A Waterwise Cut Flower Garden

Liatris spicata and Monarda (bee balm) Photo: Robbi Hoy

By Elena Fischer:

Having fresh cut flowers in your home has long been known to improve our health and well-being, by increasing serotonin, improving our immune system, and decreasing allergies. Studies have shown that having cut flowers in our homes could have the same relative positive effect as eating vegetables. Add onto that all the joys and benefits of keeping something beautiful and natural around, and we really should be adding flowers to our weekly grocery list as readily as we add vegetables. Or better yet, our own gardens can supply them! 

Keeping a personal cutting garden has a longer standing tradition in the eastern U.S., but many of those cut flower favorites just can’t hack the rugged climate of the Mountain West, or they require so much water to stay alive that it’s just not a reasonable or responsible choice. 

But living in the semi-arid west doesn't have to preclude us from growing wonderful gardens, resplendent with blooms that will last in the yard as well as in the vase. What's better, many of the best cut flowers are perennials, so they’ll come back year after year and with the proper care will only get stronger each season. 

As the demand for water rises in the western US, and the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events like late spring frosts and long summer droughts increases, we are all becoming more aware of the need to reduce our water consumption. How we manage our gardens is a great place to start. Landscape irrigation is often one of the first areas addressed when cities pass new water regulations leaving residents with new requirements to follow but sometimes with limited resources to achieve them. Choosing the right plants for our gardens not only helps reduce water use, but because the plants are naturally adapted to this geography they are more resilient in our climate, surviving the wide range of temperatures we see here - our hot summers, and intense UV days. This saves time and money spent to repeatedly replace plants, not to mention the frustration of seeing your garden fail to thrive. 

The key to a successful garden is choosing the right plant for the right place, and the same can be said when selecting which kind of flowers to cut and bring into the house. Many gorgeous flowers which seem to last ages in the garden wilt or the petals will shatter within hours or a day of going into a vase. Equally as important is to pick the blooms at the right stage, because if they have been too long on the plant they have essentially already done their “job” by being pollinated and the plant will let the petals drop. So pick your flowers when they are just starting to open, or for flower stalks when about half the flowers are open. Try to pick flowers directly into water, but if stems are out of water for more than 15 mins just recut them a little before putting them into the vase. Avoid harvesting your flowers in the hottest part of the day as that can put extra stress on the blooms and shorten vase life. 

If you’re looking to get started with your first cutting garden, add more color to your existing garden, or transition to more drought tolerant and water-wise plants, here are some tried and true stars. Each of these flowers can stand the test of our rugged climate and most are considered staples in the professional cut flower industry. They will bring a variety of color and form to your garden, and last long in the vase, especially when harvested at the right time. All are cultivars of native plants, so they provide amazing pollinator habitat for butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds and you never have to worry about them taking over your garden. 

Remember to water your plants regularly during the first few summers after planting, as it helps them establish a good root system. A little extra water at the start of the season can also help ensure good growth and robust flowers. Remember to deadhead most of the spent flowers on the plant to encourage continued blooming. 

Liatris - Blazing Star, Gayfeather 

Liatris, whose common names include Blazing Star, Gayfeather, and Colic Root (from its historical use as a medicinal), is a native perennial with a range covering most of the U.S. from the Rocky Mountains to the Mississippi, and into Mexico and Canada. Its purple bottlebrush flowers adorn tall, straight stalks above lush green clumps of slender grass-like leaves. With a strong vertical form this plant makes a valuable addition to the garden in structure, and sturdy stems make for easy cutting and arranging. The foliage turns a rust-purple in the fall, making an attractive addition to the season. The flowers bloom from top-down, so harvesting is recommended when the top third is in bloom. Liatris grows from corms, but can be found in pots as well. When planted from corms it often blooms in the second year, needing the first year to grow a robust root system, so it’s important to water regularly during the first season. After a few years the plants can be dug up and corms divided. Liatris is happiest in full sun, and will tolerate pretty much any soil, so long as it’s not too wet. Plant in spring after the last frost, and water regularly once you see growth. Little water is required after the first year, but if it’s an especially hot summer it’s best to give it a little extra to ensure good flowering. 

