Cut Flowers: Perfect Picks
First things first, some cut flowers are better suited to filling this role. This can be for several reasons, but mostly have to do with the flowers season length and how the plants reacts to being cut. Enter the “cut-and-come-again” annuals. They are known to bloom continuously and more importantly, the more you harvest, the more they grow. They constitute the perfect foray into the cut flower garden.*
Zinnias
Often available in bright and bold colours, zinnias have strong and sturdy stems and florals that can either be small little pom-poms or quite large almost resembling dahlias**. Depending on your tastes, you can easily find them in subtle, muted or even pastel colours. They grow quickly and efficiently and are pollinator magnets.
Snapdragons
Is it potentially a childhood memory for us all squeezing the snaps gently to make their mouths open and close? Quite possibly. Snapdragons provide excellent vertical height and interesting visual character with their spikes of flowers. Like zinnias they are available in just about every colour under the sun. They do well in both the Spring and Fall making them some of the first and last bloomers.
Cosmos
Dainty and whimsical, these blooms bring to mind wild meadows. They add a little something extra to floral arrangements. As far as cut flowers go, cosmos are considered endlessly productive. Often selected in hot pink varieties, our personal favourites are a clean and classic white. Their leaves additionally are feathery, almost fern-like adding a particular visual interest.
Amaranth
A bit of a deviation from your traditional cut flower–the amaranth is incredibly architectural and rather dramatic. They cascade and spill over vases when placed in arrangements. They’ll hold their colour and shape much longer than many other florals and are actually a suitable and sought-after flower for drying. The first cut for these is made when they main stem is about knee-high. They can also thrive in poor soil conditions.
Strawflower
Another excellent candidate for drying, the strawflower is often called the “paper-daisy”. Their bright and vibrant blooms offer long-lasting colour and they are famously easy to maintain. They are on the smaller side but make for great fillers in arrangements. When placed in vases indoors, you can expect to enjoy them (with proper water changes) for anywhere from 5-10 days.
Julie Notes:
*In a later installment of the Wild Blog, we’ll cover a more advanced cut flower cultivar selection. One that aligns with the mico-seasons (early Spring, late Spring, Summer, early Fall) for a larger diversity in cut flowers, but generally with smaller yields for our typical gardener.
**You may notice that dahlias, which are often considered cut-and-come-again cut flowers aren’t included in this list. In many zones the tubers need to be dug up each Fall placing them in a intermediate care category and another topic we look forward to covering.
Best Harvesting Practices
We’ve previously gone in depth about cutting and conditioning your cut flowers for a life in arrangement or bouquet. But in short, harvest just before your flowers are in prime, in the early morning, with sharp and clean shears. Then condition by removing lower foliage and making a final cut at the bottom of the stem prior to adding to water. If transporting as a bouquet or gift, dampen a paper towel, wrap around your stems and then seal with aluminum foil for the journey. Keep your vehicle cool as well for best results.
We hope you enjoy bountiful blooms all season long. For more things home and garden, continue reading on the Wild Blog. P.s., if you don’t already, be sure to follow us on Pinterest and Instagram.