How to Grow a Cut Flower Garden in BC

One of the key gardening trends we’ve noted these past few years is a marked increase in interest in cut flower growing. Whether fuelled by the widespread success and visibility of Floret in neighbouring Washington State, the rise of the Slow Flowers movement, or the proliferation of “farmer florists,” locally grown flowers are hot. In this post, we’ll explore the basics (and then some!) of how you can grow your own flowers to create beautiful backyard bouquets. Since we’re a Vancouver-based garden centre, this post focuses on how to grow a cut flower garden in BC, with special emphasis on flowers, foliage, and fillers for our climate.

Why grow a cut flower garden?

Simply put, flowers are magical. There’s something wonderfully rewarding about growing any plant from seed, bulb or tuber, and watching it flourish. With cut flower gardens, you can take that beauty indoors with you.

Planning a Cut Flower Garden

There are several things to consider when planning how to grow a cut flower garden in BC:

Include plants with different “roles”

In flower arranging, every stem has a job to do. We can categorize things as focal flowers, filler, and foliage. When planning your garden, you’ll want to ensure you plant things from each category for a well-balanced bouquet. Don’t underestimate the importance of foliage and filler! Many flower farmers actually recommend dedicating up to half of your growing space to these stems; they may not be the stars of the show, but they allow the stars to sing. Let’s look at some examples of each:

Focal flowers make an impact. They draw the eye first, and are typically larger than others in the arrangement. They are beautiful enough to stand alone (i.e., be “bunched”). For that reason, if you have only a little growing space, you might choose to grow focal flowers only. Examples include most spring-blooming bulbs. sunflowers, dahlias, and snapdragons.

Foliage breathes life into bouquets. Unlike the ubiquitous salal found in commercial arrangements, the varieties of foliage we have available to us as gardeners is nearly unlimited. In addition to cutting stems from your perennials and shrubs, you can also grow a wealth of interesting stems to serve as foliage. Bupleurum and Artemisia ‘Sweet Annie’ are favourites. We also like to include herbs that have gone to seed.

Filler plants do more than just “fill.” They can add whimsy—as in the case of ornamental grass seed heads—or help to bridge between two different colours of focal flower. Some favourite fillers for cut flower gardens include phlox, yarrow, and nicotiana.

Planning for a succession of blooms

While it’s not possible to grow cut flowers all year round in BC without a heated greenhouse, we can get close! With a little planning, you can have blooms for most of the year.

A sample cut flower bloom schedule

January-April: Crocus, narcissus, tulip, hyacinth, iris. Branches of cherry and forsythia. Hellebore.

May-June: Allium, iris, tulips, anemone. Geum, peony, rose, Lady’s Mantle, aquilegia, salvia. Sweet pea, poppy, orach, snapdragon, bupleurum, scabiosa, cress, foxglove, dill, nicotiana.

July-August: Sweet pea, orach, snapdragon, scabiosa, zinnia, cosmos, sunflower, basil, strawflower, yarrow, amaranth, ornamental grasses, celosia, foxglove, artemisia, larkspur, rudbeckia, dahlia.

September-November: Snapdragon, scabiosa, zinnia, cosmos, sunflower, strawflower, cress, yarrow, amaranth, ornamental grasses, dahlias, nerine.

Including variety in your cut-flower garden

You’ll notice that the above “bloom schedule” includes not only annual flowers, but flowering branches, bulbs, tubers, herbs, perennials, and grasses. Spring-blooming bulbs and dahlias are particularly useful in extending your blooms from spring through fall, but early-blooming perennials, perennial herbs, ornamental grasses and broadleaf shrubs are also key.

Choosing hard-working plants

When you’re working within a small space, every plant must earn its keep. When choosing which varieties to grow, consider the following:

• Select varieties bred or noted for cut-flower growing. Not all flowers produce long, straight stems or have a good vase life. Sunflowers, for example, have been bred for a wide range of uses other than cut-flower growing: supporting wildlife, for their edible seeds, or for their novel height. Research which varieties are best for cut flower growing. You may need to order seeds from cut-flower farms to get the seeds you want.
• Choose cut-and-come-again varieties. Some flowers are a “one and done”: you can cut one flower per stem, per season (e.g., peonies). Others actually produce more flowers the more you cut! Examples include sweet peas, zinnia, dahlia, and scabiosa.
• Avoid the fussy ones. Some flowers—poppies and cerinthe, for example—quickly wilt once cut if their stems aren’t seared before arranging. If you’re pressed for time (and who isn’t?), choose varieties that don’t need special treatment after cutting.
• Favour those that can be “straight bunched.” If you’re short of space, choose varieties that can stand alone in a vase: sweetpeas, sunflowers, and many other focal flowers don’t need filler or foliage to create a stunning display.

