Flowers evoke a multitude of memories for most of us. We give and receive floral arrangements for many of the celebratory occasions in life, and there is a special magic to harvesting flowers from your garden and arranging them yourself. There is a little extra love and personal affection in flowers given from one’s own garden that can’t be bought in any store.
When I first started growing flowers for cutting purposes, it pained me a little bit to cut those lovely stems. Maybe it stirred some childhood rule against picking flowers in my mother’s garden. Whatever the cause, being able to gift flowers from my garden to my loved ones quickly dispelled that feeling and my cutting garden has been a source of immense satisfaction ever since.
An excellent cut flower garden includes plants that bloom at different times of year so that there is always something worthy of bringing indoors to enjoy and outdoors to brighten up the landscape. Here are some of my favorite summertime bloomers that work great in a cutting garden.
Our Favorite Summer-Blooming Flowers for Cutting Gardens
Giant Zinnias
California Giants Zinnia Seeds
Apricotta Cosmos
Black-Eyed Susan
Achillea millefolium Colorado
Colorado Blend Yarrow Seeds
Swiss Giants Strawflower
Swiss Giants Strawflower Seeds
Sweet William Double Mix
Sweet William Double Seeds
Dahlia
Dahlias аre top choice for the cutting garden, showcasing diverse and stunning blooms.
 | botanical name Dahlia |
|---|---|
 | sun requirements Full sun |
 | height up to 6’ |
 | hardiness zones 8-11 |
I simply have to start the list with dahlias because this is the most wonderful flower that I added to my cutting garden last year. Dahlias are a wonderful genus of flowering plants that produce truly spectacular and varied blooms. From tiny poms to giant dinner plates, dahlias consistently deliver in the cutting garden.
The only downfall to these amazing flowers is their vase life. Dahlias can’t be cut while in the bud, as they will not consistently open after being cut. While some of them will, it is a very risky thing to take a chance on. As a result, the vase life of dahlias is relatively short. They will typically not last more than a week once they are cut.
Zinnia
Zinnias, a summer garden favorite, features vibrant colors and easy care with a robust vase life of about two weeks.
| | botanical name Zinnia |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height up to 4’ |
| | hardiness zones 2-11 |
Zinnias are another summer garden staple in my yard. Not only do they come in a wide array of colors and flower forms, but they are incredibly easy to grow and require very little maintenance on the gardener’s part. You can loosen some soil and broadcast sow these seeds, and within two months, you can look at those colorful blooms.
Another great thing about zinnias is their vase life. These little pops of color will outlast most other flowers in your bouquet by several days. If you get them straight into the water, you can expect these flowers to look good for about two weeks.
Gladiolus
Gladiolus, a captivating bulbous plant, offers a striking focal point in gardens and arrangements.
| | botanical name Gladiolus |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 3’-6’ |
| | hardiness zones 5-10 |
I’m always excited when I see some gladiolus popping up around the yard. These wonderful bulbous plants create a splash both in the garden or in a floral arrangement. You can’t go wrong with gladiolus if you are looking for a true focal point flower. These towering beauties come in a wide array of colors and varieties up to six feet tall.
One of the nice things about gladiolus is that they can be cut while in bud, and they will continue to bloom in succession from the bottom up for up to two weeks. Once the older flowers fade, you can pluck them off and shorten the stems to get some extra mileage out of these stunners.
Calla Lily
Callas, favored for their longevity and unique form, last 7-10 days when carefully cut.
| | botanical name Zantedeschia aethiopica |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 2’-3’ |
| | hardiness zones 3-10 |
Callas are an intensely popular flower among florists for their longevity and unique form. You can depend on your Callas to last for seven to 10 days after they are cut as long as you don’t bruise them.
The elegant shape of their flowers makes Calla lilies a perfect addition to the cut flower garden. They add a smooth elegance to the cut flower arrangement and have an unmatched formality for those extra special occasion bouquets.
