
Have you ever thought about planting a perennial garden for cut flowers in central Ohio? Most of the time, when people think of spring, summer, and fall gardening, they think of vegetable gardens. While we love our veggies, there’s something to be said for growing flowers for beauty.
There are certain cut flowers you can grow in central Ohio that make for beautiful bouquets, and then there are other flowers that are best left au natural. But which one is which? How do you know what to plant in your perennial garden so that you can grow your own cut flowers for DIY bouquets? Well, here are some of our favorite perennials to plant in Ohio for beautiful cut flowers.
Astilbe
Astilbes are long, fluffy flowers that help fill out bouquets. If you have a hole in your bouquet, then fill it with an astilbe stem. Astilbes also bring soft wispiness to DIY flower arrangements and can add texture and height variation too. Try using astilbes as cut flowers by themselves in a tall vase for a soft, modern vibe.
Astilbe flowers come in white, cream, purple, red, and pink. Astilbes last about five days in a vase.
How to Grow
Astilbe is one of the best perennials to grow in the shade because it needs partial to full shade to thrive.
Astilbe also needs rich, well-draining soil. Keep the plant moist by thoroughly watering it each week, but don’t let the plant sit in soggy soil. Give it extra water during hot and dry periods.
Feed astilbes with a balanced fertilizer, such as 5-5-5 fertilizer. This will invigorate the plant and encourage the astilbe to grow more flowers.
Turtlehead (Chelone)
Haven’t heard of turtlehead flowers? That’s okay! Many people haven’t. Yet, turtleheads (a.k.a. chelones) make for good cut flowers, partly because they’re unique looking.
Turtleheads grow as flower spikes/stalks. So, they are great for bringing height and uniqueness to a bouquet.
Turtleheads are wildflowers that are native to North America, and they come in pink and white. As cut flowers, turtleheads last about seven days in a vase.
How to Grow
Turtleheads are shade-loving perennials flowers, so give them partial or full shade.
They also need rich, moist soil. Water them at least once a week. Add mulch to keep in the moisture if necessary. Also, give them a balanced liquid fertilizer each spring.
Catmint (Nepeta)
Catmint is a low-maintenance perennial that grows purple and blue flower spikes. These spikes can give height and texture to DIY flower bouquets.
Also, catmint has a wonderful fragrance. People have described catmint as smelling like thyme, oregano, mint, and lemon. Sometimes people smell a mix of all four aromas at the same time! What will you smell?
As cut flowers, catmint lasts ten or more days in a vase.
How to Grow
Catmint can thrive in partial shade to full sun, and it needs well-draining soil. Give your catmint lean and dry soil to make your catmint’s fragrance stronger. Both of these conditions make the plant’s oils concentrate in the flowers, which is what makes the flowers aromatic.
Fertilize your catmint when you plant it and then again in the fall for the first year you have the plant. After that, forget about it and enjoy. That’s right, catmint is so low maintenance that you don’t have to put in any maintenance at all after the first year! This plant thrives in an Ohio garden even if you neglect it.
Echinacea (Coneflower)
Echinacea is one of our favorite perennials to use for cut flowers. This is because purple echinacea is a native Ohio flower, it’s easy to grow, and it’s long blooming. Also, Ohio’s pollinators love echinacea because the flowers are rich in nectar.
Echinacea is a good cut flower because it brings color and vibrance to bouquets, and it’s like a daisy but bigger! Also, there are so many different colors of echinacea that you have a rainbow of colors to choose from!
As a cut flower, echinacea can last for up to two weeks in a vase. They also make for great dried flowers as well.
How to Grow
Echinacea needs full sun and well-draining soil. These drought-tolerant plants can survive without much water in Ohio gardens, but they will thrive with regular watering.
Fertilize your echinacea with some compost each spring. Other than that, just let these low-maintenance flowers be.
Reach Out to Stockslager’s Greenhouse & Garden Center for Guidance, Supplies, & Perennial Plants
If you want to create a beautiful garden full of flowers, then come by Stockslager’s Greenhouse & Garden Center and let us assist you. We have all of the above plants available in our greenhouse (while supplies last) as well as all of the gardening supplies you’ll need this summer. Call our central Ohio garden center at 937-687-2722 for questions about availability.
If you have any questions about planting a perennial garden for cut flowers or about gardening, then you can visit us or give us a call, and one of our knowledgeable experts will be happy to assist you. We want to help bring your perennial garden dreams to life. We hope that you’ll stop by!