General principles for cut flower growing success

Once you’ve planned your garden, you’ll need to plant and raise your plants before you can enjoy them in the vase. We’ll go into details about specific flowers below, but first, here are some general guidelines for how to grow a cut flower garden in BC:

• Baby your babies: Water in new transplants with kelp fertilizer. Make sure you protect newly planted seedlings from birds, slugs, and heat waves.
• Pinch and thin: Pinch to encourage branching (and more flowers) in varieties that benefit from this treatment. Thin to prevent overcrowding.
• Support: Stake, net, or corral to prevent plants from flopping and to encourage straighter stems.
• Continue to feed, continue to cut: Feed weekly and weakly with a liquid organic fertilizer. Cut flowers as they mature to encourage more blooms; this can mean near-daily cutting for some varieties.

The BC Grower’s Guide to the Best Flowers, Foliage, and Filler for Cut Flower Bouquets and How to Grow Them

Here are several of our favourite focal, filler, and foliage stems to grow here in Vancouver. Most of these plants are easy care, easy cut, and indispensable in the vase.

Amaranth

An amazing, heat-tolerant filler (that also has edible leaves!), amaranth brings the drama.

How to grow amaranth in BC

Timing: Indoors in April or direct sow in May

Start: Indoors or direct. Sow ¼” deep.

Growing and cutting: Sun. Pinch out growing tip once 4” tall to encourage bushiness. Cut when at least 3/4 of the flowers on the inflorescence are open. May benefit from staking in windy areas. No special conditioning needed.

Artemisia ‘Sweet Annie’

Sweet smelling and prolific green spires. You won’t believe how big this heat-loving annual will get in just a couple of months!

How to grow artemisia in BC

Timing: Indoors in March

Start: Indoors recommended. Barely cover the seed. Bottom water or mist to avoid covering the seed with displaced soil. Transplant when seedlings have the second set of true leaves and after danger of frost.

Growing and cutting: Sun. Staking is beneficial. Cut just as the first yellow blossoms are opening.

Bupleurum

An interesting and unusual annual plant valued for its whimsical chartreuse flowers and later, bronze seedheads. Good filler and foliage.

How to grow bupleurum in BC

Timing: Indoors in February, or direct sow in fall or March-April.

Start: Direct sow recommended. Plant ¼” deep.

Growing and cutting: Full sun. Do not pinch. Cut once flowers are fully open.

Cosmos

Delicate-looking annual focal flower with lacy foliage.

How to grow cosmos in BC

Timing: Indoors in March, or direct sow in May-June

Start: Indoors recommended. Plant ¼”-½” deep. Transplant out after last frost.

Growing and cutting: Sun. Pinch out growing tip once 4” tall to encourage bushiness. Stake plants to ensure straight stems. Cut frequently to extend bloom time. No special conditioning needed.

Cress

Another edible filler, grow cress for its airy and interesting seed pods.

How to grow cress in BC

Timing: Direct sow in fall or March

Start: Direct sowing recommended. Cover seeds with 1/4″ soil. Thin when first true leaves appear.

Growing and cutting: Sun. Stake to achieve straight stems. Harvest before leaves begin to yellow. No special conditioning needed.

Dahlia

The queen of the late-summer cutting garden, dahlias come in hundreds of varieties, including different shapes, sizes, heights, and colours.

How to grow dahlias in BC

Timing: Start tubers indoors in March or directly outdoors once soil has warmed; usually May.

Start: Indoors or out. Bury tuber 4-6″ deep on its side, horizontally, growing eye facing up once risk of frost has passed. Place a support stake at time of planting. Do not water until green shoots emerge.

Growing and cutting: Full sun, in rich well-draining soil. Staking required. Pinch out growing tip once plants reach 8″ tall. Cut flowers once fully open. No special treatment required. We favour the ball-shaped dahlias because they last longest in the vase.

Dill

Yes, the herb! Dill produces lovely umbels that lend a slightly wild, meadowy feel to arrangements.

How to grow dill in BC

Timing: Direct sow in March

Start: Direct sowing recommended. Cover seeds with 1/4″ soil.

Growing and cutting: Sun. Staking not required. Cut when stems are firm.

Larkspur

Tall spires in gorgeous hues. Annual. Focal or filler.

How to grow larkspur in BC

Timing: Direct sow in March or Sept-Nov (for bloom the following year)

Start: Direct sowing recommended. Sow ¼” deep (darkness is required for germination). Seeds do not germinate well in warm soil.

Growing and cutting: Sun. Performs best in cool summers. Good self-sower. Staking plants helps to ensure straight stems. *All parts of the plant are poisonous, including the seeds. Keep away from children and pets. No special conditioning needed.

Nicotiana

Great annual filler flower providing movement and whimsy.

How to grow nicotiana in BC

Timing: Indoors in March

Start: Indoors recommended. Surface sow (press seeds into moist growing media vs. cover as light aids germination). Transplant out after last frost.

