Last year, I got a late start on my cut flower garden. Midsummer, I harvested a bounty of dahlias, zinnias, black-eyed Susans, and yarrow. Sadly, I missed the cool-weather flowers at the beginning of the year. But not this year!
This year, I am already sowing the seeds that will bring a colorful start to the spring season. Many early spring flowers require a period of cold to germinate, and these seeds should be sown, and bulbs should be planted before the ground freezes. If you want flowers as early as possible in the new year, the time to begin planning is in late fall, before a hard freeze sweeps in and makes it difficult to plant anything.
Planting and cold stratification time spans a wide range depending on the seeds you are planting, so be sure to identify the best course of action for germinating the seeds of each different plant. Here are 27 of the earliest blooming flowers to make your cutting garden boom as early in the year as possible.
Daffodil
Daffodil flowers last up to a week with a cheerful fragrance.
| botanical name Narcissus pseudonarcissus | |
 | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
 | height 6”-30” |
 | hardiness zones 3-8 |
Daffodils fall under the Narcissus family and are most recognizable by their corona, or the tubular petal in the bloom’s center, which houses the flower’s reproductive parts. The most common color for these flowers is yellow, but they also come in shades of orange, white, and coral, with more than a handful of bicolor blooming types.
These are among the earliest blooming flowers of spring, and they make excellent cut flowers with their long, slender stems. Daffodils can last up to a week in a vase, sharing their cheerful color and pleasing fragrance to brighten the home and chase away the winter blues.
Tulip
These flowers last up to ten days in a vase.
 | botanical name Tulipa spp. |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 4”-28” |
| | hardiness zones 3-8 |
There is no denying the popularity of this spring flower. Tulips are native to Central Asia but have been made famous by the Dutch for their incredible, colorful drifts of these wonderful bulbous perennials. Tulips come in just about every color of the rainbow, from black to white and everything in between. While rare, true blue tulips have even been hybridized.
Tulip flowers have been bred with many variations. There are double-petal varieties and those with sheared edges. While bicolored tulips once indicated diseased plants, the flowers have been selectively bred to take on this trait intentionally. The flowers will last up to ten days in a vase, making them wonderful for the cutting garden.
Hyacinth
Hyacinth flowers have sturdy stems, making them ideal cut flowers.
| | botanical name Hyacinthus spp. |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 6”-12” |
| | hardiness zones 4-8 |
Hyacinth flowers are one of the most fragrant flowers I can think of. There is no mistaking the appearance and perfume of these wonderful spring flowering plants. While they don’t have the same tall stems as some other bulbous spring bloomers, they have nice stiff stems and are excellent cut flowers with a vase life of nearly two weeks.
In terms of color, hyacinths most commonly come in shades of pink, purple, and white, although some deep purple varieties border on blue. They can be grown in partial shade but will flower best if they receive at least six hours of sun daily.
Dwarf Iris
Dwarf irises are early spring bloomers with blooms in shades of bluish-purple.
| | botanical name Iris reticulata |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 6” |
| | hardiness zones 4-9 |
These smaller cousins of bearded irises are some of the earliest bloomers in spring. Dwarf irises typically don’t grow taller than ½ foot, but they have perfectly wonderful blooms that rival any other spring flowers. The blooms are usually a bluish-purple, with a touch of yellow toward the center. They can, however, be shades of yellow and white.
Dwarf Iris flowers have a sweet fragrance, and while the flowers only last about one week, they look quite wonderful in floral arrangements. They can grow in full sun or partial shade conditions, with morning sun and afternoon shade being ideal.
Poppy Anemone
This plant offers versatile, cut-friendly blooms thriving in varied soils.
| | botanical name Anemone coronaria |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 1’-5’ |
| | hardiness zones 3-8 |
Native to the Mediterranean, anemones give us gorgeous flowers perfect for cutting. While they thrive best in partial shade, these plants can tolerate full sun in cooler climates. Farther south, they need some protection from the afternoon sun.
