Productive Perennials for your Cutting Garden

Cutting gardens are typically filled with annual plants, which flower prolifically throughout a season. Perennials, on the other hand, put out less blooms, but require less attention and maintenance year to year, making them worth the investment. Here we’ll cover a few varieties that have produced well for me, and a couple more that I’ll be investing in for the future.

As was covered in the post about the USDA Zones, perennials need to be planted in the correct zone. Some varieties cannot tolerate extreme low temperatures and will not survive harsh winters, while other varieties require cold for a dormant period, so make sure you know your zone before planting perennials!

Echinacea (Coneflower)

Echinacea (commonly known as Coneflower) is one of the easiest, most versatile perennial flowers to grow in a cut flower garden. The most popular variety is a purple shade (pictured), but can also be found in other colors including orange, pink, and white. In addition to using the flowers in arrangements, petals of past-due flowers can be pulled off and the center pod works beautifully in both fresh and dried arrangements. 

Yarrow

Yarrow is one of the best filler flowers, perennial or annual, that you can grow. Several tiny clusters of florets are grouped on a single stem, adding the perfect backdrop for larger, showier flowers. Yarrow is extremely drought tolerant, flowers all season long, and can spread prolifically if you let it (ask me how I know). Flowers are useful in both fresh and dried arrangements. 

Rudbeckia (Black or Brown Eyed Susan)

Rudbeckia, or Black Eyed Susan, is another drought-tolerant perennial to add to your cutting garden. These flowers resemble daisies and coneflowers, which they are related to, and go well in arrangements of any kind! Several types of rudbeckia are used for prairie restoration, and the plant is deer and rabbit resistant, making it an easy choice for any cut flower garden. 

Coreopsis (Tickseed)

Coreopsis (or Tickseed) is one of my favorite landscaping perennials as it’s cheery yellow flowers are one of the first to bloom in the early summer. It’s hardy, does well with neglect, and produces pretty delicate stems to add to bouquets. The downside is that the stems feel a lot like Bachelor’s Buttons in terms of harvesting - a lot of work for a small handful of stems - but as a little extra filler, they are a great flower to have in your perennial cut garden.

While those are some of my favorite perennial cut flowers, there is a long list to choose from! Here are the ones that work in my area, that I’ve either used and loved, or varieties I’ve had my eye on.

Varieties I have in my current perennial gardens are:

• Echinacea

• Yarrow

• Rudbeckia

• Daffodils (both standard and the fancy kind)

• Iris

• Boxwood (for greenery)

• Daisies

• New England Aster (great for fall color)

• Tall Sedum (again, great for fall)

• Lavender

• Coreopsis (Tickseed)

Varieties I’ve added for next year (or future years, as they establish)

• Lilac

• Peonies

• Hibiscus

• Hydrangea

• Ninebark

• Dutch Iris

• Penstemon

Varieties I’m looking to add

• Monarda (Bee Balm)

• Delphinium (Larkspur)

• Hellebores

• Columbine

Annuals seem to steal the show (and the space) of a typical garden, but adding perennials can add stability in terms of garden structure and consistent blooming, while reducing the amount of maintenance required. Sounds worth the little extra investment to me!