11 Cutting Garden Flowers to Start From Seed in February

Whether you’re planning a new cutting garden this year or getting prepared to work on your established garden, February is a good time to make a move. Depending on your climate, you may be looking for seeds to sow directly in the garden or some to start indoors. Whichever group you fall into, it’s time to get some seeds sprouted. 

The best plants for cutting gardens are those that have tall, strong stems. I like to vary things by mixing flower colors, sizes, and textures to create the widest range of arrangements. When making your selections, consider the color palette as well as the needs of each plant. Make sure your climate supports them and that you have the right space to meet their demands. 

It’s also important to identify whether your seeds need any special considerations. Find out if they grow best when you start them indoors or directly sow them in the ground. Here are some of my favorite spring flowers for the cutting garden that are ideal to start in February.

Black-Eyed Susan

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Cherokee Sunset Black-Eyed Susan Seeds

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Aster

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King Size Apricot Aster Seeds

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Cosmos

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Apricotta Cosmos Seeds

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Rudbeckia ‘Cherokee Sunset’

	botanical name Rudbeckia hirta ‘Cherokee Sunset’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 24”-30”
	hardiness zones 9-10

Rudbeckia, or Black-eyed Susan, is a wonderful cut flower to start in February. They have long, slender, fuzzy stems that offer a delightful wildflower appearance to arrangements. It’s also a prolific producer and re-seeds excellently. Once you get these in the garden, you’ll see them popping back up each year. Give them space to grow, and their resilience will amaze you. They are native to much of the United States, so they help to support your local ecosystem in these areas. 

Start these indoors, about two months ahead of your last anticipated frost date. Planting them later in the year will result in a lack of flowers in the first year. This plant likes cold stratification. Two to four weeks is sufficient. In Zones 3-9, sow your seeds outdoors in the fall, and the weather will cold-stratify naturally. ‘Cherokee Sunset’ has semi-double blooms in shades of red, rust, orange, and brown.

Aster ‘King Size Apricot’

	botanical name Callistephus chinensis ‘King Size Apricot’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 30”-40”
	hardiness zones 2-11

Asters are easy to grow, and many varieties have tall stems and showy blooms that look wonderful in arrangements. They prefer well-drained, loamy soil and lots of exposure. Pollinators are fond of these versatile and adaptable plants.

‘King Sized Apricot’ is large and elegant in a stunning, soft, apricot blush tone. In cool climates, start these indoors about six to eight weeks ahead of time. In milder climates, you can plant these in summer for late fall and winter flowers. 

Cosmos ‘Apricotta’

	botanical name Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Apricotta’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 32”-42”
	hardiness zones 2-11

I’m a big fan of cosmos in the cutting garden. Their delicate, nodding stems and sweet, small flowers are wonderful in the yard or in the home. Cosmos are incredibly easy to grow and versatile about where you plant them. They have soft, fern-like foliage that provides texture in an arrangement and in a flower bed. 

Here’s the catch: in warm climates, it’s almost time to put these in the ground. They prefer direct sowing. However, they grow nicely when you start them indoors, too. Start these cutting flowers from seed a month to six weeks ahead of your last frost date, around February or March for many zones. Make sure to pinch these when they are small to encourage branching. 

Echinacea ‘White Swan’

	botanical name Echinacea purpurea ‘White Swan’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 24”-36”
	hardiness zones 3-8

Echinacea is easy to grow and care for, and it’s a perennial, so you only have to plant it once for years of enjoyment. Pollinators love these blooms, and if you leave some on the plant in the fall, overwintering birds will come for the seed heads. They are perennials throughout much of the US and add a lot to the landscape with their sturdy leaves and stiff stems that hold substantial flowers 

‘White Swan’ has all the usual characteristics of purple coneflower except for the color. These blooms are snow white, with a large yellow and green cone in the center. This variety appreciates a head start in February and grows up to three feet tall, making great cut flowers later in the summer.

