Cut Flowers From Seed For Your Garden
Sow Now for a Stunning Cut Flower Display in Late Summer and Autumn
If you love having fresh flowers in the house but want to grow your own, June is still a brilliant month to get started. By sowing a carefully chosen selection of annuals and half-hardy plants now, you can look forward to armfuls of cutting material from August right through to the first frosts. Whether you are growing in pots on a patio or dedicating a border to a cutting patch, the following plants will reward you generously.
Annual Asters — The Stars of the Autumn Cutting Garden
Of all the flowers you can sow for late summer and autumn, annual asters (Callistephus chinensis) deserve special attention. Their blooms are simply breathtaking — great pompoms and cushions of colour in shades ranging from the purest white through soft lilac, deep violet, rich crimson, and vivid coral pink. They flower prolifically from August into October, exactly when many summer flowers are fading, making them invaluable for late season arrangements.
June sowings work particularly well because asters naturally prefer the cooler conditions of late summer and autumn. They often outperform spring-sown batches that have struggled through July heat. Sow in pots or trays rather than direct into the ground — the seed is small and benefits from the controlled conditions of a pot. Germination takes around 10 to 14 days. Once large enough to handle, pot on and plant out in late June, spacing plants at least 30cm apart. Good air circulation around the plants is important as asters can be susceptible to fusarium wilt; avoid growing them in the same soil two years running to reduce this risk.
Best varieties for cutting:
- Matsumoto series — Specifically bred for the cut flower trade, with excellent stem length and outstanding keeping qualities. One of the best all-round choices.
- Ostrich Plume — Feathery, incurved petals that give an elegant, almost chrysanthemum-like appearance. Long stems and excellent vase life.
- Duchess series — Classic double flowers on strong, robust stems. Reliable and very floriferous.
- Crego Mixed — Spidery, open petals with a more unusual, contemporary look. Elegant in mixed arrangements.
Asters give you stems of 40 to 60cm and vase life of around 7 to 10 days. Cut them when the blooms are just fully open for the best results.
The Full Late Summer and Autumn Cut Flower List
Here is the complete selection to sow now, with guidance on what to expect from each:
Zinnia
One of the most rewarding cut flowers you can grow. Zinnias love warmth, so sow in pots now and plant out in late June once nights remain mild. They will flower from August through October, producing stems of 40 to 60cm with a vase life of 7 to 10 days. Pinch out the growing tip early to encourage branching and maximise the number of stems. Best varieties: ‘Benary’s Giant’ series for large blooms, ‘Pumila Mixed’ for more traditional double flowers, and ‘Zinderella’ for unusual peony-flowered types.
Rudbeckia
The warm golden and bronze tones of annual rudbeckia are perfect for autumn arrangements. Stems reach 50 to 70cm with an impressive vase life of 10 to 14 days, and the flowers can also be dried successfully. Sow in pots now and plant out into a sunny border or large container. Best varieties: ‘Toto Gold’, ‘Cherry Brandy’ for unusual rust and purple tones, and ‘Indian Summer’ for large single flowers.
Scabiosa
The delicate pincushion flowers of scabiosa are outstanding in mixed arrangements, adding an airy, cottage garden charm. Stems reach 40 to 60cm and vase life is around 7 to 10 days. Sow in pots and plant into well-drained soil in a sunny position. Best varieties: ‘Tall Mixed’, ‘Oxford Blue’, and ‘Salmon Queen’.
Ammi majus
This white umbellifer — sometimes called bishop’s flower — is one of the most useful filler flowers you can grow. Its delicate lacy heads soften arrangements beautifully and it produces stems of 60 to 90cm. Sow direct into the ground where it is to flower as it dislikes root disturbance, or sow carefully in deep pots. Best variety: The straight species is excellent; look also for ‘Graceland’ which has particularly large heads.
Larkspur
Larkspur produces some of the most dramatic vertical stems in the cutting garden, reaching 90 to 120cm in the tall varieties. The elegant spires of flowers in white, pink, purple, and salmon dry beautifully as well as being outstanding fresh. Sow direct where it is to flower — larkspur dislikes root disturbance — raking seed in lightly and keeping moist until established. Best varieties: The ‘Giant Imperial’ series in separate colours gives the best stem length and cutting quality.
