2024 Cut Flower Plant Collection
Thank you again for purchasing a Cut Flower Plant Collection! We hope you enjoy all the flowers we’ve chosen and that some will be new to you and your garden. All of the flower varieties in your tray are traditionally grown as cut flowers and they’re the same ones we grow here on our farm to make market bouquets and event arrangements. We’ve included some tips on harvesting and how to grow the best stems for cutting. You can, of course, just enjoy your flowers on the plants in the garden!
Below is your list of plants as well as growing information. Each plant is numbered on the list and also on a plant tag in your tray.
Enjoy!!
1. Delphinium 'Cliveden Beauty'
Delphinium x belladonna
Tall, vigorous plants with gorgeous sky blue flowers. Attracts bees and butterflies. Hardy to zone 3.
Life cycle: hardy annual/ perennial
Height: 30-42”
Light preference: sun/ part shade
Soil preference: fertile
Plant spacing: 12-18”
Harvest: when ¼ to ⅓ of flowers on a stem are open
Bloom period: cut and come again
Special notes: may rebloom in the fall if cut down to the ground after blooming
2. Pincushion Flower “Mix” (shades of raspberry, dark red, burgundy or buttercream- our own saved seed!)
Scabiosa atropurpea
Elegant and whimsical flowers atop tall wiry stems. Plants pump out the blooms. One plant can often produce 20-25 stems!
Life cycle: annual
Height: 24-36”
Light preference: full sun
Soil preference: rich, well- drained
Plant spacing: 9”
Harvest: harvest when the flowers are fully open but before the bees have gotten to them
Bloom period: cut and come again
Special notes: may need some support if planted in a windy area. Plants can be pinched to encourage more stems.
3. Strawflower “Apricot/ Peach Mix”
Bracteantha bracteata
One of the most interesting annuals we grow. Strawflower has papery blooms that actually feel like straw! This mix is a special variety that blooms in the most gorgeous, soft, warm apricot shades.
Life cycle: annual
Height: 36-48”
Light preference: full sun
Soil preference: average, well- drained
Plant spacing: 9”
Harvest: fresh or dried. Harvest when 2-3 layers of petals have unfolded but before flowers are fully open. Continually cutting stems helps to produce more and more stems.
Bloom period: continuous until first frost
Special notes: strawflower makes an excellent dried flower. Harvest then hang to dry in a cool dark place.
4. Snapdragon “Madame Butterfly Bronze”
Antirrhinum majus
A classic cut flower. Multiple, fragrant blossoms adorn long, strong stems. The more you cut, the more they produce! Snapdragon flowers are edible! Although they are bitter in taste, they make a beautiful garnish for cakes and cocktails.
Life cycle: annual
Height: 24-30”
Light preference: sun/ part shade
Soil preference: rich, well-drained, moist
Plant spacing: 6”
Harvest: harvest when the lower 1/3 of flowers on a spike have opened. Deadheading encourages additional blooms.
Bloom period: cut and come again
Special notes: pinching off the tops of plants encourages branching and creates more stems. Pinch when plants are 4-6 inches tall leaving 4-6 leaves on the plant.
5. Celosia “Vintage Texas Plume”
Celosia plumosa
Tall spikes of soft plumes that resemble little feather dusters. A great textural addition for flower bouquets.
Life cycle: annual
Height: 30-42”
Light preference: full sun
Soil preference: well drained
Plant spacing: 12”
Harvest: anytime during flowering but before they’ve gone to seed.
Bloom period: cut and come again
Special notes: pinching off the tops of plants encourages branching and creates more stems. Pinch when plants are 4-6 inches tall leaving 4-6 leaves on the plant.
6. Lisianthus “Echo Champagne and Voyage First Love”
Eustoma grandiflorum
One of the most beautiful annuals we grow on the farm.. Lisianthus resemble antique tea roses minus the thorns! Cut flowers can last up to two weeks in a vase.
Life cycle: annual
Height: 24-36”
Light preference: full sun
Soil preference: rich, well- drained
Plant spacing: 4-6”
Harvest: when one or more flowers on a stem are open
Bloom period: cut and come again
Special notes: lisianthus grows very slowly (but it’s worth the wait!) it’s important to keep it well weeded as it grows. After the first cut, fertilize plants with an all purpose fertilizer to encourage a second flush of blooms in the fall.
7. Black Eyed Susan “Sahara”
Rudbeckia hirta
Similar to native black eyed susans but larger with ruffled, double blooms. Includes shades of copper, brown, pale yellow, and soft rose. Extremely low maintenance and the pollinator’s love them! A tender perennial in zone 7 but overwinters on our farm with no frost protection other than snow cover.
Life cycle: tender perennial
Height: 22”
Light preference: full sun
Soil preference: average, well- drained, tolerates poor soil
Plant spacing: 9”
Harvest: before blooms are completely open. Deadhead to encourage new stems
Bloom period: cut and come again
Special notes: during mild winters, plants may overwinter and return for another season
8. Greater Quaking Grass
Briza maxima
Photo cred: Johnny’s Seeds
A super fun ornamental grass that sparkles in both the garden and arrangements. Seed heads start out green and fade to a golden straw color if left on the plants or cut to dry.
