13 Cut Flowers You Should Succession Plant This Year

A well-planned cutting garden is a project that supplies continuous satisfaction and joy. There is something really special about clipping a bouquet from your beds to bring to a friend or family member. There’s an extra sentiment attached when you did the work of growing them yourself. 

I love to have flowers on my table for as much of the year as possible, so I try to keep my cutting garden producing continuously. The best way I’ve found to do this is by succession planting my favorite cut flowers for a constant supply over an extended time period. 

Succession sowing is planting seeds at intervals, so that you have plants at different stages at all times. By staggering your planting, you’ll get more blooms, and they won’t all happen at one time. This way, you’re actually able to make use of them all! Here are some flowers that are perfect for succession planting in the cutting garden. 

Rubenza Cosmos

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Rubenza Cosmos Seeds

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Giant Purple Zinnia

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Phyllis African Marigold

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Phyllis African Marigold Seeds

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Cosmos

	botanical name Cosmos bipinnatus
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1’-4’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Cosmos are lovely in bouquets, lending a wildflower look with their fern-like foliage and slender, nodding stems. While they have a modest vase life, you can cut stems that are still in the bud and have new blooms open every day. These charming little blossoms are attractive to bees and butterflies, as well. 

While you should be able to keep them blooming for several months, they tend to get leggy as time goes on. This is especially true of those you are cutting regularly. I recommend sowing two to three rounds of these, each a month apart, to keep them going all summer and into the fall. 

Zinnias

	botanical name Zinnia elegans
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1’-4’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Zinnias are the perfect cut flower for succession planting in hot climates. When most blooms are languishing in the heat, zinnias just need a little drink every couple of days to last well into the fall. Sadly, many of the gorgeous double-petaled varieties stop producing those dense blooms after the first few you cut. 

To keep getting those big, fancy flowers, succession plant your zinnias every two to three weeks. You can directly sow as soon as the threat of frost has passed. Continue as long as you like; most varieties take about two months to mature, so you can plant all the way through the summer months in most climates. 

African Marigolds

	botanical name Tagetes erecta
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1’-2’
	hardiness zones 2-11

African marigolds are big and bold in warm colors with layers and layers of petals. This species is taller than French marigolds, so they are great for cutting. They have a unique, botanical scent, and the petals are edible, so they are fun to decorate cold dishes with. 

‘Phyllis’ marigolds are brilliant yellow and extra fluffy. Though the plants will branch, you may find they don’t produce as many blooms as you had hoped for once you see how gorgeous they are. Start a round of seeds every two to three weeks to have a continuous supply. Similar to zinnias, these tolerate heat and are fairly drought-tolerant. 

Sunflowers

	botanical name Helianthus annuus
	sun requirements Full sun
	height Up to 12’+
	hardiness zones 2-11

Sunflowers make an incredible bouquet, certain to make the recipient feel loved. It’s a good thing, too, because they take a while to flower. This is the perfect cut flower species to succession plant because many varieties only produce a single bloom!

Branching sunflowers are wonderful because they produce for a longer period and more stems. For varieties that only produce a single flower, succession sow every two weeks for about two to three months for a steady supply. These ‘Heirloom Beauties’ are branching, so they are great for planting once or many times over!

Calendula

	botanical name Calendula officinalis
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1’-2’
	hardiness zones 9-11

Calendula prefers cooler temperatures, so summer in the South is not ideal. However, you can grow them in cooler climates, sowing every two to three weeks to keep those cheery blooms coming all through summer and fall. They are quick to mature and edible, with a unique fragrance. 

In warm climates, start planting these in late summer, and succession sow through the fall for winter and spring flowers. Calendula is surprisingly cold-tolerant. I prefer a taller variety like ‘Resina’, which reaches up to two feet tall. They retain their color as they dry, as well, making them great for dried arrangements and teas. 