Growing and cutting: Sun/part shade. Pinch out growing tip once 4” tall to encourage bushiness. Cut multiple times per season. Staking may be required. No special conditioning needed.

Orach

Another edible grown for its seedpods, orach provides nice texture and movement in arrangements.

How to grow orach in BC

Timing: Indoors in February or direct sow in March

Start: Direct sowing recommended. Cover seeds with 1/4″ soil.

Growing and cutting: Harvest fresh stems or when seed pods have matured. Leaves are edible.

Scabiosa

Easy-to-grow filler that can be harvested for its blooms or interesting seed heads. Also used for dye and drying purposes.

How to grow scabiosa in BC

Timing: Indoors in February or direct sow in March

Start: Indoors recommended. Surface sow (press seeds into moist growing media vs. cover as light aids germination). Transplant out after last frost.

Growing and cutting: Sun. May require support. Cut frequently to extend bloom time. No special conditioning needed.

Snapdragon

Powerhouse focal flower! Long bloom time and very cold resistant.

How to grow snapdragons in BC

Timing: Indoors in February

Start: Indoors recommended. Surface sow (press seeds into moist growing media vs. cover as light aids germination). Transplant out after last frost.

Growing and cutting: Sun/part shade. Pinch out growing tip once 4” tall to encourage bushiness. Stake plants to ensure straight stems. Harvest once the lower third of florets on each bloom are open. No special conditioning required.

Spring-blooming Bulbs

Okay, so this is a bit of a catch-all, but spring-blooming bulbs such as daffodil, allium, tulip, fritillaria and more do such a wonderful job of bringing us blooms much earlier in the year than anything we can grow from seed. Narcissus (aka daffodil) are some of our favourites because they are very early, and tend to naturalize (come back year after year).

Growing spring-blooming bulbs in BC

Timing: Outdoors in October-November.

Start: Plant according to package directions (usually 2-6″ deep) in a hole amended with bonemeal. You can narrow your spacing for bulbs grown for cut flowers; this helps create longer stems.

Growing and cutting: Full sun. Pinching and staking not required. Cut before blooms are fully open. Daffodils emit a toxic sap once cut; do not combine with other blooms or they will kill those.

Sunflower

Classic late-summer blooms.

How to grow sunflowers in Vancouver

Timing: Indoors in late March-April or direct sow May

Start: Direct recommended. Sow seeds 1” deep, 6” apart. Sow every 2-3 weeks for a succession of blooms.

Growing and cutting: Full sun. Flowers can be harvested when colour first shows or when almost completely open. No special conditioning required.

Sweet peas

A sweetly scented classic. Bunch and display in short vases.

How to grow sweet peas in BC

Timing: Indoors in February, or direct sow in March-April

Start: Indoors or direct. Pre-soak seeds for 24 hrs, then plant ½” deep.

Growing and cutting: Sun. Pinch out growing tip once 4” tall to encourage bushiness. Provide a trellis or pea netting for them to climb. Cut daily during peak season to extend bloom time. No special conditioning needed.

Yarrow (Achillea)

Yarrow’s flat-topped form doesn’t just please pollinators; it lends an interesting shape to mixed bouquets. This BC native perennial self-sows prolifically, is drought tolerant, and also dries beautifully.

How to grow yarrow in BC

Timing: Indoors in February, or direct sow in fall or March-April.

Start: Yarrow requires light to germinate; do not bury the seed.

Growing and cutting: Full sun. No special treatment required. Cut back to the ground in autumn or allow to self-seed.

Zinnia

Stalwart annual focal flower in many beautiful hues.

How to grow zinnia in BC

Timing: Indoors in late March, or direct sow in May

Start: Indoors or direct. Sow ¼” deep and firm soil. Keep surface moist until germination.

Growing and cutting: Sun. Pinch out growing tip once 4” tall to encourage bushiness. Cut regularly during peak season to extend bloom time. To check for readiness, do the “wiggle test”: hold the stem 4” below the flower and lightly shake. If the stem is firm, it’s ready to cut. May benefit from staking in windy areas. No special conditioning needed.

How to cut and condition flowers

Finally! Your blooms are ready to cut and incorporate into beautiful posies. When cutting your flowers, follow these general principles:

• Learn about the right stage for cutting each variety; some will wilt if cut too early
• Cut early in the morning before the heat of the day sets in
• Use clean tools and place stems in clean buckets of fresh, cool water
• Treat the stems, if needed (e.g., searing the ends of poppy stems seals in sap and extend their vase life)
• Let them “rest” in a cool place out of direct sun. This allows them to hydrate before being arranged.

We hope this blog post leaves you feeling confident about how to grow a cut flower garden in BC. For more advice, seeds, and supplies, please visit Figaro’s Garden in Vancouver.