to grow and what you are looking for?