Plant lovers across North America are clamoring for their own backyard cutting garden spaces. The ability to grow and enjoy their own floral bouquets is very attractive. Plus it fosters neighborly connections as personal and custom homemade gifts of fresh flowers.
For independent garden centers (IGCs) and other grower/retailers looking for help to curate an end cap or collection in their floral departments to hype this movement, we asked our Cut Flower Specialist Dave Dowling for his top recommendations of plant classes to offer in the spring.
"I suggest garden centers have a 'cut flower' section, just like they have an 'herb' or 'pollinator-friendly' section in their retail sales area," says Dave. Explore his list below and reach out to your Ball ColorLink team for more advice and to place your order on Ball Seed WebTrack.
Cut Flower Plants to Sell at Your Garden Center
Annuals
Easily direct sown into market pack/six packs
Zinnia: Benary series; Oklahoma series; Uproar series; Queeny/Queenie series
Sunflower: Pro Cut series; Vincent series; Sunrich series
Cosmos: Versailles series; Double Click series; Cupcake series
More Annuals
Best grown from plugs and transplanted into market pack/six packs
Ageratum: Blue Horizon
Aster: Matsumoto series; Azumi XL series
Celosia (crested): Chief series
Celosia (plume): Sunday series; Pampas Plume series
Celosia (spicata): Flamingo series
Dianthus/Sweet William: Amazon series
Gomphrena: Audray series
Helichrysum/Strawflower: King Size series; Monstrosum series
Lisianthus: ABC series; Rosita series
Marigold: Xochi Orange; Coco series
Snapdragon: Potomac series; Rocket series; Madame Butterfly series
Scabiosa: Dark Knight; Salmon Queen
Perennials
Cut flowers for quart or ½ gallon pots.
Peony (in one or two gallon pots): Sarah Bernardt; Kansas; Red Charm; or any double variety
Phlox paniculata: David; Garden Girls series; Super Ka-Pow series
Sedum: Autumn Joy; Matrona
Campanula glomerata: Freya
Liatris spicata: Blue; Alba
Baptisia: All varieties
Achillea: Moonshine; Coronation Gold; Summer Berries; New Vintage series
Astilbe: Any variety over 18-in. tall
Echinacea: Double Scoop series; Sombrero series
Note: Dave says do not use PGRs on any plants for cut flower sales. Give them stem length for good cutting quality for the end user. For more information and resources, visit the Ball Seed Cut Flower microsite at www.info.ballseed.com/CutFlowers where Dave, Heather Ebl and Jose Sanchez are sharing their expertise.
