Back in the day, I was that one kid who would cry if somebody picked a flower from my mom’s garden because I believed it was hurting the delicate bloom. Yeah…you can just imagine how hard it was for me to wrap my head around the concept of cut flowers.
Anyways, in today’s article, we’re going to discuss cut flowers in great detail and identify the best ones to plant in waves for never-ending color in the garden.
Let’s jump straight into it, shall we?
What Is Succession Planting & Why Does It Work?
Avoid overwhelming flower flushes that fade too fast. Space your plants out over time for steady, reliable harvests.
Younger plants often produce better-quality blooms. Replacing older ones keeps production strong and the garden healthy.
You can stagger sowings and get continuous color even with just one raised bed. Gardeners who complain about not having enough space do really well with succession planting.
Cut Flowers That Love To Be Planted In Waves
1: Zinnia
Zinnias bloom in a timeframe of about 60 days after sowing, and they can be succession planted every 2-3 weeks for continuous blooms. Cut these flowers when the petals are fully open for a long vase life.
2: Cosmos
Cosmos typically bloom 55-60 days after sowing and can be sown every 2-3 weeks. Cut this elegant annual when half of the flowers are open.
3: Snapdragons
Snapdragons are relatively slower to bloom ( take roughly 90 days or so), but are super worth it. Stagger indoor starts or plug trays to achieve continuous snapdragon blooms.
4: Sunflowers (Non-branching Varieties)
Sunflowers are quick bloomers that can be sown every 7–10 days. Harvest them just before the petals begin to unfurl.
5: Celosia
Celosias offer bold texture and succession every 2-3 weeks. Cut these when the heads are fully formed but still tight.
6: Statice
Statice offers the best dry but fresh-looking blooms that can be sown every 3 weeks. Cut them when the blooms are fully colored.
7: Larkspur
Larkspur is the cool-season star. Sow it in early waves, as it’s the perfect succession for spring and early summer color.
8: Scabiosa (Pincushion Flower)
Scabiosas are very delicate and long-lasting flowers that can be sown every 3 weeks ideally. Cut them when the first layer opens.
9: Amaranth
Amarnath offers fast growth with striking tails and plumes. Sow it in two waves, once in early summer and again in mid-summer, for a continuous harvest and extended bloom period.
10: Queen Anne’s Lace
Although Queen Anne’s Lace isn’t exactly a traditional cut flower, it can serve as a great filler in the garden. Sow every 2–3 weeks and harvest just before the blooms fully open for long-lasting elegance in bouquets.
11: Nigella (Love-In-A-Mist)
Nigellas are great both fresh and dried. Sow these in early waves as their seed pods are absolutely stunning to lay eyes on.
12: Marigold (Tall African Varieties)
Marigolds, as most of you may already know, offer bold color and a very powerful scent in the garden. Cut marigolds when the flowers are firm and succession plant every 2–3 weeks.
13: Black-Eyed Susan
Black-Eyed Susan adds cheerful structure and contrast to any arrangement. Succession plant every 2–3 weeks and cut stems as the first flowers begin to open for extended vase life.
Easy Succession Planting Tips For Cut Flower Success
Let’s Conclude
Believe it or not, I actually had no idea what cut flowers were in the initial stages of my gardening journey. This concept was alien to me, and I never knew people grew whole gardens surrounding cut flowers.
Till then, I had started posting on online gardening forums and, fortunately, one fellow gardener from Atlanta suggested I give cut flowers a shot. Once I did, our garden completely changed…for good!
Now, it’s time for you to experiment with cut flowers in your garden and see how things play out for you. Good luck!