Fall maintenance is minimal for this perennial, simply cut back all remaining flower stalks for a tidier look, or leave until spring for some winter visual interest. 

Our favorite selections include: Liatris spicata 'Floristan Violet’, with violet-purple flowers 2-3 ft. in height, blooms throughout summer. Liatris ligulistylis, Rocky Mountain Gayfeather, with rose-purple flowers larger and more widely spaced on the stalk than L.spicata, this species is generally shorter, growing 1-2 ft. in height. Blooms mid to late summer. 

Echinacea - Coneflower 

Commonly known as Coneflower due to its distinctive shape, Echinacea grows natively in the prairies, meadows, and open woods of the south eastern and central U.S. A garden favorite for good reason, this plant is easy to grow and produces flowers abundantly once established. Elongated petals (botanically, ray flowers) encircle a spiky orange center held aloft a sturdy stem with leaves reducing in size up the stem. While the most common petal color is pinkish-purple, we now have varieties in a range of colors, from white and bright yellow to rich purples and reds. The flowers can last a long time on the plant, but you want to harvest them when still young, with petals mostly unfurled but the center still light green. Coneflower will grow in just about any soil, provided it gets plenty of sun. Like most perennials, it prefers good drainage, especially in winter. Planted from seed or pots, it blooms in the first year. Seeds can be sown in the spring or fall, planting from pots is best done in late spring. 

The straight species, E. purpurea, is known for its drooping petals and classic cone-shaped center, but many varieties have been selected for more horizontal petals, though some require more water. E. purpurea ‘Magnus Superior’ is our choice for large, lighter-pink flowers with petals that don’t droop. It grows 2-3 ft. high, and blooms throughout summer. E. 'Cheyenne Spirit’ is a great mix of all colored flowers. Grows 18-30 in. high, and blooms all summer. E. purpurea ‘White Swan’ is a favorite white-flowering variety, with large daisy-like flowers 2-3 ft. high, blooming mid to late summer. 

Solidago - Goldenrod 

A sun-loving, adaptive, happy plant, Goldenrod grows naturally in nearly every state. Often seen along the edges of fields, forests and ponds, it has developed the ability to withstand wide ranges in soil moisture and quality. It loves to be in full sun, but can tolerate a bit of shade. Goldenrods can be planted from seed or pots, and will form dense clumps which can be dug up and divided every few years to spread them around your garden.

Although well known for its pyramidal clusters of tiny, golden flowerheads on arching branches, some species such as S. rigidia, Rigid Goldenrod, forms a flat-topped inflorescence, giving a distinctly different appearance from the classic shape. Size can also vary based on species or variety; watch for this when selecting yours. Most Goldenrods grow 2-4 ft in height, but S. rigidia, may top out at 1-2 ft, and S. gigantea, Giant Goldenrod, can reach up to 6 ft. This is one of my favorite plants for long summer blooming, often continuing through early fall. 

Rudbeckia hirta ‘Prairie Sun’

Rudbeckia - Black-Eyed Susan 

Truly a garden favorite, Rudbackia is a workhorse as both a garden perennial and a cut flower. This plant tolerates most soils and is extremely drought resistant. Although the leaves can be a bit itchy, just wear a loose long overshirt when picking them. The trouble is well worth the reward! Most well known in the classic combination of a velvety black center surrounded by bright yellow petals like rays of the sun, Rudbeckia comes in a range of colors from warm rusts and deep reds, to bright yellows with a green center instead of black. Plants will form a clump of leaves at the base which overwinter most years, but don’t be alarmed if it dies back completely some years. Rudbeckia are readily available in pots, but also easily sown from seed. Like many tough perennials, they may take 2 years to flower. Planting in early fall can help with next season flowering, as it allows the plant to put on root growth before winter. 