The poppy anemone is best for the cutting garden. They have tall, slender stems and large, show flowers with dark centers that have a dramatic appearance. The colors most commonly found are red, blue, white, and bicolor, though some bloom in shades of pink and purple.
Forget-me-Not
Forget-me-nots, with delicate blue flowers, are excellent filler flowers that readily reseed.
| | botanical name Myosotis spp. |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Partial shade |
| | height 4”-12” |
| | hardiness zones 3-8 |
The delicate blue flowers of the Forget-me-not plant make a wonderful filler flower in the cutting garden. They reseed readily and colonize easily, providing more and more of these pretty blooms each year. These flowers are popular for use in bridal bouquets for their symbolism. The flowers symbolize devotion, respect, and fidelity.
These plants can tolerate full sun in cooler climates but prefer some shade for best results. In warmer climates, plant these where they will be respite from the afternoon sun. Deadheading can help to control the spread of your Forget-me-nots, should you prefer to relegate them to a small space.
Love-in-a-Mist
Known for its fernlike bracts, love-in-a-mist blooms in various colors and reseeds itself annually.
| | botanical name Nigella damascena |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 15”-24” |
| | hardiness zones 2-11 |
Named for the fernlike bracts surrounding its flowers, love-in-a-mist is a distinctive and easy-to-grow plant that blooms later in the spring and reseeds itself, returning reliably year after year. The flowers are typically blue but can also be pink, purple, or white. They have long stems and last for about a week in a vase.
Love-in-a-mist can be grown in a container if it is large enough to contain the plant’s extensive roots. Once your plants begin to reseed, you should see plants continue to pop up through the fall, continuing to flower throughout this period. They bloom best in locations with full sun exposure.
Ranunculus
Mild-weather favorites, these densely petaled flowers thrive in cutting gardens.
| | botanical name Ranunculus spp. |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 8”-18” |
| | hardiness zones 8-10 |
These mild weather-loving plants are known for their delicate and densely petaled flowers that do very well in the cutting garden. The flowers resemble roses, but the petals are thin, delicate, and papery rather than thick and velvety. Flowers bloom in red, pink, white, yellow, orange, and burgundy shades.
In cooler climates, make sure to dig up your corms for storage over the winter. Give them loose, well-drained soil and plenty of sunlight for best results. Cut these while they are buds for a vase life of up to two weeks. Once the flowers open, they are quite fragile and shouldn’t be disturbed.
Soapwort
Soapwort makes an excellent filler in bouquets and gardens of varying sizes.
| | botanical name Saponaria spp. |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height up to 28” |
| | hardiness zones 2-9 |
Soapwort makes a lovely cut flower filler with many small, rosy pink flowers. It also creates a wonderful appearance in the garden when planted en masse. Different varieties grow to different heights, some making a lovely ground cover and others quite tall. Its sturdy stems make it great for cutting.
While it will survive in the heat of zone 9, it truly prefers cooler weather. In hot climates, give it ample shade in the afternoon. With emerald green foliage and sweetly scented blooms, this delightful plant has many uses in the cutting garden and containers.
Calla Lily
Calla lilies feature a variety of colors and durable funnel-shaped flowers.
| | botanical name Zantedeschia spp. |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 1’-3’ |
| | hardiness zones 8-10 |
Calla lilies are a staple in the warm climate cutting garden. Their thick, straight stems and classic flowers make them highly desirable to florists, and they are among the most popular flowers for bridal bouquets. Callas have funnel-shaped flowers that come in shades of white, yellow, pink, purple, and orange.
These are easy-to-grow plants that require little maintenance and spread by rhizomes. They are not aggressive spreaders but will multiply over time, creating a nice supply of these long-lasting flowers. You can expect your calla lilies to last seven to ten days in a vase.