Helichrysum (Strawflower)
Helichrysum is uniquely valuable because its papery flowers last for weeks in a fresh vase and dry exceptionally well, retaining their colour and form for months. Stems reach 30 to 50cm. Sow in pots, barely covering the seed as it needs light to germinate, and plant out into a sunny, well-drained position. Cut for drying just before the flower is fully open. Best varieties: ‘Tall Mixed’ for cutting, ‘Silvery Rose’, and ‘Bright Bikinis’ for a wide colour range.
Antirrhinum (Snapdragon)
June is on the later side for antirrhinums but they will flower well in September and October, and they actually prefer the cooler conditions of autumn. Stems reach 60 to 90cm in the tall cutting varieties, with an outstanding vase life of 10 to 14 days. Sow in pots on a warm windowsill or in a greenhouse — they need warmth to germinate — and pinch out early to encourage multiple stems. Best varieties for cutting: ‘Rocket series’, ‘Madame Butterfly’, ‘Chantilly series’, and the ‘Potomac series’ which was specifically developed for the cut flower trade.
Cornflower
One of the easiest flowers on this list, cornflowers sown in June will give a useful second flush of flowers in September and October. Sow direct or in pots, with stems reaching 40 to 60cm. The flowers also dry well. Best varieties: ‘Blue Ball’ for the classic intense blue, or ‘Classic Romantic’ for a mixed colour range including white, pink, and burgundy.
Calendula
Incredibly easy and very fast — calendula will be in flower within about 8 weeks of sowing and keeps going right until the first hard frosts. Sow direct into the ground or into pots. Stems reach 30 to 45cm. Deadhead regularly to maintain production. Best varieties for cutting: ‘Indian Prince’ for deep orange with dark centres, ‘Sherbet Fizz’ for pale apricot tones, and ‘Art Shades Mixed’ for a range of warm colours.
Nigella (Love-in-a-Mist)
Nigella is a double-value plant — the delicate blue, white, or pink flowers are beautiful in arrangements, and the inflated striped seedheads that follow are equally decorative fresh or dried. Sow direct where it is to flower. Stems reach 30 to 40cm. Best varieties: ‘Miss Jekyll’ for classic blue, ‘Persian Jewels’ for mixed colours, and ‘Albion Black Pod’ for dramatic dark seedheads.
Growing in Pots
Many of these flowers grow very well in large containers, making them ideal if you do not have a dedicated cutting border. The key rules for pot growing are to use the largest container you can — a minimum of 30 to 40 litres for best results — fill with a good quality peat-free compost, and water consistently as pots dry out quickly in warm weather. Zinnias, antirrhinums, asters, helichrysum, and calendula are all particularly well suited to pot growing. Feed with a high potash liquid feed every 10 to 14 days once flowering begins to maintain production.
Growing in Borders
If you have space, a dedicated cutting border is enormously rewarding. Choose the sunniest spot available — virtually all cut flowers perform best in full sun. Prepare the soil well with added compost and ensure good drainage. Sow larkspur, ammi, cornflower, and nigella direct into the border; transplant the remaining plants as young plug plants once they have been hardened off. Successional sowing every 2 to 3 weeks will extend the cutting season and ensure you always have stems at different stages of development.
Cut Flower Summary Table
| Plant | Stem Length | Vase Life | Good for Drying |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zinnia | 40–60cm | 7–10 days | No |
| Rudbeckia | 50–70cm | 10–14 days | Yes |
| Scabiosa | 40–60cm | 7–10 days | No |
| Ammi majus | 60–90cm | 7–10 days | No |
| Annual Aster | 40–60cm | 7–10 days | No |
| Larkspur | 90–120cm | 7–10 days | Yes |
| Helichrysum | 30–50cm | Weeks fresh | Yes — excellent |
| Antirrhinum | 60–90cm | 10–14 days | No |
| Cornflower | 40–60cm | 5–7 days | Yes |
| Calendula | 30–45cm | 5–7 days | No |
| Nigella | 30–40cm | 5–7 days | Yes — seedheads |
Sow a selection of these now and by late August you will have more cut flowers than you can bring inside — a genuinely rewarding project that costs very little and transforms the garden and the house right through to autumn.
