13 Best Flowers for Cut Floral Arrangements

Peruvian Lily

Also known by its genus name, Alstroemeria, Peruvian lily is a popular choice for cut flowers, even though most people don't know it by its botanical name. Peruvian lily flowers in late spring or early summer. The flowers are sensitive to fluoride, so let tap water sit for a few hours before using. Alstroemeria can be kept in a vase for six to 14 days. Peruvian lily is mildly toxic to humans and animals.

• Name: Peruvian lily (Alstroemeria aurea)
  
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 7–10
• Color Varieties: White, pink, purple, yellow, orange, and red
• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained, slightly acidic

Bird of Paradise

There's no mistaking the bird of paradise (Strelitzia reginae)—the flowers look like colorful birds about to take flight. This is a tropical plant that needs lots of sunshine and warmth. It can be grown outdoors in frost-free areas or grown indoors as a houseplant. Even indoors, bird of paradise needs daytime temperatures around 66 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit and at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit at night. It makes an eye-catching cut flower, although it may need wiring to help support the heavy flowers.

Bird of paradise will last in a vase for seven to 14 days when cut fresh. his flower is toxic to cats, dogs, and horses.

• Name: Bird of paradise (Strelitzia reginae)
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 9–11
• Color Varieties: Orange, white
• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Soil Needs: Rich, loamy, slightly acidic

Carnation

Carnations (Dianthus caryophyllus) are one of the longest-lasting cut flowers. They are also easy to grow from seed and have a wonderful clove-like fragrance. Although they are most commonly thought of as flowering in white, pink, and red, horticulturalists continue to develop new varieties in different hues. If you grow your own, you can have cut flowers well into fall.

Carnations will last in a vase for seven to 21 days. Carnations are mildly toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.

• Name: Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus)
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5–9; grown as annuals in other zones
• Color Varieties: Yellow, pink, red, white, magenta, coral, bicolor
• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Soil Needs: Evenly moist, well-drained

Chinese Lantern

Chinese lantern (Physalis alkekengi) is a relative of tomatillos and ground cherries and is grown for the papery, bright orange husk that develops around its berries (which are toxic). The bright orange seed pods can be used fresh in arrangements. If allowed to dry, they'll keep for months and maybe years. However, be aware that Chinese lantern can become very invasive. It spreads aggressively through underground rhizomes and will self-seed prolifically if not deadheaded. It might be wise to grow this plant in a container where you can control its spread.

• Name: Chinese lantern (Physalis alkekengi)
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–9
• Color Varieties: White flowers covered by orange calyx
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
• Soil Needs: Evenly moist, well-drained

Delphinium

You can't beat delphiniums (Delphinium x elatum) for shades of blue and purple, although they also come in white and pink. They can be difficult to grow because they like cool, moist summers. Delphiniums don't grow well in hot and humid climates. If growing your own, cutting the flower stalks as soon as they bloom will encourage the plant to repeat-flower. Like Peruvian lily, delphiniums are sensitive to ethylene gas so don't store in the refrigerator with fruits and vegetables.

Delphiniums will last in a vase for seven to 14 days when cut fresh. Certain species of delphiniums are toxic to animals depending on growth stages. Toxicity in humans is rare.

• Name: Delphinium (Delphinium x elatum)
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–7
• Color Varieties: Blue, purple, white, pink, violet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Soil Needs: Medium moisture, humusy, well-drained

Gladiolus

Gladiolus (Gladiolus x hortulanus) are among the most popular summer bulbs to grow. They can reach heights of four to six feet with their tall, spiky flower stalks. Gladiolus are thirsty cut flowers, so keep an eye on the water level and refill when necessary. You can force unopened buds to open by using warm water in the vase and covering the flowers with a clear plastic bag.

Gladiolus flowers last seven to 10 days when cut fresh and placed in a vase. Gladiolus bulbs are toxic to dogs and cats.

• Name: Gladiolus (Gladiolus x hortulanus)
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 6–10
• Color Varieties: White, cream, yellow, orange, red, pink, green, lavender, purple, bicolor
• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Soil Needs: Medium moisture, humusy, well-drained

Heather

Sprays of heather (Calluna vulgaris) are often used as airy fillers in floral arrangements. They have long stems of small pink, purple, or white flowers. Another option for the vase is the very similar-looking heath plant (Erica spp.) These evergreens are very long-lasting when cut. Be aware that mold can occur if the stems are packed too tightly in the vase.