Blazing Star
Liatris flowers bring cheerful verticality, a fun texture, and lasting vibrancy to arrangements.
| | botanical name Liatris |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 18”-30” |
| | hardiness zones 3-8 |
For a cheerful vertical addition to your floral arrangements, the bright liatris flowers add a fun texture to the garden and bouquet. These tall, thin stems are easy to grow. They draw tons of pollinators to the garden, increasing your yield of other types of flowers, as well.
Vivid and unique, Liatris flowers also have a great vase life. You can expect these funky flowers to look great for about two weeks. Cut them when about ¾ of the flowers are open, and they will continue to bloom after cutting.
Freesia
Freesias, with their sweet, fruity fragrance, offer vibrant colors and a three-week vase life.
| | botanical name Freesia |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 1’ |
| | hardiness zones 3-10 |
Grown as annuals in zones 3-8, Freesia are perennial in tropical climates and produce the sweetest flowers you’ve ever seen. Second only to their graceful arching stems and wide array of colors is the scent that these blooms bring to the garden and vase. I would have to describe the fragrance as most similar to that of Froot Loops cereal.
You can cut these flowers when they are completely in bud and they will last up to an astonishing three weeks in a vase. Plant yellow and white varieties of Freesia for the most fragrance and longest vase life.
Cosmos
Cosmos, with its cut-and-come-again nature, offers a variety of daisy-like flowers for bouquets.
| | botanical name Cosmos |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 1’-6’ |
| | hardiness zones 8-11 |
Cosmos are wonderful if you’re looking for a cut-and-come-again addition to the cutting garden. And really, who isn’t? The more you cut your cosmos, the more flowers they will produce. Their daisylike flowers come in a rainbow of colors and bloom atop thin, delicate stems with fernlike leaves.
Sadly, individual cosmos blooms are short-lived in a vase, lasting only four to six days. However, if you cut long stems with side buds, they will continue to bloom after cutting. These flowers add a romantic wildflower appearance to a floral arrangement.
Black-Eyed Susan
Black-eyed Susans are hardy perennials, providing a consistent, long-lasting supply of sunny yellow flowers.
| | botanical name Rudbeckia |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height up to 5’ |
| | hardiness zones 3-9 |
Black-eyed Susans are a wonderful, perennial addition to the cutting garden that will supply you with hundreds of sunny yellow flowers for a long period of the summer. These are some of the longest and most consistently blooming plants in my cutting garden, and I just love them for it.
These plants are very hardy, and as long as they get a decent amount of sun, they can grow under a wide range of conditions. Not to mention, pollinators love them for the abundance of pollen and nectar they reliably produce. In this way, they increase the blooms on the plants around them.
Yarrow
This reliable perennial offers a cottage garden look with various colors.
| | botanical name Achillea millefolium |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height up to 3’ |
| | hardiness zones 3-9 |
Another reliable perennial for the cutting garden, Yarrow comes in many colors and has a wonderful cottage garden look. You will have more and more of this plant each year, as it is a good reproducer. Keep tabs on it and pull up rhizomes if they encroach on other plants.
Yarrow has a vase life of about one week, although I’ve seen it last close to two if cut at its peak. It also makes a beautiful dried flower, so it does double duty in the cutting garden. The ‘Red Velvet’ variety is my personal favorite and adds a special vintage vibe to cut flower arrangements.
Strawflower
Strawflowers are perfect for dried and fresh arrangements, offering vibrant, long-lasting blooms.
| | botanical name Xerochrysum bracteatum |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 2’-3’ |
| | hardiness zones 8-11 |
Speaking of dried flowers, strawflower is one of the best plants you can grow in the garden if you love a beautiful dried flower arrangement. These flowers are actually comprised of brightly colored, papery bracts that surround a disk flower in the center. The bracts open and close with the daylight and are quite long-lasting on the plant.