Cornflowers

	botanical name Centaurea cyanus
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2’-3’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Similar to calendula, cornflowers like cool weather, and they grow fast. In cool climates, you can sow these every two weeks from early spring until late summer. In warm climates, start in late summer for fall flowers, and continue through the fall for a supply of blooms in winter and early spring. 

Cornflowers, also known as Bachelor’s Button, come in an array of colors. The most common and popular is blue, but I prefer ‘Black Magic,’ especially in the fall. Its dark, broody vibe is perfect for Halloween bouquets. Avoid sowing these in the ground, where they tend to invade natural areas.

Love-in-a-Mist

	botanical name Nigella damascena
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1’-2’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Love-in-a-mist has a similar feel to cosmos, with delicate, fern-like foliage and small, intricate flowers. The foliage surrounds the blooms, which have an involved system of stamens that swirl around the center. They make an excellent filler. 

Directly sow these in the garden, starting about a month before your last frost date. They don’t mind some cold weather. Then, succession sow them every two weeks until mid-summer for a bounty of blooms. ‘Miss Jekyll Blend’ combines white with multiple shades of blue. 

Annual Phlox

	botanical name Phlox drummondii
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1’-2’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Phlox smells lovely, and its delicate blossoms in substantial clusters make it wonderful for bouquets. However, in hot climates, it may stop blooming in the middle of summer. Give it a bit more shade to prolong the blooming period and get it through the heat. 

Sow annual phlox seeds every two to three weeks, and you’ll have a bumper crop for late spring. Some of them may not bloom until fall, but once they resume, you’ll have beautiful blooms once more. 

Stock

	botanical name Matthiola incana
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1’-3’
	hardiness zones 7-10

Stock is great in floral arrangements. The tall, fluffy flower spikes have a delightful, spicy clove scent, and look great in fresh or dried arrangements. It performs well in containers and prefers the cooler seasons. 

Plant in early spring and sow once every three to four weeks. You’ll have flowers in spring, which will bloom into the summer months in cool climates. In warm climate areas, expect a summer pause and more flowers in the fall. 

Strawflowers

	botanical name Xerochrysum bracteatum
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1’-5’
	hardiness zones 8-10

Strawflowers remind me of autumn, but if you get an early start, you can have them blooming during spring and summer with no problems. I find that strawflower seeds can be difficult to germinate, so I recommend starting more than you need. 

Plant a new round of seeds every two to three weeks. You can plant more seeds midsummer to have a supply of these fun flowers in fall. They are excellent for dried arrangements, as their papery bracts retain nearly all their color. 

Gaillardia

	botanical name Gaillardia x grandiflora
	sun requirements Full sun
	height Up to 3’
	hardiness zones 7-10

Gaillardia, also called blanketflower, is wonderful in the cutting garden. These showy plants are short-lived perennials in most parts of the United States and have a long blooming period. Because they have good heat and drought tolerance, these are a good option for summer flowers in warm climates. 

Opt for a taller variety in the G. x grandiflora group. These have longer stems that are better for bouquets. They are also attractive to pollinators and an excellent food source in summer and fall. They also thrive in poor and sandy soil. 

Tickseed

	botanical name Coreopsis spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3’-4’
	hardiness zones 4-9

Tickseed is another perennial that grows in a wide range of climates. It’s frost-tolerant and remains green all year in zones 8 and 9. They have a significant blooming period, but they are so pretty, you’ll want to make sure you have some on deck if you cut them all simultaneously. 

Directly sow these seeds after your last frost date and then every four to six weeks. They will bloom in summer and fall. In the fall, dig them up and divide them for even more plants next year. ‘Incredible! Swirl is a beautiful variety with oxblood blooms with a pure white ring around the outside. 

Celosia

	botanical name Celosia spp.
	sun requirements Full sun
	height Up to 3’+
	hardiness zones 2-11

Celosia is a unique and interesting plant that works well in succession-planted flower beds and floral arrangements. The large, velvety blooms take a while to mature, and each plant only produces one large flower at a time. You can encourage them to branch, but in my experience, those flowers won’t be as spectacular.