Skip to content

Top Navigation

Better Homes & Gardens
Better Homes & Gardens
  • Gardening
  • Home Improvement Ideas
  • Cleaning and Organizing
  • Recipes and Cooking
  • Decorating
  • Holidays & Entertaining
  • Rooms
  • Shopping

Profile Menu

Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • BH&G Books this link opens in a new tab
My Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • BH&G Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin

Explore Better Homes & Gardens

Better Homes & Gardens
Better Homes & Gardens
  • Explore

    Explore

    • The Only Weed Identification Guide You'll Ever Need: 33 Common Weedy Plants to Watch For

      The Only Weed Identification Guide You'll Ever Need: 33 Common Weedy Plants to Watch For

      Don't let these pesky plants crash your garden party! The first step is to know your enemy. Then you'll know the best way to deal with your weed problem. Read More
    • 6 Small Steps You Can Take Today to Get Organized for Good

      6 Small Steps You Can Take Today to Get Organized for Good

      A professional organizer offers advice on how to tidy up your home without feeling overwhelmed. Read More
    • 5 Anti-Inflammatory Ingredients to Add to Your Smoothie for a Healthy Boost

      5 Anti-Inflammatory Ingredients to Add to Your Smoothie for a Healthy Boost

      Anti-inflammatory smoothies do exist! Instead of blending in boatloads of sugar and artificial ingredients, try these smoothies for inflammation that are packed with ingredients that may help lower your risk for chronic diseases including cancer, heart disease, depression, and more. Read More
  • Gardening

    Gardening

    See All Gardening
    4 DIY Seed-Starting Pots You Can Make With Items You Already Have

    4 DIY Seed-Starting Pots You Can Make With Items You Already Have

    Upcycle old newspapers, junk mail, and other waste paper to make these easy, eco-friendly containers you can use to sprout new plants for your garden.
    • Flowers
    • Houseplants
    • Plant Encyclopedia
    • Garden Pests
    • Trees, Shrubs & Vines
    • Caring for Your Yard
    • Edible Gardening
    • Garden Design
    • Gardening By Region
    • Landscaping
  • Home Improvement Ideas

    Home Improvement Ideas

    See All Home Improvement Ideas
    What Style Is Your House? The 10 Most Popular American House Styles

    What Style Is Your House? The 10 Most Popular American House Styles

    In a world full of so many different house styles, it can be a little challenging just to narrow down your own home's architectural style, let alone edit the list down to your favorite style or understand the distinctions characteristic to each house style. We'll show you the 10 most popular American house styles, including Cape Cod, French Country, Colonial, Victorian, Tudor, Craftsman, Cottage, Mediterranean, ranch-style, and Contemporary.
    • Home Exteriors
    • DIY Home Electrical Tips & Guides
    • Outdoor Structures
    • Home Remodeling
    • Plumbing Installations & Repairs
    • Remodeling Advice & Planning
    • Flooring
    • Lighting
    • Decks
    • Porches
  • Cleaning and Organizing

    Cleaning and Organizing

    See All Cleaning and Organizing
    A Whole-House Cleaning Schedule You'll Actually Stick To

    A Whole-House Cleaning Schedule You'll Actually Stick To

    Cleaning your home doesn't have to be a daunting, time-consuming chore. The key to managing household duties quickly and efficiently is to design an easy-to-follow routine that includes all the most important tasks. Follow these step-by-step instructions for creating a customized whole-home cleaning schedule.
    • House Cleaning
    • Laundry & Linens
    • Cleaning Tips
    • Closet Organization
    • Organization Tips
    • Kitchen Storage Organization
  • Recipes and Cooking

    Recipes and Cooking

    See All Recipes and Cooking
    21 Baking Essentials Every Home Cook Needs (Plus 16 Nice-to-Haves)

    21 Baking Essentials Every Home Cook Needs (Plus 16 Nice-to-Haves)

    Whether you're a beginning baker just starting out or a master chef looking to declutter, we'll help you set up a beginner's baking essentials kit with 21 tools. For anyone who already owns these handy baking tools, this list may finally provide the motivation you need to get rid of that soufflé dish you never use. Building your baking equipment inventory starts here.
    • How to Cook
    • Chicken Recipes
    • Desserts & Baking
    • Fish Recipes
    • Beef Recipes
    • Healthy Recipes
    • Breakfast and Brunch Recipes
    • Lunch
    • Dinner Recipes & Meal Ideas
    • Ethnic Food
  • Decorating

    Decorating

    See All Decorating
    7 Interior Design Trends Everyone Will Be Trying in 2021, According to Experts

