Grow Your Own Bouquets With These Container-Friendly Flowers

One my of favorite things about having a garden is growing flowers for floral arrangements. But there’s a pesky misconception that you can only grow a flower garden for bouquets (often called a “cutting garden”) if you have a large amount of space. Actually, you can grow flowers in most containers and even in the smallest outdoor spaces.

Depending on your comfort level, you can direct-sow seeds or purchase mature plants from a nursery. If you choose to sow your own seeds, please follow the direction on the back of the seed packet for the best results.

These gorgeous flowers are perfect for a container-sized cutting garden.

These old-school favorites are perfect for beginning gardeners. They bloom all summer long and love hot, full-sun conditions. Zinnias come in all different shades of the rainbow, including heirloom varieties that are truly unique. A few of my favorite varieties are Queen Red Lime, Oklahoma Salmon, and Zinderella Lilac.

I love these little blooms and their long stems. They’re hardy, continuous bloomers that are the perfect addition to any bouquet. There are many different varieties—some with larger, attention-grabbing blooms and some with small, delicate flowers. The stems can get lanky in a quick fashion—if you see your cosmos flopping over, try supporting them with a stake and string system from behind. Another option is to search out varieties that stay on the shorter side.  

I recommend the Chocolate variety for something unique, Double Click for something frilly, and Sonata for something traditional.

Purple basil is an interesting addition to the cutting garden scene. While it can be used for culinary dishes, I prefer to let purple basil bloom and use it in arrangements. It has a long vase life when cut at maturity and brings a delightful scent to your bouquets.  

Snapdragons are an old-time favorite. They grow on a spike with blooms that look like their namesake: snapping dragons. Snapdragon varieties come in many different colors—from the purest white to almost black—and they’re an easy grow in full sun. Plant a mix for a variety of colors, or try heirloom varieties for unique flair. My favorites are Black Prince, Twinny Peach, and Chantilly Purple.

Hellebores are a well-known perennial, but are unknown among many amateur cut-flower growers. Hellebores are a larger plant, but perfect for part-sun situations. The plant produces stunning blooms that are usually a shade of mauve. Only harvest once the petals have a firmness to them to ensure a long vase life.

These plants are spring bloomers, but you can use the beautiful foliage all season long.

These plants are native to high-altitude meadows and woodlands, with spurred blooms that resemble dainty stars. They thrive in part-sun and can grow up to 20 inches tall. There are many varieties to choose from, with the dwarf varieties being especially adorable. My favorite varieties are Little Treasure Dwarf Spur, Blue-White Double Winky, and Black Barlow.

Astilbe—also known as “false goat’s beard” or “false spirea”—is a popular option for part-sun gardens. These plants provide bright, vibrant color to any container and are a great cut flower. Varieties come in colors from white to dark red to lavender.

Floral designers frequently use this soft leaf in arrangements for its velvety texture. The leaves look and feel delicate, but lamb’s ear is an easy grower in a container environment. When it blooms, the plant presents a lavender or purple spike.

There are many varieties of hostas out there. Some are very large, while some stay tight and compact—and these dwarf varieties are perfect for containers. Use both their leaves and blooms for cut arrangements. My favorite varieties are Mini Mouse, Blue Mouse Ears, and Filigree.

I adore bleeding heart plants in my cutting garden. Not only are they fabulous landscape plants, their foliage and blooms have a good vase life. You’ll find different varieties that produce blooms of all different shades, and if you decide to over-winter your plant, it will keep coming back year after year.

Foxglove, or digitalis, has been cultivated for ages. Take caution: parts of the plant are deadly if ingested. If you plan on growing this plant in your garden, please do your research before moving forward. That being said, it is a perfect plant for private cut-flower gardens, with gorgeous blooms that have a long vase life. Pink Gin, Sugar Plum, and and Cafe Creme are a few of my favorite varieties.

Of all shade plants, coleus is my absolute favorite. I love all the different color options and how versatile the cuttings can be in arrangements. Try Dark Sun Chocolate, Wizard Rose, or Exhibition Marble for a funky color selection.