Gomphrena ‘Lavender Lady’

	botanical name Gomphrena globosa ‘Lavender Lady’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 24”-28”
	hardiness zones 2-11

Gomphrena is another pollinator favorite. It’s incredibly resilient, standing up to heat and drought without a care. It dries nicely, as well. For the best start, sow these seeds indoors about six to eight weeks ahead of your last frost. 

‘Lavender Lady’ has pretty purple flowers that resemble clover. They retain much of their color when you dry them. These have a long bloom time, starting in summer and continuing until the first frost. They make a great filler in bouquets.

African Marigold ‘Kilimanjaro White’

	botanical name Tagetes erecta ‘Kilimanjaro White’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 18”
	hardiness zones 2-11

Marigolds are rarely at the top of the list when we think about cut flowers, but they can be wonderful. African marigolds, in particular, have long, strong stems and large showy blooms. They are also edible and have a pleasant, tonic fragrance. 

Start your marigolds indoors about a month to six weeks ahead of time. Transplant them when there is no more risk of frost. ‘Kilimanjaro White’ was a long time in the making. The first white marigold we first saw this marigold in 1975. Its soft, creamy flowers and spicy, citrus aroma make it wonderful for the cutting garden. 

Poppy ‘Lauren’s Grape’

	botanical name Papaver somniferum ‘Lauren’s Grape’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 24”-36”
	hardiness zones 2-11

Poppies are an amazing addition to your cutting garden. Few blooms have as much personality and charm, not to mention old-fashioned beauty. In warm climates, fall is the best time to plant these. Poppies will have the best germination rate with cold stratification. Fall planting solves this issue. 

If you waited until spring to plant poppies, make sure you get them in the ground as soon as it’s workable. This will give them some exposure to cold weather. You can also put them in the fridge for a few weeks before planting. Direct sowing is best. ‘Lauren’s Grape’ is a gorgeous, rich plum-colored variety. 

Scabiosa ‘Starflower’

	botanical name Lomelosia stellata ‘Starflower’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 18”-24”
	hardiness zones 2-11

This special type of scabiosa isn’t famous for its flowers. It’s the resulting seed heads that make a delightful addition to fresh and dried floral. Tall, strong stems hold small blue and white flower clusters. The seed heads left behind are large, papery, and spherical.

These prefer warm soil for ideal germination. Start them indoors about six to eight weeks ahead of time. Pollinators like these, but deer will not show interest. 

Snapdragon ‘Orange Wonder’

	botanical name Antirrhinum majus ‘Orange Wonder’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 30”-36”
	hardiness zones 7-10

Snapdragons are a favorite for me. They are an excellent addition to the cutting garden with their long stems and flashy, flamboyant flower spikes. In warm climates, plant these in the fall. They are surprisingly frost-tolerant. A few nights of temperatures in the 20s (around -7°C) won’t phase these pretty plants.

I recommend starting your snapdragons indoors. Cold stratification is not necessary, but it can improve the germination rate. A week in the fridge should be plenty. I love ‘Orange Wonder’ and grow these every year. Their fluffy flower heads are shades of apricot, orange, and pink. 

Strawflower ‘King Size Silvery Rose’

	botanical name Xerochrysum bracteatum ‘King Size Silvery Rose’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 36”-40”
	hardiness zones 8-10

Strawflowers are unique and interesting, with papery bracts that retain most of their color when you dry them. They like heat and take a while to bloom, so it’s good to get a head start. Start these indoors about one to two months ahead of your last frost date. 

Strawflowers come in a multitude of colors and sizes. ‘King Size Silvery Rose’ is a large variety with shimmery, blush-colored bracts. They look nice in fresh arrangements, but they truly shine as a dried floral. 

Sweet William ‘Sweet Rose Magic’

	botanical name Dianthus barbatus ‘Sweet Rose Magic’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 18”-36”
	hardiness zones 3-9

Sweet William is a close relative of Carnations. Clusters of sweet and spicy scented blossoms grow atop tall, stiff stems similarly. The fragrance is noteworthy, as it has a spicy, clove-like note. Start these indoors as many as 10 weeks ahead of time.