    7 Interior Design Trends Everyone Will Be Trying in 2021, According to Experts

    Designers weigh in on the most popular decorating styles, colors, and materials you can look forward to in the coming year.
    • Choosing Color
    • Expert Decorating Advice
    • Fireplace Design Ideas
    • Do It Yourself Magazine
    • Window Treatments
    • Styles & Decor
    • Interior Painting
    • Home Makeovers
    • Small-Space Decorating
    • Traditional Home
  • Holidays & Entertaining

    Holidays & Entertaining

    See All Holidays & Entertaining
    International Women's Day: The Powerful Story Behind This 111-Year-Old Tradition

    International Women's Day: The Powerful Story Behind This 111-Year-Old Tradition

    What began as a small movement, has grown into a global holiday dedicated to celebrating the strong women in our communities.
    • Valentine's Day
    • Mother's Day
    • Easter
    • Father's Day
    • Fourth of July/Memorial Day
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
    • New Year's
    • Juneteenth
    • Hanukkah
  • Rooms

    Rooms

    See All Rooms
    Living Room Furniture Layout Ideas

    Living Room Furniture Layout Ideas

    Get tips for arranging living room furniture in a way that creates a comfortable and welcoming environment and makes the most of your space.
    • Bedroom Decorating and Design Ideas
    • Bathroom Decorating and Design Ideas
    • Kitchen Decorating and Design Ideas
    • Living Room Decorating and Design
    • Dining Room
    • Home Office
    • Kid's Rooms
    • Baby Nursery
  • Shopping

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • BH&G Books this link opens in a new tab
My Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • BH&G Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. BHG.com
  2. Gardening
  3. Flowers
  4. Perennials
  5. 19 Colorful Perennials to Keep Your Vases Filled with Cut Flowers All Season Long

19 Colorful Perennials to Keep Your Vases Filled with Cut Flowers All Season Long

By Nicole Bradley Updated June 04, 2021
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
Skip gallery slides
Save Pin FB
garden bed with statuesque asiatic lilies
You can snip a fresh bouquet to arrange in your favorite vase all season long when you plant these beautiful perennials in your cutting garden. They'll brighten your home, as well as your landscape, year after year.
Start Slideshow

1 of 19

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Blazing Star

Blazing Star Liatris
Credit: Marty Baldwin

A North American prairie native that attracts butterflies, blazing star (Liatris spicata) produces spikes of white, rose, or purple flowers in summer. This sturdy, drought-tolerant perennial adds a vertical accent to a garden, and the cut blooms even dry well.

Growing Conditions: Full sun in well-drained soil

Size: Grows to 4 feet tall and 2 feet wide

Zones: 3-9

Buy It: Liatris Mix ($24, QVC)

1 of 19

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 19

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Coreopsis

yellow coreopsis
Credit: Marty Baldwin

Also known as tickseed, coreopsis produces daisylike, 2-inch blooms in shades of yellow, orange, and rusty red throughout the summer months. This easy-to-grow native perennial is not at all picky about soil, growing in poor, shallow, chalky, or dry conditions. Plus, it draws pollinators and resists deer.

Growing Conditions: Full sun in well-drained soil

Size: Grows to 5 feet tall and to 3 feet wide

Zones: 3-9

Buy It: Uptick Coreopsis ($23, The Home Depot)

2 of 19

3 of 19

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Perennial Salvia

Blue Salvia farinacea
Credit: Lynn Karlin

This salvia is a wonderfully long bloomer: It starts flowering in early summer and continues through early autumn if you keep cutting off the faded flowers. Its long, slender clusters of blooms are great for filling in bare spots in flower arrangements.

Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in well-drained soil

Size: Grows to 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide

Zones: 4-9

Buy It: 'Bumblebee' Salvia ($16, Bluestone Perennials)

3 of 19

Advertisement

4 of 19

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Yarrow

Yarrow
Credit: Bob Stefko

Not only is yarrow (Achillea millefolium) one of the best perennials for cut flowers, but its stiff blooms also work well for long-lasting, dried arrangements. In the garden, yarrow is one of the most maintenance-free plants you can grow: It resists drought, heat, deer, and rabbits, and is also a blooming machine, producing flat-topped clusters of yellow, orange, red, pink, or white flowers (depending on variety) throughout the summer.

Growing Conditions: Full sun in well-drained soil

Size: Grows to 3 feet tall and wide

Zones: 3-9

Buy It: Achillea 'Sassy Summer Sunset' ($17, Jackson & Perkins)

4 of 19

5 of 19

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Garden Phlox

Phlox
Credit: Kim Cornelison

This perennial garden favorite produces large clusters of fragrant flowers from summer to early fall. Garden phlox has few rivals for its colorful floral display and light, sweet fragrance. Those big blooms attract all kinds of butterflies and other pollinators, too. It's well-suited for the back of borders and in cottage gardens.

Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in moist, well-drained soil

Size: Grows to 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide

Zones: 3-8

Buy It: 'Goliath' Tall Phlox ($26, The Home Depot)

5 of 19

6 of 19

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Japanese Anemone

pink japanese anemone hybrida detail
Credit: Greg Ryan

Fill your late-summer and fall garden with cheery anemone blooms. This vigorous perennial produces clusters of silky, shallow-cupped, white, rose, or pink flowers with yellow buttonlike centers, surrounded by a halo of yellow stamens.

Growing Conditions: Part shade to full sun in moist, well-drained soil

Size: Grows to 3 feet tall and wide

Zones: 4-8

Buy It: Anemone 'Pamina' ($21, Jackson & Perkins)

6 of 19

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 19

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Lily

pink oriental lily stargazer flowers
Credit: Jay Wilde

Popular in florist shops, lilies such as 'Stargazer' are some of the most stunning flowers for arrangements. Their star-shape blooms appear in several shades, from pink and red to orange, yellow, and bicolors. Many varieties also add a sweet fragrance to your garden (and your bouquet!). Just beware if you have cats: all parts of lilies are lethally poisonous to them.

Test Garden Tip: Extend the show by growing different varieties. Asiatic lilies, for example, bloom in early to midsummer; orienpet hybrids bloom in mid to late summer.

Growing Conditions: Part shade to full sun in well-drained soil

Size: Grows to 3-8 feet tall and 12 inches wide

Zones: 3-9

Buy It: 'Stargazer' Lily Bulbs (from $20, Etsy)

7 of 19

8 of 19

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Clustered Bellflower

Campanula glomerata
Credit: Stephen Cridland

Much like the name suggests, clustered bellflower produces showy, bell-shape flowers that come in shades of blue, purple, and pink. These perennials usually bloom for several weeks in summer and the cut flowers can last for a week or more in the vase.

Growing Conditions: Part shade to full sun in well-drained soil

Size: Grows to 3 feet tall and wide

Zones: 3-8

Buy It: 50 'Blue Uniform' Bellflower Seeds ($3, Swallowtail Garden Seeds)

8 of 19

9 of 19

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Purple Coneflower

Purple Coneflower
Credit: David Speer

Providing a steady stream of summer's prettiest blooms, purple coneflower is easy to grow. This native perennial has daisy-like flowers in abundance from midsummer to the first fall frost, which often attract butterflies and other pollinators.

Growing Conditions: Full sun in well-drained soil

Size: Grows to 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide

Zones: 3-9

Buy It: Cheyenne Spirit Coneflower ($15, Michigan Bulb Co.)

9 of 19

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 19

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Bearded Iris

Iris germanica
Credit: George Chappell

The stiff, sword-shape leaves of bearded iris provide a striking vertical accent in the garden, but the flowers are easily the showiest part of this plant. Their colors run the rainbow from deep burgundy red to pastel pinks and yellows, to every shade of blue and violet and begin appearing in late spring. Some varieties even have multicolored blooms.

Test Garden Tip: Look for reblooming iris varieties. They put on a spring show and often flower again in fall.

Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in moist, well-drained soil

Size: Grows to 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide

Zones: 3-9

Buy It: Reblooming Bearded Iris Collection ($40, Breck's)

10 of 19

11 of 19

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Peony

pink pageant peony blossom
Credit: Blaine Moats

Often sweetly fragrant, peony is a very long-living plant that forms 2- to 4-foot-tall clumps of leaves. Numerous varieties offer a wide range of flower colors and blooming periods from late spring to early summer.

Growing Conditions: Part shade to full sun in moist, well-drained soil

Size: Grows to 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide

Zones: 3-8

Buy It: 'Riches and Fame' Peony ($40, Breck's)

11 of 19

12 of 19

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Lady's Mantle

ladys mantle alchemilla mollis
Credit: Janet Mesic-Mackie

They may not be the showiest flowers around, but lady's mantle's frothy, chartreuse blooms work very well for rounding out a homegrown bouquet. This easy-care perennial blooms in early summer and goes with seemingly everything.

Growing Conditions: Part shade to full sun in moist, well-drained soil

Size: Grows to 2 feet tall and 2 feet wide

Zones: 4-7

Buy It: Lady's Mantle ($14, White Flower Farm)

12 of 19

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 19

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

New England Aster

'Hella Lacy' New England aster
Credit: Greg Ryan

Sprays of beautiful New England asters are a must for fall bouquets. These perennials have daisy-like flowers in shades of pink, purple, blue, and white. Smaller selections make great fillers in a flower arrangement.

