30 Flowers for A Cut Flower Farm Business (in Tennessee)

A cut flower business sounds like a neat idea doesn’t it? It’s a lot of work but if you enjoy gardening with flowers it may be a great business for you. I’ve compiled a list of potential cut flowers that would make good options for a cut flower business. Check out the list below. This list of plants is certainly not all inclusive but should be a good start to pick out a few for your flower farm.

I would recommend trying just a few to start with then add more each year as you grow. You may wish to test out plants in regular garden beds first before growing a large number of them to learn how to grow them best and how they work for your flower arrangements. The list of cut flowers below is focus on Tennessee but many areas that are also zones 6-7 can utilize this list as well.

Also if you are interested in a nursery business I wrote a series of articles just for you: Starting a Nursery Business

What Flowers to Grow for a Flower Farm?

Spring Flowers (March-May):

Tulips (Tulipa spp.)

• Type: Perennial
• Propagation: Bulb
• Harvest Period: 6 weeks
• Classic and colorful, ideal for bouquets, centerpieces, and U-pick fields. Most who grow tulips for cut bouquets grow them as annuals and pack them tight into beds when planting.

Ranunculus (Ranunculus asiaticus)

• Type: Annual
• Propagation: Tuber
• Harvest Period: 4-6 weeks
• Cheerful and vibrant, adding texture and dimension to arrangements.

Lilacs (Syringa vulgaris)

• Type: Deciduous Shrub
• Propagation: Cuttings
• Harvest Period: Spring
• Sweetly scented, perfect for romantic arrangements and spring weddings.

Sweet Peas (Lathyrus odoratus)

• Type: Annual
• Propagation: Seed
• Harvest Period: Blooming all season
• Old-fashioned favorites with a delightful fragrance.

Muscari (Grape Hyacinths) (Muscari spp.)

• Type: Perennial Bulb
• Propagation: Bulb
• Harvest Period: Spring
• Tiny clusters of blue or white flowers, great for borders and edging.

Columbine (Aquilegia spp.)

• Type: Perennial
• Propagation: Seed
• Harvest Period: Spring
• Delicate and airy, with long spurs in various colors, ideal for cottage gardens.

Iris (Iris spp.)

• Type: Perennial Rhizome
• Propagation: Division
• Harvest Period: Spring
• Showy and fragrant, with large petals in blue, purple, and yellow, perfect for cut flowers.

Oriental Poppies (Papaver orientale)

• Type: Annual
• Propagation: Seed, Division
• Harvest Period: Spring
• Bold and dramatic, with large scarlet, orange, or pink flowers, ideal for statement pieces.

Peonies (Paeonia spp.)

• Type: Perennial
• Propagation: Division
• Harvest Period: May
• Luxurious and fragrant, stunning in Mother’s Day and wedding arrangements, but prefer cooler spring temperatures.

Allium (Allium spp.)

• Type: Perennial Bulb
• Propagation: Bulb
• Harvest Period: Spring
• Globe-shaped blooms in purple, pink, and white, adding an architectural element to arrangements and attracting pollinators.

Summer Flowers (June-August):

Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus)

• Type: Annual
• Propagation: Seed
• Harvest Period: August – October
• Tall and cheerful, adding sunshine to any arrangement, great for summer weddings. Sunflowers are one of the most popular flowers and probably offer the best profit opportunities!

Zinnias (Zinnia elegans)

• Type: Annual
• Propagation: Seed
• Harvest Period: To frost with succession planting
• Easy to grow and prolific bloomers, coming in a wide range of colors and sizes, perfect for farmer’s markets.

Zinnias and Butterflies

Dahlias (Dahlia spp.)

• Type: Tuberous Perennial
• Propagation: Tubers
• Harvest Period: June – frost
• Showy and diverse, with dinner plate dahlias to pom-poms, ideal for late summer and fall bouquets.

Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus)

• Type: Annual
• Propagation: Seed
• Harvest Period: Late Spring
• Delicate and airy, adding a whimsical touch with pastel shades, easy to grow from seed.

Celosia (Celosia argentea)

• Type: Annual
• Propagation: Seed
• Harvest Period: Summer
• Unique and feathery, in vibrant colors, thriving in hot weather and making a bold statement. Can be a prolific self sower!

Gladiolus (Gladiolus spp.)

• Type: Perennial Corm
• Propagation: Corm
• Harvest Period: Summer
• Tall spikes of flowers in vibrant hues like red, pink, and yellow, adding height and drama to bouquets and attracting butterflies. Sometimes needs support to stand upright.

Scabiosa (Scabiosa atropurpurea)

• Type: Annual
• Propagation: Seed, Transplant, Division
• Harvest Period: Spring – frost
• Delicate and elegant, in lavender, pink, and white, ideal for fall bouquets and wedding arrangements.