Peony
These flowers yield massive, rose-like blooms in various colors, lasting around five days when cut.
| | botanical name Paeonia spp. |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height up to 5’ |
| | hardiness zones 3-9 |
Peonies have few rivals in the cut flower garden. While they are more of a commitment than some of the smaller plants in the cutting garden, they are reliable and produce spectacular blooms year after year. Peonies resemble large garden roses, with flowers that commonly measure up to six inches in diameter.
Peonies can play many roles in the garden with both treelike and herbaceous varieties. The herbaceous types will die back in the winter and return in spring, while the tree types are deciduous and cold-hardy. Flowers commonly come in shades of pink, white, red, and purple and have a vase life of about five days.
Common Daisy
Common daisies, with their enduring white blooms, are a hardy addition to cut flower gardens.
| | botanical name Bellis perennis |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 6”-12” |
| | hardiness zones 4-9 |
These members of the Asteraceae family are highly recognizable, perhaps as much as roses and orchids. The common daisy plant’s sweet, little white flowers make a beautiful and hardy addition to the cut flower garden. While many types of daisy plants bloom in a rainbow of colors, the common daisy is always white.
It is best to keep these plants contained, as daisies grow from creeping rhizomes that tend to colonize easily. They can quickly overtake other plants, creating a large mass of daisies and little else. If you keep a close watch on them, they have a pleasingly long vase life of up to two weeks. Deadheading will minimize reseeding, so cut as many of these flowers as possible unless you want many more plants.
Allium
These boast tall stems and pink, purple, and white globe-shaped flowers.
| | botanical name Allium sp. |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height up to 6’ |
| | hardiness zones 3-9 |
Alliums are a large plant genus that includes common onions and garlic, but they also grow truly spectacular flowers. Ornamental alliums can be quite tall, up to six feet, and produce impressive, globe-shaped flower heads in shades of pink, purple, and white.
These are easy to grow and care for and add a lot of personality to the garden. The flowers have a faint oniony smell that wards off munching deer and rabbits. The best thing about these flowers is their exceptional vase life, lasting up to three weeks with proper care!
Lenten Rose
Lenten roses, named for blooming during Lent, are early, frost-tolerant bloomers.
| | botanical name Hellebore spp. |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Partial shade |
| | height 9”-18” |
| | hardiness zones 4-9 |
The name Lenten rose comes from this plant’s habit of blooming during Lent, which typically lasts from some time in February or March until April or May, depending on the year. They are early bloomers and quite frost tolerant, so they make a nice addition to the winter garden and are evergreen in Zones 6-9.
Lenten roses prefer to be left undisturbed and will self-seed, but not aggressively. If you need to divide your plants, do so after they bloom. The flowers are sturdy and attractive, lasting up to two weeks once cut. Their palette includes yellow, green, red, blue, and white.
Forsythia
Forsythia showcases a vibrant burst of yellow flowers in early spring.
| | botanical name Forsythia spp. |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 8’-10’ |
| | hardiness zones 4-9 |
Forsythia makes an amazing backdrop for the cut flower garden and looks nice through three seasons. However, it is most spectacular in the early spring when it bursts onto the scene with a profusion of bright yellow flowers. The branches of this shrub bloom from end to end and make wonderful additions to floral arrangements.
This plant prefers shade in the afternoon, although it will do well in full sun when planted in cooler climates. It is deer-resistant, and a row of forsythia shrubs make an impressive border or hedge.
Pigsqueak
Pigsqueak produces charming pink flowers in April, making it a beautiful, low-maintenance perennial.
| | botanical name Bergenia cordifolia |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Partial shade |
| | height 1’-2’ |
| | hardiness zones 3-8 |
With a funny name like pigsqueak, I couldn’t leave this sweet little plant off the list. In milder climates, this plant is evergreen, and in cooler areas, it is a perennial that is easy to grow and requires little extra care. It is known for its attractive leaves that make a squeaking noise when rubbed together, hence the plant’s common name.
In April, pigsqueak produces flower spikes topped with clusters of delightful orchid-pink flowers. The flowers grow atop long stems and make very nice filler in the cut flower garden. These plants are perfect for the shaded area of your garden, as they can survive in nearly complete shade.
