• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Celtic Roots Farm
  • Home
  • Flowers
  • About Me
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

Home » Best Perennials For A Cut Flower Garden

Best Perennials For A Cut Flower Garden

June 7, 2024 by chey mullin Leave a Comment

Sharing is caring!

54 shares
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Perennial flowers make a wonderful addition to any garden landscape. Some perennials can also be used as cut flowers, and look great in flower arrangements. So let’s have a look at some of the best perennials for a cut flower garden, so you can enjoy these blooms in your vase, year after year.

bleeding heart in bloom in the garden
perennial flowers can be used for cutting- bleeding heart

At the flower farm we use a variety flowers for bouquets and cut flower arrangements. While annual flowers bloom all summer long, perennials and biennials also have their place in the cutting garden.

It will take some time for your perennial plants to establish in your garden. Often the plants will not flower in the first season of planting, however some can flower later in the season of that first year.

Many perennial plants will take 2 to 3 years to produce good sized blooms for cutting. However once they have reached a mature size, you will have beautiful blooms to use for cutting from there on in.

Once your perennials get established and become mature plants, you can expect yearly production, at expected times, if you plant with the season in mind.

purple perennial salvia flowers in the garden
it will take a few years before your perennials become well established and bloom prolifically- salvia
In This Article hide
1 Why Choose Perennials?
2 Best Perennials For Cutting
3 Frequently Asked Questions
4 Conclusion
5 Other Posts You May Like:
6 Pin It For Later!

Why Choose Perennials?

Longevity

  • The great thing about perennials is that they can return to the garden repeatedly for many years, from just one planting, depending on the plant. Therefore you will not have to plant these flowers every year, but rather just have to wait for them to grow and bloom.
  • Perennials as a rule will live for several years, and beyond, often increasing in size and productivity as they mature. Some species, such as peonies, can live for generations.

Good Investment

  • Although the cost of perennials may be more than annuals initially, it is a one time cost, and a good long-term investment.

Low Maintenance

  • Ideally, the perennial flowers chosen should not only be beautiful but also relatively easy to maintain.
  • Perennial plants generally require much less maintenance, and time and effort than annual plants. Just a little cleanup of garden debris, and some mulching will often be all that they need in terms of yearly care.
  • As the plants expand in size each year, this usually reduces the amount of mulch and weeding required as well.

Seasonal Interest

  • Perennial flowers have their season, and will generally return to bloom at approximately the same time each year. You can fill the growing season with perennial availability by growing different types of plants that flower at different times.
  • Although perennial plants do not tend to have long blooming periods, compared to their annual counterparts, they offer unbelievable beauty and interest.
purple spiked flowers in the garden
perennials can return to the garden for a number of years- Veronica (speedwell)

Best Perennials For Cutting

Perennials are worth growing for cutting if they have specific qualities that make them appealing for flower arrangements. Some important qualities for a good cut flower include:

  • a long vase life of 7 to 10 days
  • tall and sturdy stems
  • prolific blooming, producing abundant flowers throughout their blooming period
  • appealing size, shape, color, and visual interest
  • and of course fragrance is a bonus
pink peonies in a vase
many perennials, like these peonies, make wonderful cut flowers

Here is a list of perennial flowers that make the most wonderful cut flowers, and that we use in our bouquets and arrangements:

Rudbeckia- Black Eyed Susan

Rudbeckia is a tender perennial, or short-lived perennial in our zone 5b growing zone. Luckily it readily self seeds, so there are always rudbeckia plants in the garden.

There are lots of different varieties of rudbeckia to choose from.

Some favorite varieties include Rudbeckia triloba, a small flowered plant that adds an airy touch to bouquets, and a striking green eyed Rudbeckia cultivar named Rudbeckia ‘Prairie Sun’.

a bouquet of rudbeckia triloba on a wooden railing
rudbeckia triloba adds an airy element to arrangements

Echinacea- Purple Coneflower

Echinacea is a quintessential cottage garden flower, so adding this flower to your arrangements gives an informal feel. The large central cone adds interest and texture to any bouquet.

Most commonly found in shades of purple and pink, these plants can also be found in a variety of other colors as well.

purple coneflowers in bloom in the garden
purple coneflower makes a great cut flower for a cottage garden look

Achillea Millefolium- Yarrow

Yarrow is another short-lived, tender perennial in our growing zone. These plants also readily self seed, so they have established themselves in our garden by propagating in this manner.