In addition to being wonderful dried flowers, strawflowers also have a good vase life, lasting about ten days after cutting. They come in a rainbow of colors and grow great from seeds, making them economical to grow. They don’t mind occasional fertilizing but do not require it for blooming.
Dianthus
Dianthus, including carnations and pinks, offers easy growth, sweet scents, and reliable blooms.
| | botanical name Dianthus |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 4”-36” |
| | hardiness zones 4-9 |
Dianthus is a wonderful group of plants that includes carnations, pinks, and Sweet William. These sweet and spicy scented flowers have a good vase life and are very easy to grow. They are good producers and reliable perennials in zones 4-9.
These are hardy plants that have a long blooming season. Deadheading will keep your Dianthus blooming prolifically. The genus is a large one, encompassing more than 300 species. They range from low-growing ground covers to tall carnations with long, sturdy stems. These taller species are the best for your summer cutting garden.
Sunflower
The diverse selection of sunflowers grow quickly, and saving seeds ensures a continuous supply.
| | botanical name Helianthus annus |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height up to 25’ |
| | hardiness zones 2-11 |
Sunflowers work very well in the cut flower garden. They come in a wide range of coloring, and they grow quickly, with some of the larger varieties gaining as much as 25’ in a single season. A single season is all these plants will get, but it’s a cinch to save the seeds and re-plant in the spring, so once you’ve planted some, you will always have a seed supply to choose from.
Make sure to give your sunflowers a spot in the garden with plenty of sunlight. They need sun for most of the day to perform their best. Cut your sunflowers when they first start to open, and they will last up to two weeks in a vase.
Rose
Roses, though challenging to grow, offer a classic, fragrant addition with various colors and forms.
| | botanical name Rosa |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 6’-8’ |
| | hardiness zones 5-11 |
There is no more classic cut flower than the rose. This iconic flower is not known for its ease of cultivation, but for the gardener who doesn’t back down from a challenge, this is the ultimate perennial flowering plant for your cutting garden.
Roses come in an amazing array of colors and flower forms, each smelling sweeter than the last. Choose a variety with long, sturdy stems for your cutting garden. If you are nervous about taking on these stunning plants, don’t fret; we have you covered. Check out our growing guide for some great rose-growing guidance.
Cockscomb
Cockscomb, with vibrant colors and unique forms, adds texture to your cutting garden.
| | botanical name Celosia |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 9”-32” |
| | hardiness zones 9-12 |
If you’re looking for interesting texture and bold colors in your cutting garden, cockscomb or celosia is a great choice. These members of the Amaranth family come in shades of crimson, purple, orange, pink, and yellow and a wide variety of flower forms. One of the most recognizable attributes earns this group of plants the common name cockscomb because it resembles a cluster of rooster combs.
Give this plant plenty of sun, fertilizer, and air circulation. They don’t like to stay wet or sit in the shade of larger plants, so give them a space where they don’t end up growing in a larger plant’s shadow.
Hydrangea
Popular in the South, hydrangeas offer large, colorful blooms with a short vase life.
| | botanical name Hydrangea |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Partial shade |
| | height up to 6’ |
| | hardiness zones 3-9 |
Hydrangeas are immensely popular where I live, in the south. These flowering shrubs produce wonderfully large, fluffy confections of blooms for an extended period through the summer and into fall. In shades of pink, purple, blue, green, and white, you can even change the color of your hydrangeas by altering the pH of your soil.
Sadly, while hydrangeas are very long-lasting on the plant, they have a relatively short vase life of one week or less. Make sure to put your cut hydrangeas directly into water, and don’t let them dry out. Misting your flowers with water will extend their life, as well.
China Aster
China aster thrives in cooler climates, forming large, colorful blooms in well-drained soil with sun or partial shade.
| | botanical name Callistephus chinensis |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 1’-3’ |
| | hardiness zones 2-11 |
If you live in a cooler climate, China aster is a wonderful addition to the cut flower garden. These colorful blooming plants prefer mild summers and rich, well-drained, moist soil. They are happy in full sun or partial shade, and if you succession plant them, you will have a long-lasting bounty of blooms to cut.