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

• Type: Perennial Shrub
• Propagation: Cuttings, Seed
• Harvest Period: Summer
• Fragrant and calming, great for fresh herb bundles, sachets, and dried arrangements. Lavender can be easily propagate by cuttings. It is not very tolerant or wet soil. It prefers well drained soil. Can also be dried.

Lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum)

• Type: Annual
• Propagation: Seed, Transplant
• Harvest Period: Summer
• Delicate and long-lasting, resembling roses in various colors, perfect for wedding bouquets and centerpieces.

Clematis (Clematis spp.)

• Type: Perennial Vine
• Propagation: Cuttings, Layering
• Harvest Period: Summer
• Climbing vine with large, star-shaped flowers in various colors, adding a touch of elegance to garden structures and bouquets.

All Seasons:

Salvia (Salvia spp.)

• Type: Perennial
• Propagation: Seed, Transplant
• Harvest Period: Spring, Summer, Fall
• Diverse genus with many varieties blooming throughout spring, summer, and fall. Choose vibrant hues for eye-catching bouquets.

How to Propagate Salvia

Coneflower (Echinacea spp.)

• Type: Perennial
• Propagation: Seed, Transplant, Division
• Harvest Period: Summer
• Sturdy natives in purple, pink, and yellow, attracting pollinators and adding pops of color throughout the season.

Rudbeckia (Rudbeckia hirta)

• Type: Annual
• Propagation: Seed, Transplant
• Harvest Period: Summer
• Description: Cheerful and long-blooming, golden daisy-like flowers adding sunshine to bouquets from summer into fall.

Aster (Aster spp.)

• Type: Perennial
• Propagation: Seed, Transplant, Division
• Harvest Period: Fall
• Symbol of love and devotion, coming in shades of purple, pink, and white, perfect for fall bouquets and Thanksgiving arrangements.

Mums (Chrysanthemum spp.)

• Type: Perennial
• Propagation: Division, Cuttings
• Harvest Period: Fall
• Fall wouldn’t be complete without them! Available in a range of colors and sizes, they’re perfect for adding texture and dimension to bouquets.

Goldenrods (Solidago spp.)

• Type: Perennial
• Propagation: Seed, Transplant, Division
• Harvest Period: Late Summer to Frost
• Native to North America, adding a touch of wild beauty to fall arrangements. Their yellow blooms pair well with other fall flowers. And No they do not cause allergies. See more on that below.

Golden Rod Solidago

Paperwhites (Narcissus papyraceus)

• Type: Bulb
• Propagation: Bulb
• Harvest Period: Winter
• Fragrant and easy to grow indoors, perfect for winter holidays and brightening up gloomy days.

Amaryllis (Hippeastrum spp.)

• Type: Bulb
• Propagation: Bulb
• Harvest Period: Winter
• Showy bulbs producing large, trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of red, pink, and white, great for Christmas centerpieces and special occasions.

Hellebores (Helleborus spp.)

• Type: Perennial
• Propagation: Transplant, Division
• Harvest Period: Late Winter
• Also known as Christmas rose, hellebores produce delicate white or pink flowers that bloom in the cold winter months, adding a touch of winter magic to arrangements.

Hydrangeas

Below are several Hydrangea suggestions that you may want to use in your arrangements. The cool thing about hydrangeas is they are very easy to propagate so you should be able to make quite a few plants to harvest flowers from.

Hydrangea macrophylla (Bigleaf Hydrangea)

• Type: Deciduous Shrub
• Propagation: Cuttings
• Harvest Period: All Seasons
• Everlasting series varieties are bred for long-lasting blooms. They can be dried for use in everlasting arrangements, making them suitable for year-round floral designs.

Hydrangea arborescens (Smooth Hydrangea) – Annabelle Varieties

• Type: Deciduous Shrub
• Propagation: Cuttings, Division
• Harvest Period: All Seasons
• Annabelle varieties, known for their large, spherical white blooms, are versatile and can be used in arrangements throughout the year.

Hydrangea paniculata (Panicle Hydrangea)

• Type: Deciduous Shrub
• Propagation: Cuttings, Division
• Harvest Period: All Seasons
• Look for the Everlasting series varieties which offer long-lasting blooms that can be used in arrangements for various occasions. The panicles add a timeless elegance to floral designs.

This list of plants is certainly not all inclusive but should be a good start to pick out a few for your flower farm. I would recommend trying just a few to start with then add more each year as you grow. You may wish to test out plants in regular garden beds first before growing a large number of them to learn how to grow them best and how they work for your flower arrangements.

For More on Cut Flower Farms

For a Useful document on Flower Farming check out this PDF file by the University of Kentucky and the University of Tennessee. Cut Flower Production In Tennessee