R. triloba is a lovely variety with more profuse but smaller flowers, and the variety R.hirta “Prairie Sun” is a fantastic green-centered choice with large flowers. I personally can’t do without varieties like R.hirta 'Indian Summer', a beautiful large flower with purple-black center encircled by yellow petals tinged with orange or rust near the center. 

Achillea - Yarrow 

A native wildflower sometimes overlooked because of its delicate white flowers, Achillea is an easy cut flower to grow. Drought resistant and tolerant of heat and cold, it blooms from seed in the first year, and continues to rebloom after cutting. The soft, feather-like foliage ranges from dark green to slightly blueish, depending on the variety. The Common Yarrow, A. millefolium, can grow as tall as 3 ft, but most varieties range between 1-2 ft. Though many native Achillea species are white, we now have a variety of colors to choose from, such as 'Coronation Gold', a robust plant with strong stems topped with bright golden flowers, and “Paprika”, a lovely red flowering variety, or “Colorado”, a slightly more delicate looking plant which produces flowers in a mix of warm pink tones. Achillea is easily started from seed, but to ensure flowering in the first year it is best to start seeds indoors in early spring. Larger plants are available from most nurseries or garden centers. Achillea can self-seed in the garden, but you can also dig and divide larger plants in spring before flower shoots are seen, or early fall when flowering is finished. 

Monarda - Bee Balm 

Commonly known as Beebalm, Wild Bergamot, and Horsemint, Monarda is a native plant which made the transition from the fields to the vase with little alteration. While adaptable and reliant as a plant, the habit of growth is light and airy, a quality sometimes hard to bring into dry gardens. It’s important not to crowd Monarda plants too much, as that will keep the leaves healthy while allowing you to enjoy its spreading form. Blooming in whorls of flowers along dark, strong, square stems, it adds wonderful architecture to an arrangement. While the native species comes in a delicate light purple, you will find deeper purples and scarlet reds, and even whites available. Plants grow 2-4 ft. tall, and flower stems grow directly from the base, so you can harvest all that height for dramatic arrangements if you wish. I love the classic M. fistulosa with light purple flowers, probably because it reminds me of my childhood. M. didyma, Scarlet Bee Balm, can be a real jewel in the garden, but really, all varieties do wonderfully in the garden. So check out what your local nursery or plant supplier has in pots or seeds. It can self-seed in the garden, but being such a trusted native, you don’t have to worry about it taking over. 

Baptisia - False Indigo 

An under-utilized gem of the water-wise plants, Fales Indigo is a gorgeous addition to the garden as well as the vase. Many think of Baptisia as the Western rival to the lupine, so if you are going for a more classic look in your flower garden or arrangements, this should certainly make your list. Forming a dense clump 2-4 ft. tall, with bright green to slightly blueish leaves, it adds a lushness to the garden that many other drought tolerant plants can’t match. Flowers form in long clusters on beautifully tall and straight stems, and while the most common color is a deep blueish purple, they also come in light blue, yellow, and white. Native to most of the US, it tolerates almost any soil condition, in full sun to partial shade. Readily available in pots and plugs to be planted in spring, you can also self-collect seed, and sow them outside in late fall or the following spring. (Plants grown from seed could take up to 3 seasons to flower.) As a member of the Pea family, False Indigo fixes atmospheric nitrogen into the soil, an essential nutrient for every plant in the garden. (Just don’t let the family name tempt you into eating any of this plant, as it is known to have low levels of toxicity). 

Planting the native species B. australis is a great choice for a classic blue flower and brighter green foliage, and Baptisia “American Goldfinch” has sunshine yellow flowers set off against robust dark green leaves. I’m excited by some of the newer varieties coming to the market, like Baptisia 'Lunar Eclipse' with flowers that open white and slowly fade to periwinkle, forming a beautiful ombre of color down the stalk. 

Elena is an experienced Landscape Architect and Sustainability Professional with a passion for making the world a better and more beautiful place by creating dynamic landscapes where natural and built elements can thrive simultaneously. Born and raised on a cut flower farm in central Texas, she brings to her work an intimate knowledge of plants and ecology, and a passion for resiliency and climate-appropriate design.