Gardening for Cut Flowers
Terry Brite DelValle
Horticulture Extension Agent Emeritus
Benefits of Gardening for Cut Flowers
• Eye candy – landscape
color
• Attracts pollinators,
hummingbirds and
beneficial insects
• Instant supply of cut
flowers to beautify the
home
Cut Flower Options
• Annuals
• Herbaceous Perennials
• Bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes
• Woody Plants
Succession Planting
• Single stem cuts
and o Every 2 weeks
• Flowers that get
smaller as season
progresseso Every 6 weeks
o Zinnias
Daylength SensitivityPhotoperiod
• Day-neutral: More versatile
and good for succession
planting / great for fall & spring
• Short days: < 12 hours
o Poinsettia, Salvia leucantha
/Mexican sage,
Chrysanthemum
• Long Days: > 12 hours
o Phlox paniculata
(midsummer), Alstroemeria
Growing Options• In-ground
o Loosen soil ~18” deep
• Containerso 2 gallon & bigger
o Bulb crates: line with newspaper, fill with potting soil... great for lilies & some other bulbs
• Raised beds
Soil Needs• Fertile, well-drained
sandy loam
• Neutral to slightly
acid soil pH
• Good organic
matter
oAdd compost
and other soil
amendments
Other needs…
• Access to water
• Irrigation system:
best to use drip
• Wind Protection:
fence or plant
windbreak or
protected side
of home
Support
• Select varieties with long,
stiff stems
• Netting with ~4” square
openings - place ~12-18”
high
• Tall stakes at corners,
then run twine along
perimeter of row or bed
• Individual plant stakes
Fertilization Options• Test soil for nutrients
and pH before planting
& adjust
• Slow/Quick Release
• Supplemental
fertilization similar to
vegetable gardening
• Foliar feed: dilute spray
of fish emulsion,
compost tea, etc.
before blooms present
Weed Control• Remove as soon
as they emerge
• Newspaper
• Mulches: pine straw, pine bark, oak leaves, etc.o Silver reflective
mulch repels some insects
Plant SpacingSunflowers: some are too
big for floral designs (8-
10” diameter)
• Tighter spacing will
reduce flower size
• 4 x 6” spacing will
reduce flower size to 4-
6” diameter flower
• Plant closer than in a
landscape bed
• Slightly crowded plants
grow taller, branch less plus
help hold each other up
• Depends on species
o Most annuals 9 x 9”
o Zinnias, stock, larkspur: 6 x 6”
o Gladiolus, liatris, allium: 4 x 4”
Pinching…
Snapdragons• No pinching = 1 longer
flower stem
• Pinching = multiple
flowers on shorter stems
• To increase yield and prolong blooms
• Soft pinch– removes growing tip and < 1” of stem; promotes multiple shoots that bloom at same time
• Hard pinch – removes several tiers of leaves and several inches of stem: used if plants are leggy/will delay flowering
Managing Pests/Diseases• Diseases
o Powdery mildew: cool
humid nights + dry hot
days (spores on both
sides of leaves + shoots,
buds & flowers; wind spreads spores;
overhead irrigation will
help control
o Downy mildew: cool, wet
weather (spores on
underside of leaves)
• Follow IPM practices:
sprays (soaps, etc.)
best before flowers
develop
o Crop rotation
o Sanitation
o Cultural practices to
encourage healthy
plants
o Select plants resistant to
diseases/pests
o Encourage beneficial
insects
Annuals to Use as Cuts• Gomphrena
• Hollyhock
• Lavender
• Marguerite Daisy
• Marigold
• Mexican sunflower (Tithonia)
• Pansy/Viola
• Penta
• Petunia
• Poinsettia
• Poppies
• Rudbeckia / Black-eyed Susan
• Scabiosa (Pincushion)
• Snapdragon
• Strawflower
• Sunflowers
• Sweetpeas
• Sunflower
• Zinnia
• Ageratum
• Amaranth
• Angelonia
• Asclepias
• Baby’s Breath
• Basil
• Bee Balm
• Blue daze
• Calendula
• Carnation
• Celosia
• Coreopsis
• Cosmos
• Delphinium/Larkspur
• Dianthus spp.
• Dill
• Foxglove
• Gaillardia
• Geranium
Direct Seed or Use Transplants
Transplants – some better
grown as transplants plus
helps you get a jump on
the season
May need to order seed
to grow specific varieties
Direct Seed
• Amaranthus spp.