This perennial has such a romantic and lacy appearance when in full bloom. Make sure to harvest the disc shaped flowers when the flower head is fully open, to prevent wilting.

yarrow blooming in the garden
yarrow adds lacy and romantic disc shaped flowers to your bouquets
a pink yarrow flower with a bee in the garden
make sure all the tiny yarrow flowers are fully open in the flower head before harvesting for best results

Echinops- Globe Thistle

Globe thistle has spiky round blooms that add dimension and texture to arrangements.

These perennials are hardy, and easy to grow from seed. The flowers produce an interesting and somewhat otherworldly looking bloom, which is strangely beautiful, if you catch them at the right time.

My first globe thistles were started from seed heads gathered up at the end of a wedding event, which had been part of the special floral display. They continue on, now making a special display in my own garden.

globe thistle in the garden
globe thistle in the garden
globe thistle in bloom
globe thistle in bloom

Delphinium

With towering spikes of blue, purple, pink, or white flowers on tall stems, delphiniums offer height and drama to floral designs. They are particularly stunning in formal arrangements.

These beautiful plants are short-lived perennials, and will generally require staking to help support the tall flowers when they are in full bloom.

blue delphinium flowers in the garden
delphiniums add a beautiful spiked bloom to flower arrangements

Lupine

Known for their impressive spikes of densely packed flowers, lupines range in color from blues and purples, to pinks and whites. The flowers add height and a dramatic element to bouquets.

purple lupine flowers in the garden
lupines make a wonderful cut flower

Liatris- Blazing Star

Liatris has tall, narrow spiked blooms, covered with bright purple flowers that open from the top down, unlike most spiked flowers. The flowers add vertical interest to any arrangement and are favored for their long vase life.

bright purple and feathery liatris flowers in the garden
liatris blooms are soft and feathery

Monarda- Bee Balm

Bee Balm flowers are highly fragrant, and known for their vibrant, unusual tufted shape. The flowers come in shades of red, pink, and purple, and although many cultivars are perennial, there are some annual varieties as well, which also make great cut flowers.

These blooms bring a wildflower look to arrangements.

Bee balm, also known as bergamot, is a perennial herb, and also attracts pollinators to the garden, making them a valuable garden plant.

wild bergamot in the garden, are great perennials for the cut flower garden
wild bergamot in the garden
red bee balm blooms in the garden, are great perennials for the cut flower garden
red bee balm in bloom

Astilbe

Known for their feathery, plume-like flowers, astilbes add texture and a sense of delicacy to arrangements. They come in a variety of colors, including white, pink, and red.

Some cultivars also have a wonderful sweet floral scent.

pink astilbe flowers in bloom, are great perennials for the cut flower garden
astilbe makes a wonderful cut flower
astilbe in the garden, are great perennials for the cut flower garden
astilbe in the garden

Goat’s Beard- Aruncus

Goat’s Beard produces large, feathery plumes of creamy white flowers. These blooms are excellent for adding light, airy textures to floral arrangements, and look similar to astilbe.

goat's beard in bloom in the garden, with cream colored airy flowers
goat’s beard adds an airy texture to bouquets

Eryngium- Sea Holly

Sea Holly features distinctive, spiky, blue or silvery flowers and bracts, which provide unique texture and a touch of striking color. These interesting flowers are particularly good for modern or architectural floral designs.

freshly harvested sea holly in a black bucket, are great perennials for the cut flower garden
freshly harvested sea holly
a bouquet of mixed sea holly on a wooden crate, are great perennials for the cut flower garden
a bouquet of mixed sea holly

Peony

Known for their lush, romantic blooms, peonies are a favorite in early summer arrangements. They have a relatively long vase life if cut in the marshmallow stage, and make an excellent cut flower.

Peonies have a long life in the garden as well, and can live for many generations with the right maintenance and care.

freshly harvested peony stems in a wicker basket
freshly harvested peony stems
peony flowers opening up, are great perennials for the cut flower garden
peony flowers opening up

Silene Blushing Lanterns

Known for it’s delicate, lantern-shaped flowers that come in a range of pink shades, Silene ‘Blushing Lanterns’ offers a soft, whimsical touch to bouquets.

These tiny flowers provide a gentle contrast to the more structured flowers like lupines and liatris, adding depth and a playful element to floral designs. The light stems and airy blooms are especially suited for creating a natural, garden-inspired look.

silene blushing lanterns in bloom in the garden
silene blushing lanterns are perennial wildflowers
silene blushing lanterns in bloom in the garden are great perennials for the cut flower garden
silene blushing lanterns in bloom in the garden

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Do Perennial Plants Last?

The length of time a perennial survives in your garden is dependent on a number of factors. Perennial plants vary widely in their lifespan, depending on the species, climate, and growing conditions.

Short-lived perennials, such as lupines, delphiniums, and rudbeckias typically last for about 2 to 5 years. They will require replanting or will self-seed in the garden after a few seasons.