Growing Conditions: Part shade to full sun in moist, well-drained soil

Size: Grows to 5 feet tall and 4 feet wide

Zones: 3-9

Buy It: Aster Mix ($24, QVC)

13 of 19

14 of 19

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Bee Balm

Bee Balm
Credit: Peter Krumhardt

With dramatic, colorful blooms atop tall stems, bee balm is the perfect perennial for filling your vases in summer. You can find cultivars in red, pink, lavender, violet, or white. Plus these flowers are a favorite of hummingbirds and butterflies.

Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in moist, well-drained soil

Size: Grows to 5 feet tall and 2 feet wide

Zones: 3-9

Buy It: 'Jacob Cline' Bee Balm ($17, White Flower Farm)

14 of 19

15 of 19

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Obedient Plant

Obedient Plant
Credit: Clint Farlinger

Use obedient plant's tall, pink or white flower spikes to bulk up your bouquets. This easy-growing wildflower earned its name because you can bend the individual flowers to face different directions.

Growing Conditions: Part shade to full sun in moist, well-drained soil

Size: Grows to 4 feet tall and indefinitely wide

Zones: 2-8

Buy It: Crystal Peak White Obedient Plant ($11, High Country Gardens)

15 of 19

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 19

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Coralbells

Coral Bells
Credit: Peter Krumhardt

Beginning in late spring, airy wands of small, bell-shape blooms appear over the colorful foliage of coralbells. The flowers can be bright red, pink, or white, depending on variety, and make perfect fillers between bigger blooms.

Growing Conditions: Full shade to full sun in well-drained soil

Size: Grows to 3 feet tall and 30 inches wide

Zones: 3-9

Buy It: Dolce Wildberry Coralbells ($26, The Home Depot)

16 of 19

17 of 19

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Crocosmia

crocosmia flower garden
Credit: Bill Stites

Add an exotic touch to your favorite flower arrangements with crocosmia. This gladiolus relative bears clusters of bold red, orange, or yellow flowers on the ends of long, gracefully arching stems.

Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in moist, well-drained soil

Size: Grows to 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide

Zones: 6-9

Buy It: 'Erika' Crocosmia ($9, Easy to Grow Bulbs)

17 of 19

18 of 19

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Blanket Flower

Gaillardia Fanfare
Credit: Denny Schrock

This heat- and drought-tolerant native perennial can provide long-lasting color in a sunny cutting garden. Blanket flower doesn't mind poor soil, either. Its daisy-like, 3-inch wide, single or double flowers bloom throughout the summer and into the fall. Pollinators love it, too.

Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in well-drained soil

Size: Grows to 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide

Zones: 3-8

Buy It: 'Goblin' Blanket Flower ($31, Breck's)

18 of 19

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 19

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Veronica

Veronica 'Giles Van Hees'
Credit: Andrew Drake

This easy-to-grow plant comes in a variety of sizes from low-growing groundcovers to taller types that are ideal for cutting. Deadhead it diligently and veronica may be one of the longest-blooming perennials in your garden.

Growing Conditions: Full sun in well-drained soil

Size: Grows 2 feet tall and wide

Zones: 3-8

Buy It: 'Red Fox' Veronica ($10, Etsy)

19 of 19

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Nicole Bradley

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 19 Blazing Star
    2 of 19 Coreopsis
    3 of 19 Perennial Salvia
    4 of 19 Yarrow
    5 of 19 Garden Phlox
    6 of 19 Japanese Anemone
    7 of 19 Lily
    8 of 19 Clustered Bellflower
    9 of 19 Purple Coneflower
    10 of 19 Bearded Iris
    11 of 19 Peony
    12 of 19 Lady's Mantle
    13 of 19 New England Aster
    14 of 19 Bee Balm
    15 of 19 Obedient Plant
    16 of 19 Coralbells
    17 of 19 Crocosmia
    18 of 19 Blanket Flower
    19 of 19 Veronica

    Share & More

    Tweet Email Send Text Message
    • Better Homes & Gardens BHG Logo Products at Walmart
    • Better Homes & Gardens BHG Real Estate Real Estate Services
    Better Homes & Gardens

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • About Us
    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Books from Better Homes & Gardens
    • Help
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Sign Up
    MeredithBH&G is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Better Homes & Gardens. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.bhg.com

    Sign in

    View image

    19 Colorful Perennials to Keep Your Vases Filled with Cut Flowers All Season Long
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.