• Celosia
• Cosmos
• Helianthus spp. /
Sunflower
• Scabiosa
• Marigolds
• Zinnia
Top Picks for cut flowers on Johnny’s Website
• Amaranth
• Snapdragon
• Strawflower
• Cosmos
• Scabiosa
• Gomphrena
• Sunflowers
• Zinnia
• Rudbeckia
• Celosia
• Basil
• Dill
• Ageratum
Antirrhinum majusSnapdragons
• Start seed indoors (cool
season)
• 6 hours or more sun
• Height: 18” to 30”
• Spacing: 9” to 12”
• Days to Bloom: 100-120
• Stake or flower support
netting helpful
• Cut when 1st few blooms on
bottom are open; 1st cut
almost at ground level;
remove bottom 2/3 of
foliage; 7-10 days vase life
• Exhibit phototropism
Favorite varieties:Maryland,
Potomac, Rocket strains
Celosia argentea / Celosia
• 24-36” warm season
• Cristata: cockscomb
crested types/brain
flower (Cramers
burgundy)
• Plumosa: feathery
(Pampas plume)
• Spicata: wheat
• Transplant or direct
seed
• Long flowering season
Consolida spp.Larkspur
• Cool season annual for
fresh cuts or dried flowers
• Plants need cool period
for shoot elongation &
flower initiation
• Fresh: cut when 2-5 basal
flowers open
• Drying: harvest when
most flowers open but
not dropping; air dry 10-
14 days
Euphorbia pulcherimaPoinsettia
• Plant in protected area
and away from
exposure to outside
lighting
• Cut stems to desired
lengths; remove lower
leaves
• Place in cool water for
30 minutes; discard and
replace with fresh
water
Helianthus annuusSunflower
• Start indoors or direct seed in the garden (warm season)
• 6 or more hours sun
• Height 36-72”; space 6” to 24” apart (more space=larger flowers); support needed
• Days to bloom 55 to 110
• Attracts pollinators, beneficial insects and songbirds
• Excellent cut flower: single stem (10-14 days) or branched (5-7 days)
• Harvest as petals lift off center• Succession Planting: every week
to 10 days
• Some are pollenless
Favorite single stem: ProCut and Sunrich
Favorite Branching: Moulin Rouge, Starburst Lemon Aura, Teddy Bear
Sunflowers
• Allelopathic: prevents
other seeds from
germinating
• Organic growers are
experimenting using
them as a spray that
acts as an herbicide
• Don’t plant seeds
around sunflowers
Matthiola incana / Stock• Great annual cut for
form, color & fragrance
• Cool temps for optimum
flowering; long days
before or during cool
treatment enhances
flowering
• Harvest when ½ flowers
open; immediately
place in floral
preservative & out of sun
Monarda hybridaBee Balm
▪ Start seed indoors or direct
seed (early spring)
▪ Mint family (can be weedy)
▪ Grows in sun and partial
shade; dry sandy soils
▪ 24-36” tall; spacing 6-12”
▪ Days to bloom: 70-80
▪ Harvest when lower flowers
develop color; 1st cut is low;
7 days for vase life
▪ ‘Lambada’ preferred variety
Lemon Beebalm
Rudbeckia spp.
