10 Cut Flowers You Grow from Seeds
The Joy of Growing Your Own Cut Flowers-(For a Blooming Cutting Garden All Season Long!)
There’s nothing quite like walking through the garden early in the morning, coffee in hand, snipping fresh flowers for a bouquet. It’s a daily ritual that never gets old. I go out to the garden before I even get dressed for the day (pajamas on) snipping fresh blooms, and arranging them into a bouquet that’s completely mine. Thinking I wouldn’t last the summer if I couldn’t grow flowers and place bouquets throughout the house! We hope you will find the joy of gardening in these 10 cut flowers you grow from seeds! Last summer, my zinnias outdid themselves. They were so many beautiful ones, I entered a bouquet in the local fair—and won a ribbon!
That’s the magic of a cutting garden. Not only does it keep your home filled with fresh flowers, but when you grow from seed, you get access to unique varieties that nurseries just don’t offer. Whether you’re looking for bold sunflowers, delicate cosmos, or long-lasting snapdragons, these 10 cut flowers you grow from seeds will keep your vases overflowing all season long.
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1. Zinnias – The Cut-and-Come-Again Superstar
If I could only grow one flower for cutting, it would be zinnias. They thrive in the heat, bloom nonstop, and come in colors that look straight out of a painter’s palette. Plus, the more you cut them, the more they bloom. Here is a direct link to Renee’s Garden Seeds Zinnias, while you are there check out all the different types of zinnias! There are so many!
Last summer, I grew Come and Cut Again and Raspberry Sorbet zinnias, and they produced bucketloads of flowers. Once you start growing zinnias, you’ll never want to stop. This year I choose 6 different kinds to grow and I can hardly wait! I will enter a bouquet in the fair too since I did well last year and it is a great deal of fun!
How to Grow Zinnias from Seed–Easy Peasy
Plant zinnia seeds directly in the garden after the last frost, in a spot that gets full sun. Within a few weeks, you’ll have sturdy plants ready to explode with color. Keep cutting, and they’ll keep blooming. I live in Zone 5 northern New England and the Zinnias grow like crazy and give me lots of blooms right up till the frost.
2. Cosmos – The Effortless Cottage Garden Flower #2 In 10 cut flowers you grow from seeds!
Cosmos have that effortless, wild beauty that makes any bouquet feel airy and romantic. They’re incredibly easy to grow—scatter some seeds, and in a few weeks, you’ll have tall, delicate flowers swaying in the breeze. Sometimes mine self sow from the year before just a little surprise gift from the garden but I can’t count on it in my agricultural zone. Cosmos remind me of paper flowers but I do love their wispy foliage.
How to Grow Cosmos from Seed
Direct sow cosmos after the last frost, and they’ll reward you with continuous blooms. If you let some flowers go to seed, they’ll even reseed themselves for next year. (Maybe if you are lucky)
Are you really new to gardening? We have a super basic post as a refresher.
3. Sunflowers – The Bold Statement Bloomer
Nothing brings joy quite like a row of towering sunflowers. Whether you love the classic golden blooms or want something unique like deep burgundy or lemon-yellow petals, sunflowers are essential in a cutting garden. The mystery of the cutting garden is wondering how tall those sunflowers will grow! It amazes me how many cultivars there now are for sunflowers and I must admit the bi-color ones are my favorite.
How to Grow Sunflowers from Seed
Plant sunflower seeds directly in the soil once the frost has passed. For a longer harvest, sow new seeds every two weeks. If you’re looking for some amazing sunflower varieties Renee’s Garden has more than 20 different kinds of seeds, try growing the Garnet Star for that two-tone cutting sunflower.
4. Snapdragons – The Long-Lasting Vase Favorite
There’s a reason florists love snapdragons—they last forever in a vase. The tall, elegant spikes add height and texture to any bouquet, and they’re surprisingly easy to grow from seed.
How to Grow Snapdragons from Seed
Start snapdragon seeds indoors 10-12 weeks before your last frost for the earliest blooms. Once established, they thrive in cool weather, making them perfect for spring and fall cutting. Protect them from heavy rains or pick them before the rain so they don’t get water-logged and fall over.
5. Celosia – The Textured Showstopper–Bold and Beautiful!
If you love bold, unique textures, celosia is a must-grow. Whether you choose feathery plumes or velvety cockscomb varieties, these heat-loving flowers add incredible drama to arrangements. So many different types and such a show stopper.
Celosia is a member of the amaranth family. There are three distinct types of Celosia based on structure, all are amazing: plumed, wheat and cockscomb. Any one of these will create amazing interest in your garden and in your bouquets.
How to Grow Celosia from Seed
Start celosia seeds indoors for the best results, then transplant them after the frost has passed. Once they take off, they thrive in hot, dry conditions.
*hint: You can dry these for fall arrangements, they loose some color but still amazing!