Cut heather will keep in a vase for one to two weeks.

• Name: Heather (Calluna vulgaris)
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 4–6
• Color Varieties: Rose pink to purplish pink
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained, humusy; tolerates poor, sandy, or gravelly soils

English Lavender

It is common to dry lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), but it also makes a wonderful fresh-cut flower. If you arrange fresh lavender stems without adding water to the vase, they will dry on their own and extend their vase life indefinitely. Lavender's strong fragrance intensifies as it dries. When arranging it in a water-filled vase, remove all leaves below the water level, or they will rot.

Cut fresh and placed in water, English lavender lasts up to 10 days. English lavender's signature fragrance is beloved but the plant is toxic to people and pets.

• Name: English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5–8
• Color Varieties: many shades of blue and purple
• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Soil Needs: Dry to medium moisture, well-drained

Lilies

Any lily (Lilium spp. and hybrids) is beautiful but oriental lilies have the best fragrance and can perfume an entire room. Choose sprays with a few slightly opened lower buds to prolong the bloom time in the vase. The stamens can drop pollen on anything that comes near them, causing an orange-yellow stain that is very difficult to clean from clothing. Use garden snips to remove the stamens by hand before cutting and arranging lilies in a vase.

Cut lilies will keep in a vase for seven to 14 days. Many types of lilies are toxic to pets, particularly cats.

• Name: Lilies (Lilium spp. and hybrids)
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–9
• Color Varieties: White, pink, red, orange, yellow, lavender, purple, bicolor
• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Soil Needs: Medium moisture, well-drained

Love-in-a-Mist

Love-in-a-mist (Nigella damascena) is a cool-season annual flower that blooms in shades of blue, pink, and white. Each flower is surrounded by a fern-like netting or "mist." The flowers give way to a balloon-like seed pod. Both the flowers and the seed pods make interesting additions to floral arrangements.

Love-in-a-mist will last seven to 10 days when cut and placed in a vase. The seeds of love-in-a-mist are toxic to both humans and animals.

• Name: Love-in-a-Mist (Nigella damascena)
• USDA Hardiness Zones: Annual grown in zones 2–11
• Color Varieties: Blue with cultivars in white, pink, rose, and purple
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil Needs: Medium moisture, well-drained

Love-Lies-Bleeding

Most Amaranthus species make long-lasting cut flowers. The long, distinctive, rope-like tassels of love-lies-bleeding (Amaranthus caudatus) hold their form and red color very well. The plants easily grow from seed, reaching 4 feet or more in height. Love lies bleeding can be direct sown or can be started indoors ​six to eight weeks before the last frost.

Cut flowers will last seven to 10 days in the vase.

• Name: Love-Lies-Bleeding (Amaranthus caudatus)
• USDA Hardiness Zones: Annual grown in zones 2–11
• Color Varieties: Red
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
• Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained

Roses

There are thousands of varieties of roses (Rosa spp. and hybrids) so they never get boring and you can grow and cut any type of rose for floral arrangements. Spray roses with multiple blooms on each stem and make quick, charming bouquets. Crushing the end of the stem before you put it in the vase will help it take up more water.

Roses keep their appearance for six to 12 days in a vase.

• Name: Roses (Rosa spp. and hybrids)
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–10 (depends on variety)
• Color Varieties: Pink, red, salmon, white, rose, purple, yellow, bicolor
• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Soil Needs: Medium moisture, well-drained, loamy, slightly acidic

Sunflowers

Homegrown sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) spend the early part of the summer growing tall and don't generally bloom until later in the season. You can find them at almost any time of year at flower shops because they have been imported from other countries. The traditional sunflower has bold, yellow flowers, but there are many new hybrids in shades of red and bronze. Sunflowers can be top-heavy, so use a sturdy vase to support them.

Sunflowers will last in a vase from six to 12 days.

• Name: Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus)
• USDA Hardiness Zones: Annual grown in zones 2–11
• Color Varieties: Yellow, orange, burgundy, red, bronze, creamy white, bicolor
• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained; tolerates poor, dry soil