• Heat & drought tolerant
• Best planted as
transplants
• 6 or more hours sun
• Size: 24-48” tall x 6-12”
• Days to bloom: 100-120
• Harvest when blooms are
halfway open
• 1st cut - almost at ground
level, just above 3 to 4
side shoots
Favorites: R. hirta ‘Indian Summer’, ‘Double Daisy’, ‘Goldilocks’, ‘Prairie Sun’ (photo above) powdery mildew may be a problemR. maxima ‘Giant’R. Triloba (Black-eyed Susan filler)
Tithonia rotundifolia
Mexican Sunflower• ‘Torch’ is best cut variety
• Warm season annual; start indoors or direct seed
• Space 24” apart; support needed
• 5-6’ tall; dwarf 3’ tall
• Full sun but will tolerate some shade
• Well drained but water during dry weather
• Harvest when flowers begin to open; cut low
• 5-7 days vase life
Zinnia elegans – 1 of Top 10• Start indoors or direct seed /
warm season
• 6 hours or more sun
• Height: 24” to 48”
• Spacing: 6” to 12”
• Days to Bloom: 60-75
• Stake or flower support netting helpful; wind helpful to reduce powdery mildew
• Cut when all flower petals open and a few stamens showing; 1st cut almost at ground level
• Succession sow every 6 weeks (flowers get smaller over time)
Favorites: Benary’s Giant, Uproar Rose, Queen Red Lime, Queen Lime
Green, Queen Lime Orange, Oklahoma, Giant Cactus, Zowie and
Cupcake
Add Herbs for Fragrance
• Basil: African blue basil, lemon basil, dark opal basil, cinnamon basil, ’Oriental Breeze’
• Rosemary
• Lavender
• Mints
• Dill
• Fennel
• Chives & garlic chives flowers
• Nasturtium – ‘Jewel’
Perennials to Use as Cuts• Kniphofia / red hot poker
• Lily of the Nile
• Lion’s Ear
• Louisiana Iris
• Penta
• Plumbago
• Salvias
• Shrimp Plant
• Stokesia / Stokes Aster
• Swamp Sunflower
• Yarrow
• Amaryllis
• Asclepias spp.
• Aster
• Bird of Paradise
• Black-eyed Susan
• Coneflower
• Daffodils
• Firespike
• Gaillardia
• Gerbera Daisy
• Gingers
• Goldenrod
• Jacobinia
Agapanthus africanusAfrican lily
• Evergreen with underground rhizome native to South Africa
• Plant Oct to Feb in FS (best) to PS, organic well-drained soil
• 1 ½’ tall plant with 2 ½’ tall blue, pink or white blooms in late spring to early summer
• Give moisture during summer months & protect from severe freezes; keep drier in winter
Amaryllis / Hippeastrum spp.
• Plant Sept to Jan with bulb tip @ soil level
• Spring bloomer assorted colors
• To force, no water for 2 months in winter
• Good in containers or hyacinth vase
• Red leaf blotch & chewing insects
Asclepias tuberosaButterfly Milkweed
• Native to eastern N.A.
• 1’ to 3’ high & wide
• Full sun, dry to medium moisture in well-drained soils
• Blooms late spring into summer
• Deep taproot so difficult to transplant
• Top dies back in winter
• Bee & butterfly nectar source and larval food for monarch, queen, soldier
• Harvest when ½ to 2/3 of flowers open
• Place in water ASAPchangein a few minutes & put in warm water – change again in a few hours
Getting milky sap in eyes can cause permanent damage
Curcuma spp. /
Hidden Ginger
• 1-8’ tall
• Related to Tumeric
• Flower time varies depending on type, basal or terminal
• PS to sun, moist
• Long lasting cut flower
Echinacea purpurea
Purple Coneflower
• Hardy perennial
• Full sun to part shade, well drained soil, drought tolerant
• Harvest just as petals start to unfurl
• Dried flowers: older flowers, remove petals and hang upside down
• New varieties: Sunset, Harvest Moon
Gladiolus• Michigan and Florida
are the main US producers
• Corms – produce flowers in 3 months from planting
• Plant 2” apart 4-5” deep
• Harvest when ½ flowers are open
• Negative geotropism
• Sensitive to fluorides in water
Iris virginicaSouthern blue flag
• Native to US zones
5-9
• 2’-3’ tall & wide
• Full sun to part
shade; moist to wet
boggy acidic soils;
rain and water
gardens / borders
of streams and
ponds
• Blooms late spring
Kniphofia uvaria / Tritoma
• Red Hot Poker
• Zones 5-10; from Africa
• Full sun, good drainage
• Long grass-like foliage
• Deer resistant; attracts hummers