Camellia
These flowers thrive as a stunning background in southern gardens.
| | botanical name Camellia spp. |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Partial shade |
| | height up to 25’ |
| | hardiness zones 6-10 |
Camellias are a staple in the southern landscape. With their glossy evergreen foliage and brightly colored flowers, these shrubs make a wonderful backdrop for the cut flower garden. Not all camellias bloom in spring, but C. japonica varieties typically begin flowering in late winter and last through April.
Camellia flowers are great for cutting. They are sturdy and attractive, with a long vase life and strong stems. Plant your camellia in partial shade. They love being beneath a canopy of larger trees. Acidic soil will keep your plants happiest.
Bearded Iris
Bearded irises offer stunning, short-lived blooms perfect for cutting gardens.
| | botanical name Iris x germanica |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 9”-4’ |
| | hardiness zones 3-10 |
Bearded irises are a wonderful sharing plant. They grow from thick, underground rhizomes that easily divide and multiply consistently. They are easy to care for, preferring plenty of sunlight and loose, well-drained soil.
The tall, graceful stems make these flowers great for the cut flower garden. Large, intricate flowers in various colors and combinations also make these very desirable. They are fleeting once cut, lasting a maximum of one week, but they are truly wonderful while they last.
Bachelor’s Button
Bachelor’s buttons thrive best in sunny spots. Cut frequently for repeated flowering.
| | botanical name Centaurea cyanus |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 1’-3’ |
| | hardiness zones 3-8 |
These easy-care plants have a color named for them, sometimes called cornflowers. The color cornflower blue is named for the pretty periwinkle shade that is most common in these flowers. Although they also come in pink and white, blue is the most popular color.
Plant the bachelor’s button in a sunny spot, and cut often. The more you cut, the more flowers these plants will produce. You can expect to keep these delicate flowers in a vase for about one week. Cut them when most flowers are still in the bud for longer-lasting flower sprays.
Russian Sage
This low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plant is a great filler flower for cutting gardens.
| | botanical name Salvia yangii |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 3’-5’ |
| | hardiness zones 5-9 |
Russian sage is not necessarily the first plant that comes to mind for a cut flower garden, but it works well for this purpose. Drought tolerant and low maintenance, this is one of those plants you can leave alone most of the time, harvesting the tall, purple flower spikes to use as a wonderful filler flower.
Often compared with lavender in terms of appearance and fragrance, its scent isn’t quite as sweet, but the likeness is quite similar. Plant your Russian sage in a sunny spot with good drainage. The flowers last up to 10 days in a vase.
Pansy
This is a great filler flower for cutting gardens due to its tall spikes.
| | botanical name Viola tricolor var. hortensis |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 6”-12” |
| | hardiness zones 6-10 |
One of my favorite flowers to keep in the garden, pansies are a hybrid of violas and are both edible and ornamental. Some varieties have a trailing habit, but others grow quite tall and make very nice, although delicate, cut flowers.
Pansies have a sweet and sometimes spicy aroma and come in every color of the rainbow except for green. One of my favorite varieties has velvety black petals with a clove scent. Pansies are frost-tolerant and beautiful and will thrive in cold winter temperatures.
Virginia Bluebell
Virginia bluebells bloom with fragrant blue and pink flowers in spring.
| | botanical name Mertensia virginica |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Partial shade |
| | height 1’-2’ |
| | hardiness zones 3-9 |
These bells ring in the spring with their lovely blue and pink flowers. They are highly attractive to early-season pollinators and have a light, sweet scent. They grow best in partial to mostly shade as a woodland understory plant.
Virginia bluebells have a brief blooming period and are not the cut-and-come-again types. However, they do last for up to a week as cut flowers. The clusters of tubular blooms make a nice focal point in the cut flower arrangement.