Their daisy-like flower heads are quite large, at 3”-5” in diameter, and come in a wide array of warm and cool shades. The plants are small compared to the flower size, and they are resistant to drought and most pests and diseases. Pollinators love them, too!
Coneflower
Attract bees with coneflowers, loved by pollinators for their vibrant blooms.
| | botanical name Echinacea |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 2’-4’ |
| | hardiness zones 4-9 |
Lure an abundance of bees to your garden with some coneflowers. These plants, especially the purple variety, are a favorite among pollinators, and they also look great. The plants make a nice border, as they stay relatively short, and contribute to a meadow aesthetic if that is something you’re fond of.
Coneflowers in a vase last for about one to two weeks and add some interesting texture with their large, spiky centers. The cones feed birds and make a nice addition to dried flower arrangements.
Globe Thistle
Globe thistle, a spiky and colorful addition, thrives in full sun and coastal gardens.
| | botanical name Echinops bannaticus |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 48” |
| | hardiness zones 3-9 |
Another great textural element for the cutting garden, globe thistle has lots of personality and pluck. Small, spiky, round balls are surprisingly colorful in a lovely shade of bluish-purple. Their long, thin stems are stiff and supportive. These are also great for drying.
Globe thistle needs a lot of sun, as many hours as possible. They are perennial with very good cold tolerance, and although they are considered non-invasive, they spread well in dry, nutrient-deficient soil. These make a great addition to the coastal cutting garden, where they will thrive.
Phlox
Phlox, with a sweet scent and vibrant colors, offers a week-long vase life.
| | botanical name Phlox |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height up to 4’ |
| | hardiness zones 4-8 |
For a sweetly scented addition to the cutting garden, you can’t go wrong with Phlox. These wonderful flowering plants are long-lived perennials that reliably produce large clusters of fragrant flowers in shades of pink, white, lavender, red, and orange, with some varieties sporting bicolor flowers.
There is a lot of variation in size in different species of phlox, from low, ground cover creeping types to tall, upright plants with sturdy, straight stems. These taller types make the best cut- flowers. Expect your phlox to last for about a week after cutting, and enjoy the sweet, clove-like scent.
Shasta Daisy
Shasta daisy, an evergreen in milder climates, is a classic, low-maintenance, resilient plant.
| | botanical name Leucanthemum x superbum |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 1’-3’ |
| | hardiness zones 5-9 |
Evergreen in milder climates, Shasta daisy is a classic hybrid that embodies the ideal daisy form in white and yellow. This charming plant is easy to care for and very resilient. There are newer varieties of Shasta daisy in different colors, but I prefer the old-fashioned original for its nostalgic value.
Shasta daisies are sturdy plants that need very little care once they are established. They spread by rhizome and seed, so cutting the flowers will help to prevent them from taking over the rest of the garden unless that is your intention. Butterflies love these nectar-rich flowers.
Speedwell
Speedwells, with whimsical growth and cool-colored spikes, attract pollinators and last about a week in arrangements.
| | botanical name Veronica longifolia |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 24”-36” |
| | hardiness zones 3-11 |
Speedwells add a wonderful touch of whimsy both to the garden and the cut flower arrangement. The tall flower spikes have a slight twisting growth habit that creates a lot of movement and interest wherever you use them.
The cool-colored flowers are attractive to pollinators, and especially to bees. There are many species ranging from ground cover to tall upright growers. The taller varieties, of course, make the best cut flowers. They last for about one week after being cut.
Final Thoughts
If you have a knack for floral arranging, there is nothing more fulfilling than growing a cut flower garden. Harvesting stunning florals and assembling eye-catching bouquets from your cutting garden carries a special kind of satisfaction, and gifting homegrown flowers is a wonderful way to show affection to loved ones. These summer flowers will flush your cutting garden with blooms throughout the warmer months and into the fall.
