Tips for Cut Flowers • Placing cut flowers in lukewarm o water (110 F) then moving to a • Cut flowers early in the morning. They cool location for an hour or two is are at their maximum hydration before called “HARDENING” and allows the heat of the day so they will last longer for maximum water uptake and life in an arrangement. for your cut flowers.

• Flowers with multiple buds should be cut with at least one bud beginning to open. Cut single stem flowers when they are THE FOLLOWING ARE BASIC GUIDE- fully open. LINE FOR CUT FLOWER PREPARATION. CERTAIN FLOWERS REQUIRE SPECIAL • Carry a bucket of water with you to the PREPARATION, BUT THIS GETS YOU garden when you cut the flowers so you STARTED: can place the cut stems directly into the water. Leaving the cut stems open to air Hearty Stems: (solid) cut diagonally and allows damage to the vascular tissue place in warm water. which impedes water absorption into the flower. Hollow Stems: turn upside down and fill with water then plug with a piece of • Re-cutting flowers stems (1/4” to 1”) cotton or use your finger and put into a and immediately placing in water opens vase with water. up new vascular tissue and is one of the best things you can do to lengthen the life Soft stems (bulb flowers): place in cold of your flowers. water (no warm water).

• Use a clean vase to prevent bacteria and Woody Stems: make vertical cuts in the Suggested Flowers for the Cutting fungus from killing your flowers. end of the stem to create more surface Garden and How to Use Them area to absorb water (some people • Using a flower preservative is useful as it smash the stem end with a hammer). will lengthen the life of your arrangement. Milky Stems: if a stem oozes milky sap • Remove the leaves below the water line when it is cut, sear the end of the stem as rotting leaves are unsightly and will by applying a flame to the cut end for shorten the life of your arrangement. 30 seconds or dipping the cut end in boiling water for 30 seconds.

Written by Sara Koetje Cut Flowers Delphinium The List: Dicentra spectabilis Bleeding Heart Part of the pleasure of Good Cut Flowers Dianthus caryophyllus Carnation gardening is being able Echinacea purpurea Purple Coneflower to look at, smell, and Annuals Echinops Globe Thistle enjoy the results of your Euphorbia Spurge (Careful of milky sap!) Ammi majus False Queen Anne’s Lace labor. When you cannot Ferns (foliage) be in the garden, bring Antirrhinum majus Snapdragon Gaillardia x grandiflora the garden to you with Calendula officinalis Marigold Gladiolus cut flowers! You could Callistephus chinensis China aster Gypsophilia paniculata Baby’s Breath cut any flower from your garden for a bou- Centaurea cyanus Cornflower Hosta (foliage) quet, but here we will consider a good cut Consilida ajacis Larkspur Iris flower if it keeps for at least five days after Cosmos Liatris spicata Gayfeather cutting. Cutting flowers from your garden is Gomphrena globosa Globe amaranth Lilium Lily also good for the plants as it performs a Helianthus Sunflower Limonium latifolium Statice function similar to dead-heading (removing Helichrysum bracteatum Strawflower Monarda Bee Balm old blooms) and encourages more blooms. Lathyrus odoratus Sweet Pea Narcissus Daffodil Limonium sinuatum Statice Paeonia Peony Matthiola Stock Phlox paniculata Summer phlox Cut Flowers Moluccella laevis Bells of Ireland Rudbeckia hirta Gloriosa Daisy Nigella damascene Love-in-a-mist Scabiosa Pincushion flower Where? First, think about where you Salpiglossis sinuata Painted tongue would like to plant your flowers. Most of the Tanacetum parthenium Feverfew Tagetes African Marigold Tulipa Tulip flowers that make good cut flowers grow best in Zinnia the sun, so a sunny location is preferred. You Verbena bonariensis can grow flowers for cutting either incorporated Zantedeschia Calla into the rest of your garden or creating a Perennials separate space for them. In any case, you’ll want to be able to have enough to enjoy in Achillea Yarrow Shrubs & Grasses your garden as well as some to cut and bring Alchemilla mollis Lady’s mantle inside. Allium Carex p. ‘Sparkler’ Alstromeria Eucalyptus (foliage) What? You should plant what you like Astrantia Masterwort Hebe (foliage and flowers) for cut flowers. Think about the flower colors Aster Hydrangea you like. You could do a color scheme like hot Rosa Rose (Flowers and hips) colors (yellow, red, orange, and white) or cool Campanula Bellflower Salix caprea Pussy Willow colors (blue, purple, green, and white) or a mix Chrysanthemum of colors. Bouquets of flowers look best when Coreopsis Tickseed Syringa Lilac there is a combination of flower types and Crocosmia Viburnum opulus ‘Sterile’ Snowball Bush shapes like spikes, single stems, and racemes. Dahlia