Life cycle: annual
Height: 20-30”
Light preference: sun
Soil preference: average, well drained
Plant spacing: 9-12”
Harvest: when seed heads are mature but still green
Bloom period: cut and come again
Special notes: cut before seed heads are pollinated and hang to dry for everlasting enjoyment. May reseed in the garden.
9. Marigold “Gem Mix” (shades of yellow, orange or red)
Tagetes tenuifolia
Photo cred: Johnny’s Seeds
A petite marigold plant covered in tons of little, citrus scented flowers. Flowers and greens make a wonderful textural addition to arrangements. Plants are sure to be covered in pollinators and beneficial insects!
Life cycle: annual
Height: 10-12”
Light preference: sun
Soil preference: average
Plant spacing: 12”
Harvest: when flowers are fully open but still have tight centers
Bloom period: continuous bloom
Special notes: flowers are edible and can be used as a garnish for salads or cocktails. Leaves can also be eaten as flavorful salad greens.
10. Yarrow “Flowerburst Red Shades”
Achillea millefolium
Delicate umbels of tiny blossoms with wispy fern-like foliage. Yarrow is a perennial garden staple. Plants are extremely low maintenance and will return year after year with a little care.
Life cycle: perennial
Height: 28-30”
Light preference: full sun
Soil preference: any well-drained soil
Plant spacing: 12”
Harvest: harvest when pollen is visible on the flowers. Cut in the coolest part of the day. If cut before the bees have pollinated, flowers will wilt.
Bloom period: continuous until first frost
Special notes: divide every 3-4 years to maintain vigor. Yarrow helps attract beneficial insects to the garden.
11. Cosmos “Rubenza”
Cosmos bipannatus
A classic garden staple. Blooms are a beautiful cranberry color that fade to an antique rose shade. The more you cut, the more they’ll produce!
Life cycle: annual
Height: 36-48”
Light preference: full sun
Soil preference: any soil
Plant spacing: 9-12”
Harvest: when petals are just beginning to open.
Bloom period: continuous until frost
Special notes: may need support
12. Nicotiana “Select Watercolors” and “Peach Screamer”
Nicotiana x sanderae and Nicotiana glutinosa
Robust plants produce loads of tall stems with tubular flowers. You might think fairies are living inside of them! Attracts hummingbirds like no other. Select watercolors might produce flowers in antique shades of green, lavender, white or rose and peach screamer blooms in a beautiful peachy pink tone.
Life cycle: annual
Height: 36-48”
Light preference: sun, part shade
Soil preference: fertile, moist, well drained
Plant spacing: 12”
Harvest: When ⅓-¼ flowers on a stem are open
Bloom period: cut and come again
Special notes: Nicotiana gives off the most delectable, jasmine scent at night to attract pollinators like moths.
13. Foxglove “Camelot Mix” (shades of lavender, rose or white)
Digitalis purpurea
Fairy-like tubular spikes of flowers in the most beautiful shades of lavender, rose and white. A real bee magnet! While most foxgloves are biennials, this hybrid variety produces flowers in its first year. If left in place, it may flower for a second year.
Life cycle: annual/ biennial
Height: 36-42”
Light preference: part sun/ shade
Soil preference: moist, well-drained
Plant spacing: 12”
Harvest: harvest when the lower 1/3 of flowers on a spike have opened. Deadheading encourages additional blooms.
Bloom period: cut and come again
Special notes: plants may overwinter and bloom for a second year.
14. Iceland Poppy “Champagne Bubbles” Mix (shades of white, red, orange, coral or yellow)
Papaver nudicaule
Plants produce an abundance of crepe-paper-like flowers consistently through spring and early summer. The more you pick, the more they’ll bloom. Hardy to zone 4.
Life cycle: annual/ perennial
Height: 15-20”
Light preference: sun, part shade
Soil preference: moist, well drained
Plant spacing: 6-8”
Harvest: As the buds just begin to show color
Bloom period: continuous until hot temperatures set in
Special notes: Plants can withstand very cold temperatures but struggle in the summer heat. We’ve successfully overwintered them by digging them up and transplanting them to an area with part shade in the summer.
Glossary of Terms
Cut and come again: Flowers that bloom at least twice throughout the season. To encourage flowers to bloom again, make sure to deadhead spent blooms. Tip: make the first cut very low on the plant to encourage longer stems to regrow.
Continuous bloomer: Flowers that will continue to bloom until the first frost. Plants will only continue to bloom if stems are continually cut. If flowers are left on the plant to be pollinated they’ll begin to produce seeds and stop growing.
One cut: Flowers that only produce once, set seed, then stop growing. Plants that are one cut usually produce an abundance of stems.
Pinch: This is the act of cutting off the top of a plant. It seems drastic but it encourages the plant to produce 2-4 times more stems. Pinch plants when they are 4-8 inches tall leaving a few good leaf sets on the plant.