I always feel a little hesitation when writing about flowers. After all, I'm no expert at crafting those elegant, thoughtfully arranged bouquets you often see on magazines or across social media. That kind of artistry takes a patient hand and an eye for color—skills I can only admire from afar. But when it comes to cutting gardens—now that’s where I feel right at home.
A cutting garden is grown for the sheer joy of it. There’s no pressure to impress, no need for perfection—just the simple pleasure of planting, picking, and gathering armfuls of blooms to brighten a table, a porch, or a neighbor's day. It’s a place where the beauty is in the doing, not just the display.
If you’re thinking about starting a cutting garden of your own, I've found that the best approach is to begin with flowers that are easy to grow and generous with their blooms. After all, a cutting garden should maximize joy and minimize effort, filling your days with harvests—not hassles. So, with those features in mind, here are eight of our favorite easy-to-grow flowers for cutting gardens—reliable, beautiful, and guaranteed to keep your vases full all season long.
Zinnia
Why not start with what is probably the most popular cutting flower of all time. Zinnias are a must-have flower for the cutting garden and for a variety of reasons. They're easy to grow—no need to start them early, just plant the seeds directly in the soil and watch them grow into mounds of colorful flowers. Plus, the plants, once established, are extremely fuss-free. In fact, they're drought resistant, rabbit resistant and deer resistant. What's more, they don't need fertile soil. Yep, zinnias will grow just about anywhere.
And zinnias come in just about every color, size, and shape imaginable. You can get mixes that boast an assortment of colors or opt for a bold statement with single color types. Some zinnias have double blooms which means that they form whorls of petals clear to the center, much like a carnation. And then there are single or semi-double varieties, which feature open centers that are more attractive to butterflies and other pollinators looking to access their sweet nectar.
But probably the biggest selling point for zinnias is that they are truly cut and come again. In fact, the more flowers you harvest, the more you'll get in return. And since they bloom right up until frost, you'll be enjoying their beautiful blooms all summer and fall.
Cosmos
Cosmos are one of my personal favorite cut flowers. They offer not only charming blooms but also some of the most beautiful foliage in the garden. Two main species are commonly grown for cutting: Cosmos bipinnatus and Cosmos sulphureus. The foliage differs slightly between them—bipinnatus has feathery, finely divided leaves that give the plants a light, airy look, while sulphureus varieties have darker green, deeply cut leaves with a more robust presence. Both types bring a soft, romantic texture to any bouquet.
Cosmos also come in a wide range of cheerful colors. Bipinnatus types include soft pinks, whites, pale yellows, and deep burgundy tones—we even grow a lovely apricot variety. Sulphureus types, on the other hand, lean toward bold, tropical shades of yellow, orange, and red. Some of the orange varieties even show streaks of red in their petals, giving them an almost flame-like appearance.
Thriving in full sun with minimal care, cosmos are easy to grow from seed. They're also uniquely helpful in arrangements—cosmos flowers seem to arrange themselves. While the blooms may droop a bit immediately after cutting, they typically perk up within a few hours and shift gently to fill the empty spaces in a bouquet as they seek out the light. The effect is a loose, natural elegance that makes even a casual vase look like a professional arrangement.
Sunflowers
Sunflowers might not be the first flower that comes to mind for cutting gardens, but they’re an excellent choice for bold, cheerful arrangements. They come in a surprising range of colors—from classic golden yellows to deep, rustic reds. We’re especially excited to be trialing a pale, buttery Italian White Sunflower this summer, which is sure to add a softness to our summer bouquets.
Although many people picture sunflowers as towering giants, they're not all so stately. Dwarf varieties like Teddy Bear and Carousel are much easier to harvest and more space-efficient in the garden. These smaller types are especially beloved by children, since their blooms sit right at eye level and are perfect for picking.
And the diversity of sunflowers doesn’t stop at color or size. A number of native and specialty varieties—like the slender-petaled Maximilian sunflower or the fiery orange Mexican sunflower—bring unique form and texture to arrangements. These types also tend to bloom longer than standard Helianthus annuus varieties, making them a smart choice for gardeners who want to keep the vase full well into fall.
Bachelor's Buttons
Also known as cornflower, bachelor's buttons have long been a staple for many farmhouse gardens. Although my mother did quite a bit of flower gardening when I was growing up, I don't think I'd met a bachelor button until I moved to Iowa and spent some time with a farming family in Northern Iowa. The farmwife, Marylou, had the most beautiful planting of bachelor buttons growing in her garden. I think I still have a picture of a much younger me crouched down beside them. I began growing them shortly after and haven't looked back.
Bachelors Buttons come in a range of colors including white, pink, purple and blue. In addition to the classic "Polka Dot" mix, which includes all of these colors, we offer several single-color mixes. Black Ball cornflowers are a dramatic dark purple which is set in nice contrast against their silvery green foliage. Our Pink Bachelor Buttons, a favorite of our six-year-old daughter, bloom in a soft ballerina pink that’s perfect for romantic, feminine arrangements. And our White Bachelor's Buttons make an ideal neutral filler for bouquets of any style or color palette.
Bachelor’s buttons are easy to grow from direct-sown seed, preferring cooler weather and full sun. Sow them early in spring, and you’ll be rewarded with a long season of blooms. For continuous harvest, cut stems just as the buds are beginning to open—this encourages new growth and extends flowering. Flowers hold up well in the vase, and their light, papery petals bring a delicate, airy charm to fresh-picked arrangements.
