Perennial Landscape Plants We Love for Cut Flower Arrangements
Are you growing perennials in your cutting garden? Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting this year, we want to share a few of our favorite perennial landscape plants we love to use in our flower arrangements.
If you are new to gardening, a perennial refers to a plant that returns each year, as opposed to an annual, which dies off after a season.
Let’s dive into the plants we love for our cut flower arrangements.
Mountain Mint — Greenery
Mountain Mint, or Pycnanthemum muticum, is a low maintenance herb we grow at Sweet Earth Co. Not only does it add a beautiful element of greenery in arrangements (and adds great structure!), it supports pollinators and can even be dried for tea! A word of caution, it is a mint and so it likes to spread; be sure to give it room. Also, this is one that can handle part shade.
Solidago — Filler
Solidago speciosa also known as showy Goldenrod, is a great choice for a filler in your flower arrangement with its fluffy golden flower spikes in various shades of yellow. It’s often confused with ragweed because they look similar and often grow near each other, but it is a native perennial to be valued because it supports pollinators and beneficial insects, and it is also drought resistant. This one also likes to spread a bit so I give it its own bed in the landscape and let it do its thing. It is also a great dried flower.
Peony — Focal
Peonies are a popular floral choice for all kinds of arrangements. Rightfully so, as they’re beautiful and fragrant. They are large and full flowers that make the perfect focal point for an arrangement. They are my favorite spring flower. Technically, they are a grown from tubers, not roots, but they return every year so I consider it a perennial. Other than needing proper staking, the peony is a low maintenance plant. I also use the leaves for greenery later in the season when the plant is done blooming.
Penstemon — Line Flower
The line flower provides shape, height, and structure to the overall arrangement. Penstemon digitalis also known as Beardedtongue — are long and slender plants with several blooms up and down the stem, making them the perfect choice for a line flower. There are so may different cultivars and colors. I like the Husker Red variety for its dark foliage. Once established, penstemons are fairly low maintenance and drought resistant. I also love them because they are multifunctional in that their seed heads dry well and add interest to a bouquet.
Yarrow — Filler
Another of our favorite fillers is Yarrow (Achillea) a plant that has flowers in a flat and wide umbel shape, which adds fullness to the arrangement. These plants also attract pollinators, are easy to grow, like to multiply and are drought resistant. The straight species with white flowers is typically grown as a medicinal herb, but there are many cultivars that come in a variety of colors that are great for arrangements.
Delphinium — Line Flower
Delphinium, also known as perennial Larkspur, is another tall option perfect as a line flower. There aren’t many true blue flowers, but delphinium add that bold colorful blue spike to arrangements and they tower in the landscape. These are definitely to be planted in the back of the perennial border and need to be staked. While they attract butterflies and hummingbirds, some species of delphinium are also toxic to humans, pets and horses.
Geum — Accent Flower
Geum, commonly known as Avens, are a great accent flower choice, as they’re bright and beautiful but don’t compete in size with the focal flower (like the peonies we mentioned above). They are also low maintenance, deer resistant and attract butterflies to your garden. I love them for their whimsical nature and the graceful movement they add to a bouquet.
Scabiosa Fama — Accent Flower
The Scabiosa Fama is another of our favorites for accent flowers in arrangements. The Fama variety comes in blue and white and offers continuous blooms throughout the season as long as they are deadheaded. The flower is romantic and delicate-looking but don’t let that fool you, it is hardy in the garden and holds up well in the vase.
Joe Pye Weed — Filler
Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium dubium ) is another favorite filler option. Its delicate and full umbel of flowers reminds me of globe alliums, but it has strong, erect stems that add structure to your bouquet. I usually get two flushes of blooms from it. Eupatorium is drought tolerant and a great pollinator plant, but the deer do love it.
Astrantia — Accent
Lastly, we love Astrantia as an accent. The blooms are beautiful but neutral, making it a great choice for complimenting other flowers and plants in your arrangement without overpowering the design. I just love the touch of romance and whimsy it adds to a garden-inspired bouquet.