Liatris spicata / Blazing Stars,
Gayfeathers
• Perennial or annual
wildflower; sandhills,
flatwoods and scrub
areas
• Full sun, moist to dry
acidic soils
• Flowers late summer to
fall; harvest when ½
flowers are open
Narcissus / Daffodil• Plant in Sept to Oct. in full sun
to partial shade; no artificial chilling
• Winter to spring bloomer
• Varieties in Duval Trialo Avalanche
o Bittern
o Bridal Crowno Carlton
o Campernielli N X Odorus
o Erlicheer
o Hawera
o Ice Follies
o Nonyo Saint Keverne
o Soleil d’Or
o Thalia
Carlton
Narcissus, Daffodil• Harvest when flower buds
at gooseneck stage –hanging at a 90⁰ angle or for smaller ones when starting to show color
• Pull it from stem base instead of cutting
• Keep in separate vase for at least 12 hours-then rinse stems before mixing with other flowers
• Do not add sugar to water – no benefit
• Flowers should last ~ a week
Strelitzia reginaeBird of Paradise
• Aka Gator flower
• 3-5’ tall clump, evergreen leaves, low maintenance
• FS-PS, fertile organic soil with good drainage
• Can produce blooms year-round
• Cut small slit along top; soak bud in warm water for 20 minutes; gently open sheath and lift flowers up and out
• Flowers can last up to 2 weeks as cut flowers
Rudbeckia laciniataCutleaf Coneflower
• Native herbaceous
perennial
• Organic soils with average
to medium moisture, needs
moisture in drought; full sun
to part shade but shade in
heat of day a plus
• Stays low to ground but up
to 8’ tall when in flower with
4’ spread
• Flowers late summer to fall;
cut flowers back to
encourage more blooms
Salvia spp.• Many different
species and
varieties, heights
and colors
• May only last for
3-5 days before
shedding flowers
• S. leucantha
(Mexican sage) &
‘Victoria’
S. mexicana ‘Compton’s Pride’
Compton’s
S. guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’
Solidago hybrids / Goldenrod• Upright perennial, 2-3’;
blooms summer-fall
• Pollinator, attracts
beneficials & butterflies,
food for wildlife
• S. sempervirens – Seaside
goldenrod, 3-4’ tall; moist
to dry sites, full sun
• Harvest when ~ ½ the
flowers are open
• True or false? Goldenrod is
responsible for hayfever…
Cultivars: ‘Golden Gate’‘Golden lime’
‘Praecox’‘Strahlenkrone’
‘Super’‘Tara’
‘Tara Gold’‘Toto’
‘Yellow Submarine’
Stokesia laevisStoke’s Aster
• Native, many cultivars
• Blooms spring through
fall / white, blue, lilac
• Good border plant /
1-2 feet tall
• Partial shade to full sun
• Good drainage a must
Tricyrtis lasiocarpusAmethyst toad lily
• Perennial in lily family with orchid-
like flowers native to Asia
• 2’- 3’ tall ground cover for part
sun to light shade; organic, rich
soils with even moisture
• Blooms fall into winter
Woody Ornamentals as Cuts• Experiment with plants in your
landscape
• Some may only last a few days
while others last a week or
longer
• Longevity depends on flower
stage
Callistemon citrinusRed Bottlebrush
• Tree or shrub, upright or weeping; dwarf varieties also; native to Australia
• 10-15’ tall; dwarf 3’tall by 5’ wide, evergreen, hardy to 20°F
• Blooms on and off spring-fall
• Moderately fertile, moist but well- drained soil; full sun best; moderate salt and drought tolerance
Callicarpa americana / Beautyberry
• 4-8’tall x 3-6’ wide
• Specimen plant, prune to create fullness
• Rich soils, full sun to partial shade
• Purple or white berries late summer to fall
• Harvest 6-12” branches when fruit colored; remove foliage if still on – can be messy if fruit falls off
Camellias –
sasanqua and
japonica
Using Camellias as Cuts
• Cut stems
• Floating in
water
• Place grape
on cut end
Cephalanthus occidentalis /
Buttonbush• Native to swamps,
marshes and edges of
ponds and ditchbanks
• Full sun to partial
shade, moist to wet
sites, not drought
tolerant
• Fragrant flowers in
summer
Redbud – Cercis canadensis•20-30’ tall – late winter bloomer
•Round, medium growth
•Low salt tolerance, full sun to partial shade, drought tolerant; rich woodlands
Hibiscus spp.
