Perennials for Cut Flowers
Understand that some varieties of plants such as Lobelia may contain hardy varieties and tender varieties so while the red may be hardy in zone 4, I wouldn’t bet the farm on some tender blue hybrids being hardy.
I have organized the perennials for cut flowers by Latin name but have included the common name beside the Latin so non-Latin lovers will be able to get a handle on the plant name. I have also included a rough colour guide, roughly when to harvest the bloom and, again roughly, how long you can expect the flower to last.
When considering using perennials for cut flowers, don’t forget to use the basics of harvesting cut flowers and using floral preservatives if you want to extend your enjoyment of these flowers.
Perennials for Cut Flowers
•Achillea (Yarrow) come in many colours, harves when pollen is visible, 7-12
•Aconitum (Monkshood) blues, purples, harvest when just opening, 7-10
•Alchemilla (Lady's Mantle) chartreuse, harvest when fully open 7
•Allium (Ornamental Onions) blues,purples harvest when 1/3 of florets open, cool for good shelf life, 7-14
•Anemone (Windflower) pinks, whites, harvest when buds opening 5-10
•Anthemis (Marguerite Daisy) whites, yellows harvest when just opening 10
•Aquilegia (Columbine) varied, harvest when just opening 5-7
•Asclepias (Milkweed, Butterflyweed) oranges, yellow harvest when open,5-8
•Asters (Michelmas Daisy) wide range, harvest when mostly open, 5-10
•Astilbe (Astilbe, Plume Flower) wide range, harvest when half open, hot water dip for longer life 4-12
•Astrantia (Masterwort)Reds, pinks, whites, harvest when upper flowers open5-7
•Campanula (Bellflower) Blues, whites cut when half the flowers are open 5-16
•Centaurea macrocephala (Bachelor Buttons) gold, cut when half open, 5-7
•Centranthus (Valerian, Wallflower) reds, whites, pinks cut when first flowers open 7-10
•Cheiranthus (Wallflower) reds,oranges,yellows cut when first flowers open 4-6
•Chelone (Turtlehead) pink, harvest when just opening 7
•Chrysanthemum (Shasta,Painted Daisies) many colours, cut when fully open 7-10
•Cirsium (Japanese Thistle) pinks, reds harvest when fully open 5-7
•Coreopsis (Tickseed) yellows, cut when fully open 7-10
•Cynara (Globe Artichoke) purples, cut when showing color 7-10
•Delphinium (Delphinium) blues/whites/pinks harvest when half florets open 6-8
•Dianthus (Sweet William) many, harvest when flowers just opening 7-10
•Digitalis (Foxglove) whites/yellows, cut when lower florets opening 10-14
•Doronicum (Leopard's Bane) yellow, cut when flowers are almost open 5
•Echinacea (Cone Flower) purples, whites, pinks, cut when petals expanding 7-10
•Echinops (Globe Flower) blue, harvest when half globe blue 6-12
•Eremurus (Foxtail Lily) yellows, harvest when half florets open 7
•Erigeron (Fleabane) pinks, whites, cut when they are just opening 7 •Eryngium (Sea Holly) blue, cut when fully open 10-12
•Gaillardia (Blanket Flower) reds, yellows, harvest when fully open 7-10
•Gypsophila (Baby's Breath) white, pink cut when mostly open 5-10
•Helenium (Helen's Flower) golds, red harvest when mostly open 7-10
•Heliopsis (Ox-eye Daisy) yellows, cut when fully open 7-10
•Helleborus (Lenten Rose) whites/ many, harvest when just open 5-7
•Hesperis (Sweet Rocket) lilacs, cut when just opening 5-7
•Heuchera (Coral Bells) reds, pinks, whites, cut when half florets open 5-7
•Hosta (Plantain Lily) White, lilac, cut when showing color 7-10
•Iberis (Candytuft) whites, pink, harvest when just starting to open 5-7
•Iris (Iris) many colours, harvest when just showing color 3-7
•Kniphofia (Torch Lily) oranges, yellows, cut when lower florets opening 7-10
•Lavender (Lavender) purples, cut when mostly open 10-14
•Liatris (Blazing Star) purples cut when top florets open 10-14
•Lilium (Lily) many colours and cut when the buds show colour, 10-14
•Limonium (Sea Lavender)blue, harvest when mostly open 10-14
•Lobelia (Lobelia) reds, blues, cut when buds show color 7-10
•Lupinus (Lupine) red/yellow/blue, cut when most of buds open 7
•Lysimachia (Loosestrife) yellow, cut when about half open 5-10
•Monarda (Bee Balm) reds, blues, whites, cut when flowers opening 7
•Paeonia (Peony) pink, red, whites cut when buds just in color 5-10
•Phlox (Phlox) reds, blues, whites etc, harvest when half flowers open 5-7
•Physostegia (False Dragonhead) pinks, whites, cut florets just opening 7-14
•Platycodon (Balloon Flower) blues/white cut when 2-3 flowers open 5-7
•Penstemon (Beard Tongue) many, harvest when just opening 5-7
•Rudbeckia (Black Eyed Susan) yellows, harvest when just opening 5-7
•Salvia (Sage) mostly blues, cut when just opening 5-7
•Saponaria (Soapwort) pinks, rose, cut when just opening 5-7
•Scabiosa (Scabious) blues, pinks, harvest when just opening 5-7
•Sedum (Stonecrop) yellows, reds, whites cut when most florets are open 7-10
•Solidago (Goldenrod) gold and yellows, cut when a few florets open 10
•Thalictrum (Meadow Rue) purple, harvest when mostly open 7
•Tricyrtis (Toad Lily) white, purples harvest when buds in early color 10
•Trollius (Globe Flower) yellow, oranges, cut when petals opening 5-7
•Veronica (Speedwell) blues, pinks, harvest when half florets open 7
These plants are the basic perennials for cut flowers and will keep you in cut flowers for the summer.
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