6. Bachelor’s Buttons –10 Cut Flowers You Grow From Seeds The Classic Blue Beauty
If you want true blue flowers in your cutting garden, bachelor’s buttons are one of the best choices. They bloom early, last long in a vase, and bring that charming, cottage garden feel to bouquets. Bachelor Buttons or Cornflowers were the first cut flowers I ever grew and I fell in love with the subtle blue and pink little flowers in my garden. As a result of my love for blue, Bachelor Buttons are a favorite cut flower in my garden!
How to Grow Bachelor’s Buttons from Seed
Sow seeds directly in early spring, as they prefer cool weather. If you want a second bloom, cut them back after their first flush of flowers.
7. Cleome– Exotic Garden Annual
I love the cleome for striking interest in the garden but what a focal point for an arrangement. Below is an excerpt from Renee’s Garden Seeds about the wonders of this captivating plant.
Color Fountain Cleome from Renee’s Garden Seeds
“Thomas Jefferson loved the beautiful flower trusses of tall cleome in his renowned flower gardens at Monticello. Today, these vigorous summer flowers are treasured in heirloom and restoration gardens. The 4 to 5 foot plants are crowned with huge flower clusters of pale pink, crisp white and rose-violet florets. Cleome’s unique blossoms with their long petals and spidery stamens are favorites of nectar-seeking hummingbirds. They make striking large arrangements when the long stems of bloom are brought indoors.” Last season I went a bit crazy with the containers however they were a showstopper as the season went on.
8. Pincushion Flower (Scabiosa) – The Delicate but Tough Bloomer “Heirloom 10 Cut Flowers You Grow From Seeds”
Scabiosa is one of those underrated cut flowers that I always make room for. The whimsical, ruffled blooms last forever in a vase, and the plants just keep producing. A very old-fashioned flower that has been a staple in cut flower gardens for a hundred years at least!
How to Grow Scabiosa from Seed
Start indoors for an early harvest or direct sow after the last frost. Regular cutting encourages more blooms throughout the season.
9. Heirloom – White Bishops Lace
Every cutting garden needs filler flowers, and White Bishops Lace is one of the best. It’s a powerhouse in fresh arrangements and adds that light airy contrast to arrangements. An old fashioned flower that looks like huge airy clouds or snowflakes.
Annual Flowers From Seeds Indoors or Direct Seeding
- Annual Flowers: Spring through fall blooms
- Direct Garden Sowing:
- Start as soon as the ground can be worked in spring.
- Sow seeds thinly in a finely textured bed under full sun.
- Cover with 1/4 inch of soil and keep the soil moist.
- Weed and water seedlings carefully.
- Thin seedlings to prevent overcrowding.
- Starting Indoors:
- Begin 6 weeks before last frost date.
- Sow seeds thinly in seed starting mix in pots or trays.
- Cover lightly, keep evenly moist, and provide bright light.
- Transplant carefully outdoors when large enough, spacing 8–10 inches apart.
- Growing Notes:
- Thrives in most garden conditions.
- Sow multiple times, a few weeks apart, for continuous blooms through late spring.
- In mild climates, sow again in late fall for early spring flowers.
- Ideal for adding a delicate, frothy texture to bouquets.
10. Dahlias– Try Fireworks a Pollinator Dahlia
Dahlias are a breeze to grow from seed, producing an abundance of vibrant blooms that last all season long. These branching plants typically reach heights of 3 ½ to 5 feet, showcasing a stunning array of 4 to 5-inch blossoms with gently curved, spider-like petals.
Their dazzling colors—ranging from cherry red to lemon chiffon, peach, alabaster, coral, and rich burgundy—add a cheerful touch to any garden, well into the fall! So many cultivars to choose from when growing dahlias, however remember those huge flowering ones must have support!
How to Grow Dahlias from seeds
Sow seeds 2 inches apart in containers of seed starting mix, 4 to 6 weeks before the last spring frost. Cover seeds with ½ inch of soil. Keep the soil moist and warm, and provide a strong light source. When the weather is warm and settled, gradually acclimate seedlings to outdoor conditions. Once hardened off, plant seedlings 16–18 inches apart in full sun.
Why Growing 10 Cut Flowers you Grow from Seeds Is Worth It
Growing flowers from seed takes patience, but the payoff is incredible. Not only do you get access to rare and specialty varieties, but your garden becomes a cutting paradise, overflowing with fresh blooms all season long. All your friends will love the bouquet presents as you share your beautiful flowers!
*If you’re new to growing from seed, start with zinnias and cosmos—they’re nearly foolproof and will give you confidence for more challenging flowers like snapdragons and larkspur.
Will you be growing cut flowers this year? Let me know which varieties are your favorites—I love hearing what’s blooming in other gardens! I will do a follow up post of the “10 cut flowers you grow from seeds” in September!
Happy Gardening