Pussywillow
Pussywillow branches enhance floral arrangements with their fuzzy, long-lasting catkins.
| | botanical name Salix spp. |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 6’-25’ |
| | hardiness zones 4-8 |
The name pussywillow is given to several of the smaller willow species. In reality, it can refer to plants that grow as tall as 25 feet at maturity. They technically won’t fit into the cut flower garden, but planting one off to the side will serve a dual purpose. This shrub or small tree will create a partial shade environment and have great use in floral arrangements.
Pussywillow branches are famous for their fuzzy catkins, which house their flowers. The branches are dotted with these small, velvety, grey catkins, making them a wonderful vertical element in a vase. They also have a long vase life and will even form roots if placed in water.
Columbine
Columbine showcases vibrant, jester-like bicolor blooms lasting about a week when cut.
| | botanical name Aquilegia spp. |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 1’-3’ |
| | hardiness zones 3-9 |
Columbine plants like rich, slightly acidic soil and protection from the sun in warmer climates. They can tolerate full sun in cooler climates but are ephemeral, dying back in the heat of summer. The colorful blooms are often likened to jester’s caps in terms of appearance.
Most flowers are bicolor, making them a standout in the garden. They have long, gracefully arching stems and a vase of life of five to seven days. Harvest these stems when about ⅓ of the flowers are open, and the rest of the buds will follow after cutting.
Lily of the Valley
This requires watering in drier climates for its short-lived, sweetly scented flowers.
| | botanical name Convallaria majalis |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Partial shade |
| | height 6”-12” |
| | hardiness zones 3-9 |
Rumored to have been Queen Elizabeth II of England’s favorite flower, most modern royal brides have carried lily-of-the-valley in their bridal bouquets. These plants prefer morning sun and afternoon shade, as they are intolerant of heat. They also require moist soil and will need watering in drier climates.
Soil type is unimportant as long as lily-of-the-valley has good drainage. Full shade is the best location for growing these plants in the South. The flowers are fleeting, lasting only three to six days in a vase, but they have a wonderful sweet floral and green scent that is popular among perfumers.
Before planting, ensure you have plenty of room for this vigorous spreader. It slowly spreads into large colonies with the help of rhizomatous roots and is on some invasive species lists.
Grape Hyacinth
Grape hyacinths have small blue flowers with a light, fruity scent.
| | botanical name Muscari armeniacum |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to full shade |
| | height 6” |
| | hardiness zones 3-9 |
Pair these sweet little flowers with pansies for a small, charming bouquet. Not a true hyacinth, these lily family members have clusters of small blue flowers that resemble clusters of grapes, giving the plant its common name. The pretty flowers have a light, fruity scent, and the plants can be grown outdoors or forced indoors.
Grape hyacinths spread and naturalize easily, but they are small and unobtrusive, so they do a nice job filling in between larger plants. Drifts of these flowers make a spectacular sight when in bloom. The foliage dies back in summer but will return with the cooler weather in fall.
Sweet Pea
These are ideal for small cutting gardens due to their climbing nature.
| | botanical name Lathyrus odoratus |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 5’-6’ |
| | hardiness zones 3-8 |
Despite their delicate appearance, sweet peas are quite cold-hardy. They can be planted in late winter, as soon as you can work the ground. Their climbing habit makes them great for the smaller cutting garden, as they can grow vertically, needing only a small footprint. They also produce a lot of flowers over a long period.
Sweet peas have delightfully ruffled flowers in shades of red, pink, orange, blue, purple, and white. They can be pastel shades or richly pigmented. The best quality of sweet pea flowers is their wonderful fragrance, which carries hints of honey and citrus blossoms. These easy-care plants are also nitrogen fixers, so they add some nitrogen back into the soil, enriching it for next year’s garden.
Final Thoughts
It’s not too early to start thinking about and planning for your spring cut-flower garden. Planning and starting your seeds and bulbs before the winter will lead to earlier germination and less competition with weeds early in the season. I hope that this spring brings you baskets full of stunning, sweet-smelling spring flowers.
