Best Perennials for Cut Flowers

The Best Perennials for Cut Flowers (And When They Bloom in Zone 6b) 

If you are thinking more about growing flowers to sell or if you simply love having fresh flowers in your home but don’t want to start from scratch every year, perennials are your best friend! Unlike annuals, which need to be replanted each season, perennials come back year after year—bigger and better. This not only saves you money but also makes garden planning a little easier! In turn, you are guaranteed to have specific things year after year which I personally love. Here are some of the best perennials to grow for cut flowers, plus their approximate blooming times and sun or shade preference in Zone 6b. These are also perennials in many other growing zones but I like to looks specifically at Zone 6b since that is what I have knowledge with.  

1. Peonies

• Bloom Time: May to early June, prefers full sun to partial shade

• Peonies are the queens of the spring garden! Their big, fragrant blooms make stunning cut flowers, and they get better with age. Just be patient—they can take a couple of years to establish. Once they are established you won’t be disappointed! These are one of my favorite flowers to grow and bring inside. 

2. Black-Eyed Susans

• Bloom Time: July to September, prefers full sun 

• These bright yellow flowers add a cheerful touch to any bouquet. They’re easy to grow, drought-tolerant, and loved by pollinators. 

3. Echinacea

• Bloom Time: June to September, prefers full sun 

• Also known as coneflowers, echinacea offers a rustic, wildflower feel to cut arrangements. Plus, they attract bees and butterflies while standing up to heat and drought. 

4. Yarrow

• Bloom Time: June to September, prefers full sun 

• Yarrow’s clusters of tiny flowers add great texture to bouquets. It comes in many colors and is a powerhouse in the garden—drought-tolerant and low-maintenance. My fields have yarrow growing wild all over the place! I can’t help but plant some myself too so I can add in a few more colors. 

5. Shasta Daisies

• Bloom Time: June to August, prefers full sun

• Classic and timeless, Shasta daisies bring a fresh, cheerful look to any floral arrangement. They’re easy to grow and come back stronger each year. 

6. Phlox 

• Bloom Time: July to September, prefers full sun to partial shade 

• Phlox produces clusters of fragrant, colorful blooms that are perfect for cutting. Plus, they bring a beautiful cottage-garden feel to your flower beds. Phlox has a really nice sweet scent.

7. Bee Balm

• Bloom Time: July to August, prefers full sun to partial shade 

• If you want a bold pop of color, bee balm is a great choice. It attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies while adding a unique, spiky texture to cut flower arrangements. Bee Balm keeps growing all season if you are consistent about cutting off the dead leaves and flowers!

8. Russian Sage

• Bloom Time: July to October, prefers full sun 

• This airy, lavender-colored perennial is a wonderful filler in bouquets. It’s drought-tolerant, low-maintenance, and adds a soft, wispy element to any arrangement. Wow the bees LOVE my Russian Sage plants!

9. Liatris

• Bloom Time: July to September, prefers full sun 

• Liatris, or blazing star, has tall spikes of purple flowers that look fantastic in bouquets. Plus, they’re a favorite among pollinators. 

10. Astilbe

• Bloom Time: June to August, prefers partial shade to full shade 

• If you love soft, feathery blooms, astilbe is a must-have. It thrives in partial shade and brings a romantic, delicate touch to cut flower arrangements. I am in love with Astilbe! I wish I could have it growing everywhere. 

11. Sedum

• Bloom Time: August to October, prefers full sun 

• A fantastic late-season bloomer, sedum provides long-lasting flowers that look great both fresh and dried. Their deep pink hues add warmth to fall bouquets. 

12. Veronica

• Bloom Time: June to August, prefers full sun 

• These spiky flowers come in shades of purple, blue, and pink. They add height and elegance to cut arrangements while being easy to care for. Pink is my personal favorite to grow. 

13. Coreopsis

• Bloom Time: June to September, prefers full sun 

• Coreopsis produces bright, daisy-like flowers that are easy to grow and bloom for months. They bring a cheerful, sunny feel to any bouquet. 

14. Hydrangeas

• Bloom Time: June to September, prefers partial shade to full sun 

• Hydrangeas are a florist’s favorite! Their big, fluffy blooms look stunning fresh and can also be dried for long-lasting arrangements. Hydrangeas are a little picky on soil but they are worth the hassle I promise!

15. Lavender

• Bloom Time: June to August, prefers full sun 

• Lavender is not only beautiful and fragrant but also incredibly useful. It makes for a stunning filler in fresh bouquets and can be dried for sachets and decor. There are so many varieties of lavender have fun figuring out which one you love the most!

Final Thoughts 

Growing perennials for cut flowers means you’ll enjoy beautiful blooms year after year without having to start from scratch each season. With these beginner-friendly choices, you’ll have fresh flowers for your home, gifts, and arrangements to sell. The biggest thing to remember when starting perennials is that they take some time. If you want to make money by selling flowers in your first year, perennials probably won’t cut it unless you add in annuals too. Perennials get better with age so but they are so worth it! Personally when I find a perennial I love, I plant a couple new plants every year or every other year to get a well established crop of beautiful perennial plants!