Flowers are like food for the soul; no outdoor space is as beautiful as a garden filled with flowers of all shapes and colors. Creating a cutting garden is, therefore, extremely rewarding. Not only will you be able to enjoy a lush, stunning retreat through the better part of the year, but you’ll also always have fresh flowers to decorate your house with. If you’re looking for some inspiration, here are 20 flowers that will fill your garden with life.
1. Daffodils
One of the first flowers that signify the coming of spring are daffodils, and no one would argue that their vibrant yellows are like a breath of fresh air after the winter. Daffodils are very low maintenance and hold well in a vase if cut properly. And the best part is that there are so many varieties to choose from—not only yellow but even white, cream, and peach.
2. Tulips
Tulips don’t lag too far behind daffodils when the first warm days of spring arrive. Another flower grown from bulbs, tulips come in an amazing color range. In addition, they also have a pretty decent vase life: you can enjoy them in your interior for up to a week!
3. Lily of the Valley
A bit daintier than the previous examples, the lily of the valley is a charming addition to a small garden. It prefers shade, so you can fill a spot that might not be as appealing to sun-loving species. It also spreads quite easily, so if you like your garden having a more natural look, just let it do its thing.
4. Peonies
As the spring flowers retreat, let your garden be overtaken by the lush shrubs of peonies that start emerging in spring and come to full flower in early summer. These huge blooms are amazingly fragrant and will look amazing both in your garden and in your home.
5. Snapdragons
Every cutting garden needs a bit of height for a layered look. A star of cottage gardens, snapdragons are perfect for this purpose. They also add some variety to cut bouquets—be sure to look for cutting varieties if you plan to enjoy them in a bouquet.
6. Sunflowers
The next summer flowers that are going to put a smile on your face are sunflowers. They are easy to keep and last long in a vase. Pick from a variety of sizes and add a lot of vibrancy and height to your garden effortlessly.
7. Dahlias
Another great bushy flower option to help you create a lush cottage garden look is certainly dahlia. Dahlias, with their big, circular heads, can help you fill in a large space and they come in virtually any color you could desire. Depending on your climate, they might need to be dug up or at least protected with mulch in the winter, as well as staked for support, but the extra effort is worth it for the amazing blooms.
8. Anemone
The next flowers to consider adorning your cutting garden with are anemones. Belonging to the buttercup family, you can probably guess how adorable these little flowers are. Their dark centers give them a unique look; plant white ones for an amazing contrast or go for “blue poppies” for a pop of intense color in your bouquets.
9. Allium
The next, quite unique-looking cutting flower you won’t be able to get enough of is allium. With its large, typically purple, spherical head, this flower can add an unexpected twist to your garden. In addition, alliums’ sturdy stems make them perfect for your floral arrangements. They last long in a vase, but you can even try drying the flower heads out. Use sweet-scented alliums for potpourri!
10. Lavender
Speaking of drying your cut flowers: you will hardly find a better, more fragrant bloom for such a purpose than lavender. While the flowers themselves may look unassuming, their scent is overpowering. Dried out, they will keep it for even years! In addition, the powdery-colored flowers look great in arrangements as well. A lavender shrub will keep producing flowers throughout the whole summer: trim the blooms and more will come!
11. Ranunculus
If you’re a fan of the layers and layers of delicate petals that make roses so charming, consider adding ranunculus to your cutting garden. While they do resemble roses, they certainly have their unique charm. They are often used in wedding bouquets for their beautiful pastel colors. Ranunculus also boasts a long vase life, and being a member of the buttercup family, it will look particularly good with your anemones.
12. Baby’s breath
Baby’s breath, from the carnation family, can be a great filler addition to floral arrangements. With its incredibly tiny and fragile blooms, it’s considered rather short-lived. However, it can be dried and used all year-round. Nevertheless, keep in mind that this flower is considered invasive in some regions, and do your research before introducing it to your garden.
13. Coral bells
If you like the thin stems and the tiny blooms of baby’s breath, another filler that will work great in your bouquets is coral bells. With its long stems, it also adds some much-needed height. In addition, the foliage of coral bells might be even more stunning than the flowers themselves. This plant comes in a wide range of colors, from burgundy through light bluish-green to deep purple, so it will adorn your garden far beyond its flowering season.
14. Coneflowers
Daisies have always been popular cut flowers. So, why not add some color to your cutting garden with the vibrant blooms of coneflowers? From dark orange and red to yellow and magenta, coneflowers have a lot to offer. As a member of the daisy family, cornflowers have those beloved elongated petals, in combination with a prominent center that gives them their signature look. You can’t go wrong with these hardy flowers that bloom through the summer and beyond.
15. Chrysanthemums
Your cutting garden doesn’t have to lose its color when the summer warmth passes. Chrysanthemums, for instance, are a fall favorite that will keep yielding blooms from September all the way to the first frost. Naturally, chrysanthemums also come in an extremely wide range of colors, but consider skipping the white ones as they are often considered cemetery flowers. Beautiful pink and purple ones will make a lovely bouquet, though.
16. Lilies
This list would simply not be complete without mentioning lilies. This genus that has over 80 species is amazing for cutting: flowers can hold out for up to two weeks in a vase. In addition, some varieties can be quite large, serving as an impressive focal point in any floral arrangement. You can see amazing varieties and beautiful color combinations if you look up fresh flower delivery in Perth. From white through orange all the way to patterned and multicolored ones, everyone can find their favorite.
17. Irises
Another impressive, large flower that can be grown almost anywhere as long as it gets ample sun is the iris flower. This beautiful flower got its name from the Greek goddess of the rainbow, and indeed, it comes in a number of unique colors. Purple and periwinkle varieties are especially popular, but you will find white, orange, and even multi-colored ones, too. Some varieties will grow as tall as 3 feet (almost a meter.) Plant them in the back of your garden arrangement and leverage their height for beautiful layers!
18. Hydrangeas
If you have a large space to fill, hydrangea plants will be a perfect choice. These lush bushes with their large, stunning blooms will add color to your garden throughout the summer. And their color? That is the most interesting thing about these flowers. The color they will sport depends on the particular properties of your soil! A low pH will give you blue flowers, while a high pH will result in pink blooms. You might end up having multiple colors within one plant if your soil is somewhere in between.
19. Masterwort
Yet another filler flower that is known to be easy to grow is masterwort. With its tiny pointed petals, it can give some interest to floral arrangements. It comes in lovely powdery shades but you can also find deeper colors. In addition, this is another great choice if you want to preserve some dried flowers for winter.
20. Cosmos flowers
Finally, if you love the daintiness of wildflowers, you will love the classic look of cosmos flowers dotting your garden. These beautiful, typically pink blooms are annual. Purchase seeds and plant them early in the spring, as soon as the danger of frost has passed. You can also start the seeds indoors if you so wish. Cosmos flowers look great in a vase, but you can also let them die naturally and self-seed for next year.
A well-planned cutting garden will keep changing its look from spring to fall but will look invariably stunning in each season. Pick flowers of different colors, sizes, heights, and bloom periods, and your garden space will keep on giving. Enjoy a different bouquet every week, and fall in love with the beauty of nature!
