Download Flowers for a Cutting Garden A.albula, A.absinthium Compositae

Flowers for a Cutting Garden
Artemesia – A.albula, A.absinthium Compositae
This genus includes the herbs tarragon and wormwood. Silver King and Silver
Queen are the most available varieties. It is an extremely hardy perennial. This
attractive spire is great for arrangements, and excellent for wreath base. Pick in
late August, strip off only the bottom soiled leaves, hang to air dry.
Amaranthus - Amaranthus caudatus, A.tricolor
The very look of this plant speaks of Victorian gardens and parlors. It is a tropical
plant and should be started inside, but also does well planting seeds after danger
of frost. Pick the stalks when about half the blossoms are open and half are still
tightly closed and hand to dry. Dry in a vase for curved shapes.
Aster, china – Callistephus chinensis
So many different varieties of aster. Many colors, great for design work or for
bouquets .
Bachelor’s Buttons – Centaurea cyanus
Soft blue, pink and white blooms. Great edible flower for decorating desserts and
salads
Bells of Ireland – Moluccella laevis
Grows to a height of 18”. Cut the stems after the leaves have fallen, late summer
or early fall. Stand the stems in tall container, in 2” of water. When water
evaporates, hand upside down, individually. Bells are great for fresh cuts, but
they are geo-tropic responding to the effects of gravity, meaning whether they
are arranged diagonally or vertically, the tips of the flowers will curve upwards.
Bupleurum – Bupleurum rotundifolium
Classic filler for bouquets and vase arrangements. Yellow-lime green flowers atop
long, wiry stems. Makes a unique dried flower
Calendula – Calendula officinalis
Beautiful shade of orange, yellow mixes and textures. Edible-flowers fully open
Cosmos – Cosmos bipinnatus
Shades of pink, white and red. Great for added texture.
Delphinium(perennial) Larkspur (annual)
Brilliant blues and clean white for Delphinium and Larkspur bringing in blue, pink
and whites. Larkspur is best for drying.
Everlasting Sand Flower, Winged everlasting, or Amobium – Amobium alatum
Grows to 18” to 24”. Stems are stiff, flowers are silvery white, often with yellow
center, blooms profusely from July to October. Flowers must be picked before
the yellow centers are visible, but after the buds have started to open. Immature
buds do not open. These flowers are excellent for glue work. They can be used as
fresh cuts.
Gypsophilia – G. paniculata; Caryophyllaceae
Pretty plant – in the garden, bouquets and arrangements. Bristol Fairy is one of
the most familiar varieties. Easily air dries upside down or in a vase. This is a
perennial and needs lots of room in the garden and adds a soft airy feel.
Larkspur – Consolida ambigua, C.regalis, C. orientalis
Air dries very well, either hanging or standing if picked when about half of florets
are fully open.
Limonium – L.sinuatum, L. suworowii, L.latifolium; Plumbaginaceae
Many different types – perennial varieties; German Statice, Caspia, Sea Lavender,
annual statice. All are easy to grow and are a must for designing with
everlastings. Perennial varieties should be cut and hung when flowers are fully
open.
Statice sinuatum harvest when most of the blooms are at least three quarters
open. Use fresh, let dry in vase or hang upside down until stems are dry.
Lisianthus – Eustoma grandiflorum
Beautiful pink and purple colors, reminiscent of antique tea roses. Spray type,
thick strong stems, varieties include single and double blooms.
Love in a Mist – Nigella damascene
Beautiful old fashioned garden annual. Name is derived from the appearance of
the delicate flower surrounded by the mist of the fine-cut filmy foliage. The
flower, usually blue or white, is an intricate composition of petals, stamens and
styles, followed by an even more wonderful inflated pod. The pods of the dark
blue flowers are often streaked with red or purple. Pick when capsules have
started to open at the top and scatter seeds freely. Grows best when self-sown.
Rudbeckia, Black Eyed Susan – Rudbeckia hirta
Long blooming multiple stems of golden yellow blooms with a brown eye
Salvia – S.superba, S. farinaceae
With over 700 species of salvia to choose from, it’s hard to pick the best for
drying. There are annuals, bienniels and perennials. Most are great to air dry. A
favorite is Salvia Victoria.
Shasta Daisy –
Many beautiful varieties that bloom all summer. The more you pick, the more
they bloom.
Snapdragon – Antirrrhinum majus
Best field cut snaps, vigorous hybrid mix is Rocket, with 10 colors.
Solidago – S. Canadensis
Commonly known as Goldenrod. Excellent for wreath bases. Air dry when one
third of the flowers are open, the rest will open while drying. Remove all leaves.
Yarrow – Achillea filipendulina
Achillea filipendulina is the best yellow yarrow. Also varieties now with reds,
purples and rose pinks. Great for drying and use as focal flowers. Great as fresh
cuts.
Zinnia –
Abundance off bright, vibrant colors, so many sizes and shapes, will perform all
summer long