Medium-lived perennials, such as daylilies and echinacea, can live for 5 to 15 years and beyond.

Long-lived perennials, such as peonies and hostas are renowned for their longevity and can continue to bloom annually for decades, or longer.

Can Perennials Survive In Shady Areas?

Some perennials grow spectacularly in the shade. This makes them ideal for gardens that don’t receive full sunlight throughout the day.

Shade perennials include hostas, astilbe, bleeding heart, Solomon’s seal, and so many more.

a hosta blooming in the garden
many perennials grow well in the shade, such as this hosta

When Is The Best Time To Cut Perennial Flowers From My Garden?

Each flowering perennial will have it’s own specific period for blooming, as well as a best stage in which to cut the flowers. So know your plants, and be aware of bloom time and stage of cutting, for best success.

How Do I Encourage Perennials To Rebloom?

Some perennial plants will rebloom again later in the season, if they are deadheaded after flowering, conserving the plant’s energy for rebloom. In most plants the second flush of flowers will be much less than the first, however it is lovely to get those extra blooms from your perennials.

a bouquet of rudbeckia on a wooden railing
rudbeckias can rebloom later in the season after deadheading

Conclusion

Adding perennials to your cut flower garden is a wise choice. By choosing the right perennials, you not only get to enjoy their blooms year after year, but also contribute to a more sustainable environment.

You don’t have to be a flower farmer to enjoy the benefits of perennials in the cut flower garden. As you plan your garden and flower beds, consider the many options available in terms of colors, fragrances, and bloom times.

Start small, and gradually expand the perennial plants in your garden, as you become more familiar with the needs of the different perennial species you’ve chosen.

By adding perennial cut flowers, you will have a supply of special blooms every year to add to your cut flower displays. Enjoy the beauty of your perennial blooms not only in your garden, but also in your vase.

adding perennials to your cut flower garden will give you cut flowers for many seasons- Lady’s mantle

Have you ever used perennials as cut flowers? Be sure to leave a comment below to share your experience!

Other Posts You May Like:

a pale yellow and pink yarrow flower in the garden

HOW TO GROW YARROW FROM SEED: A BEGINNER’S GUIDE

purple lupine flowers in the garden

9 TIPS FOR GROWING LUPINES FOR A SPECTACULAR GARDEN DISPLAY

rudbeckia in the garden

5 RUDBECKIA VARIETIES GROWN IN OUR GARDEN, AND WHY YOU WILL LOVE THEM!

Pin It For Later!

pinterest pin for blog post on the best perennials for a cut flower garden

Filed Under: Flowers

About chey mullin

Cheyanne Mullin is a nurse and experienced gardener, who retired to pursue her passion as a flower farmer, alongside her partner Doug, a multi-generational farmer, at Celtic Roots Farm. Together they dedicate their summers to growing beautiful flowers, ornamental plants, and food at the flower farm. Cheyanne is a lifelong gardener with over 30 years of gardening experience, photographer and hybridizer, and the voice behind the blog at Celtic Roots Farm. The gardens and flowers inspire her to look just a little closer, and to share the inspirational beauty of everything she grows with others.

Previous Post: « Planting Cosmos Seeds For The Cut Flower Garden
Next Post: How To Grow Lupines For A Beautiful Garden Display »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Let’s Connect

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

So glad you’re here!

Celtic Roots Farm is a place where we dedicate our summers to growing beautiful flowers, plants, and food. Immersed in a rural Nova Scotian community, the farm brings great joy to many a flower and food lover. Here we will be sharing our journey of life at our farm, and hopefully will inspire many others to get growing and enjoy nature's beautiful bounty. Read More…

Privacy Policy

Terms And Conditions

Web Stories

Recent Posts

  • Starting Daylily Seeds: A Simple Guide For Beginners
  • How To Plant Dahlia Tubers For Beautiful Summer Blooms
  • How To Dig Dahlia Tubers: Lift, Divide, and Store
  • How To Grow Daylilies (Hemerocallis): A Beginner’s Guide
  • How To Grow Lupines For A Beautiful Garden Display

Recent Comments

  • chey mullin on How To Plant Dahlia Tubers For Beautiful Summer Blooms
  • Nancy Wirth on How To Plant Dahlia Tubers For Beautiful Summer Blooms
  • Nelly-May on How To Harvest Zinnia Seeds: A Guide For Gardeners
  • Nelly-May on How To Harvest Zinnia Seeds: A Guide For Gardeners
  • chey mullin on How To Harvest Zinnia Seeds: A Guide For Gardeners

Copyright © 2025 Celtic Roots Farm on the Foodie Pro Theme

54 shares