Grower's Picks: Best Cut Flowers for Summer-to-Fall Harvest

Secrets from Flower Farmers

Growers love dahlias for their peak bloom during the critical summer-to-fall cut-flower window. Home gardeners love them because they're easy: plant tubers in sun after last frost, stake, and enjoy abundant blooms in two months.

Dahlia Tips

• Start with cactus, decorative, or pompom forms.
• Choose varieties with long, strong stems and substantial leaves/flowers.
• Cut mature blooms morning or evening; dip stem ends in 160–180°F water 1–2 minutes before vase.
• In freezing areas, dig tubers in fall; store in peat moss or sawdust in cool, dark place.

Recommended Cut Flowers by Season & Type

Cool-Season Annuals

Bells-of-Ireland, corn cockle, larkspur, soapwort, stock, sweet pea.

Warm-Season Annuals

Amaranth, gomphrena, scabiosa, statice, zinnia (Benary's Giants).

Cool-Season Biennials

Canterbury bell, delphinium (Magic Fountains), foxglove, sweet William (Amazon series).

Warm-Season Perennials

Aster 'Monte Cassino', coneflower 'Magnus', coreopsis 'Cutting Gold'/'Early Sunrise', feverfew 'Tetra White', rudbeckia 'Indian Summer', summer phlox, veronica, yarrow (Colorado mix).

Cool-Season Bulbs/Tubers

Alstroemeria hybrids, Dutch iris.

Warm-Season Bulbs/Tubers

Crocosmia 'Lucifer', dahlia, tuberose 'The Pearl'.

Seed Sources

Johnny's Selected Seeds, Park Seed, Prairie Garden Seeds (soapwort 'Rosa Bella').

A comprehensive guide to growing your own cut-flower garden.