Bells of Ireland
Bells of Ireland is a classic for the cutting garden—grown not for colorful petals, but for its stunning lime green spires lined with unique, bell-shaped "blooms" (Actually, they're calyces). In the garden, the tall, architectural stems seem to glow when backlit by the setting sun, creating a truly magical effect. But it's in the vase where this plant really shines. Long-lasting and elegant, Bells of Ireland adds height, texture, and a fresh burst of green to any bouquet. With floral preservative, the flowers can stay fresh in arrangements for up to two weeks.
In addition to their eye-catching appearance, Bells of Ireland also offer a lovely surprise: a refreshing minty scent, thanks to their membership in the mint family (Lamiaceae). They grow as annuals, reaching 24 to 30 inches tall, and bloom reliably throughout the summer months.
While easy to grow once established, germination can be a bit tricky. We recommend a brief cold stratification followed by warmth to encourage sprouting—full instructions available here. Once up and growing, the plants are quite resilient.
For best results in the vase, harvest stems when the bells are well-formed but still bright green. Strip the lower leaves and place stems immediately into cool water. Their strong, upright structure adds drama to arrangements, and they pair beautifully with just about any flower you grow alongside them.
Amaranth
Few flowers bring as much drama to the cutting garden as Amaranth. With its bold color and velvety texture, amaranth comes in two main forms—tall, plume-like spikes that add structure to bouquets and pendulous, tassel-like blooms that drape gracefully from arrangements. Both types belong to the Amaranthus genus and are favorites among flower growers for their unique presence and long vase life.
Among the upright plume types, we offer Kiwillo, a dusky, pink-toned variety perfect for neutral palettes; Hopi Red Dye, with dark burgundy foliage and bold red plumes once used as a natural dye; and Kerala Red, which produces feathery, wine-colored spikes on vigorous, high-performing plants. These varieties are not only striking fresh but also excellent for drying.
If you're after drama, the cascading types deliver. Our Love-Lies-Bleeding unfurls long ropes of pink blooms that trail from tall stems like velvet streamers, while Green Tails offers the same elegant form in a cool, apple-green shade. Both add stunning movement and contrast to arrangements and are especially showy in tall vases or hanging installations.
Amaranth is heat-loving, easy to grow, and tolerant of poor soil. Plants can reach 4 to 6 feet tall, so give them some space and good airflow. For the best vase life, harvest just before the flowers begin to shed pollen and strip the lower leaves before placing in cool water.
And while it it's not a member of the Amaranthus genus, we’d be remiss not to mention Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena globosa)—pictured in the cover photo of this article. Its round, clover-like blooms hold up beautifully in both fresh and dried arrangements and come in a range of cheerful colors that pair effortlessly with a variety of other flowers.
Coreopsis
If you're looking for a flower that practically arranges itself, Plains Coreopsis is it. Also known as Tickseed or Goldenwave, this cheerful native wildflower produces an explosion of golden, maroon-centered blooms on a dense, highly branched plant that looks like it was made for the vase. In fact, the branching is so abundant that you can often just snip a few stems at the base, bunch them together, and drop them into a jar—instant arrangement!
A true prairie native, Plains Coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria) thrives in hot, dry conditions and blooms steadily from summer into fall. Plants stay a compact 18 to 24 inches tall, making them a great choice for borders, pollinator gardens, or even large containers. The flowers are light and airy on the stem, giving arrangements a natural, meadowy charm, and they last about 7 days in the vase. Deadheading will keep blooms coming and extend the harvest window.
Pollinators love this plant as much as florists do—butterflies, bumblebees, honeybees, and native bees are drawn to its vivid blooms. And with its easy-going nature and long bloom period, Plains Coreopsis is one of those cut flowers that quietly becomes a garden essential.
Baby’s Breath
No cutting garden is truly complete without Baby’s Breath. Light, delicate, and endlessly versatile, it produces clouds of tiny white blooms on fine, branching stems, softening arrangements with a dreamy, romantic texture. Whether you're building a full bouquet or just filling in the gaps, Baby’s Breath is the kind of flower that makes everything else look better.
Our preferred variety, Covent Garden, is a reliable performer—easy to grow, quick to bloom (in just eight weeks), and surprisingly productive for its compact size of 12-24 inches. We’ve trialed a carmine-pink version but found the blooms a bit underwhelming. In my opinion, nothing beats the timeless charm of classic white.
Baby's Breath plants bloom in profusion throughout the summer. For longest vase life, harvest stems when about a third of the flowers have opened. With successive sowings every few weeks, you can enjoy Baby’s Breath all season long—a soft, fluttery finishing touch that never goes out of style.
Final Thoughts
The joy of a cutting garden isn’t just in the flowers—it’s in the rhythm of planting, picking, and arranging them into something that you find beautiful. Whether you’re drawn to the vibrant cheer of zinnias, the graceful spires of amaranth, or the delicate flutter of baby’s breath, each of these easy-to-grow favorites brings its own kind of magic to the garden and the home.
And perhaps best of all, growing your own flowers means you’re never without a fresh bouquet—whether it’s destined for your own kitchen table, your mom on a Sunday visit, your spouse after a long day, your best friend just because, or a teacher who deserves a little extra beauty in their week. A few stems in a jar can say “thank you,” “thinking of you,” or simply “isn’t this lovely?”—no card needed.
Ready to grow your own bouquets? Shop our full collection of cut flower seeds and make every snip a joy — from the first vibrant bloom to the heartfelt bouquets shared with friends, family, and neighbors.
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