• Woody shrub or perennial
• 4-12’ tall with 3 to 10’ spread
• Full sun best, medium drought tolerance; cold damage possible
• Blooms in spring through summer
• Most flowers only last a day; harvest in early morning; option refrigerate and bring out for evening occasion; no water needed
Hydrangea macrophyllaBigleaf Hydrangea
▪ Grow in partial shade or morning sun
▪ Add organic matter; water at base
▪ Harvest blooms that are completely open in early morning with 18-30” stem length; remove leaves & place in hot water (110-120⁰F) & put in cooler for 8 hours; if they wilt, place in heated water Best one for drying
Hydrangea quercifolia
Oakleaf Hydrangea
• Native deciduous shrub used as specimen or mass planting, background
• 4 to 8’ tall w/matching spread
• Full to part sun; rich acid, moist but well drained soils
• Exfoliating bark
Roses
• Direct sunlight for at least 6 hours per day and good air flow
• Well-drained soil, add organic matter
• Easier to grow types: old garden roses and shrub roses
• Growing Roses in Florida: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep339
Cramoisi Superieur (top)Old Blush (bottom)
Removing ThornsTrue or False
Dulling and removing
thorns on roses doesn’t
shorten vase life
False: Tampering with
thorns most often shortens
vase life because it
creates wounds allowing
microbes to enter which
can plug cells
Harvesting: Start With Clean Containers
• Wash buckets and
vases with a few
drops of liquid dish
detergent and 1 tsp
bleach/gallon of
water removing any
debris
• Rinse to remove
bleach
Clippers• Use a good quality pair of
shears; type will depend
on size of stem
• Never use scissors
• Clean debris and sterilize
using similar solution for
cleaning vases
• Get sharpening stone to
keep blades sharp
• One reference prefers
Felco brand but also likes
Victorinox Flower
Gatherer for taller flowers
Water Quality
• May need to acidify water: alkaline water will not move up the stem (3.5 to 5.5 best) & helps to decrease bacteria
• Avoid waters high in salt
• Avoid water softeners (Na)
• Fluoride – some plants sensitive (glads, gerberas, freesias); let bucket of water sit for several hours at room temperature
General Tips
Timing depends on
species
• Lilies: cut when bottom
2 buds swollen and
showing color
• Iris: cut in pencil stage
showing a pencil-thin
streak of color
• Yarrow: harvest after
pollen appears or it will
wilt
• Harvest Often: once
or twice/week to
keep productive
• Where to make cut
and at what stage
depends on plant
• Best time is early
morning once dew
has dried
General Tips for Cut Flowers• Place cuts in clean container
with cool water ASAP
• Most flowers benefit from water with floral preservative
• Remove leaves that will be below the water line
• Before arranging, make fresh cut 1” to 2” above original under water @ 45 degree angle
• Best in cool spot with no direct light; avoid vents/fruit/cigarette smoke
• Change water every day; recut stems if needed
Cut Flower CareThe safest way to go is to
use commercial cut flower
foods
• controls microbial
populations
• provides sugars
• Lowers pH
Removing AnthersTrue or False
Removing the anthers
from lilies, amaryllis and
Alstroemerias affects vase
life
False: removing anthers
has no impact on vase
life but doing so might
prevent pollen stains
Best Way to Remove Pollen from Fabrics
• Brush away with soft dry
cloth or brush… use
anything but your hand
because skin oils set
pollen stains
• Use tape to remove
pollen grains
• Place stained fabric in
sunlight and it is
supposed to disappear
Do it Yourself Preservatives
Reference:
https://ag.umass.edu/prin
t/9403
• Sugars: needed if flower is harvested at a tight-bud stage. 1% sugar solution=2 level tspssugar/quart of H2O
• Biocide: household bleach or Physan. Using medicine dropper, add 1 ml of bleach or 0.5 ml Physan to quart of H2O
• Acid: Citric Acid to lower pH to 3.5 (varies –try fresh lime or lemon juice and test)
Another Option to Preserve Flowers
Refrigerator is great
option
• Tropicals (Proteas,
Anthuriums, gingers,
birds-of-paradise): 50-
55ºF
• Non tropicals: 33 to
35ºF
• Keep away from
ripening fruit
Stripping LeavesTrue or False
It doesn’t matter how much foliage you remove from fresh stems as long as none is below the water line
False: always remove leaves below water line plus broken/damaged leaves but keep as many leaves above water line as possible
Resources
• Specialty Cut Flowers, Allan Armitage & Judy Laushman, 2nd edition.
• The Flower Farmer, An Organic Grower’s Guide, Lynn Byczyniski
• Vegetables Love Flowers, by Lisa Mason Ziegler
• De-myth-tifying cut flower care: Dr. Terril A Nell, Florists’Review June 2004
• Various websites• Trial and Error ☺
Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers
• www.ascfg.org
• ASCFG Conference and Trade Show November 9,
2020 in Orlando Florida