The best cut flowers to grow in your garden
There’s nothing like a vase of freshly-cut flowers and there’s nothing like growing the flowers yourself. Discover 12 flowers that make the cut.
1. Kangaroo paws
Anigozanthos
Colourful and distinctive, kangaroo paw is one of the most recognised and rewarding natives you can grow and it makes an excellent cut flower. Varieties like Bush Pearl and Bush Blitz flower almost all year round, while taller varieties push their energy into a shorter but no less dazzling flush of flowers from mid-spring to early autumn. Plants in the new 'Bush Celebrations' range of hybrid kangaroo paws have been bred for their performance as cut flowers and potted displays. Click to shop all kangaroo paws.
2. Camellias
Camellia
With their short stems and big blooms, camellias are the perfect pick for a shallow vase or bowl. Sasanqua camellias flower from late summer to winter, while Japonica camellias will illuminate your garden from winter to spring. With huge variations in flower size, colour and shape, the hardest part will be picking a variety. Click to shop all camellias.
3. Hydrangeas
Hydrangea
The most popular hydrangea variety you’ll find growing in Sydney gardens is the macrophylla hydrangea. This species is split into two camps: the mopheads, which burst forth with globe-shaped flowers and the lacecaps, which have flat flower heads. Both will look equally beautiful in your home. Before they go into your vase, bash the base of the stems to help the flowers take up water and last longer. Plant hydrangeas in your garden and you'll enjoy blooms from late spring all through summer, and sometimes into autumn too. Click to shop all hydrangeas.
4. Leucospermum
Leucospermum
When it's not sold as a protea by florists (who don’t want to confuse customers with the long Greek name), leucospermum is often confused for a leucadendron. But unlike proteas and leucadendrons, which have showy bracts around their flower heads, a leucospermum flower is the star of the show. The beautiful, pincushion-like flowers are brilliantly coloured in red, orange or yellow and appear from spring to early summer. Click to shop all leucospermum.
5. Proteas
Proteaceae
Big, bold and beautiful, proteas have distinctive flowers with a central boss surrounded by tough outer petals. These dramatic flowers are ancient plants linking our flora with that of South Africa. Varieties with some of the biggest blooms include King Pink and King White. Little Prince is a compact form - a good choice if you have a courtyard or balcony garden. Flowers appear in autumn and continue through to spring. Click to shop all proteas.
6. Dianthus or Sweet William
Dianthus
Set against silvery-green foliage, dianthus features frilly, tufted white, pink, red or mauve flowers. Many dianthus boast two-coloured petals that are laced, flecked or picotee (an outer margin of another colour, usually red). Fragranced varieties will fill your home with a spicy clove-like scent. When picking flowers, break the stem off near the base of the plant. These plants usually flower from spring to early summer, however some varieties will also spot-flower into autumn. Click to shop all dianthus.
7. Roses
Rosa
There are literally thousands of roses to choose from, but the best varieties are long-lasting with straight stems and a powerful scent. You might like to try Mr Lincoln, a hybrid tea rose with rich-red flowers. There's also Best Friend, a medium pink variety or The Children’s Rose, which has powder pink petals. For something different, the Abracadabra rose is an extraordinary blend of red and yellow stripes. Roses generally flower most spectacularly during spring, with some varieties offering repeat-flowering through to autumn. Click to shop all roses.
8. Lilies
Lilium
The large stunning flowers of the lily are a florist staple, but why not grow your own? Like tulips and daffodils, lilies need leaves to build up nutrients for the next season's flowers, so when cutting, don’t remove more than one-third of the leaves or the plant won’t be able to rebuild itself to bloom next season. Morning is the best time to cut stems so they don't wilt. When selecting lilies for cutting, look for stems that have at least a couple of buds that are just about to open. Plant lily bulbs in spring for stunning summer flowers. Click to shop all lilies.
9. Sunflowers
Helianthus
Nothing is quite as cheery as the bright face of a sunflower. In the garden, these captivating flowers turn their heads to follow the sun across the sky. But in your home, it'll be the sunflowers that turn heads. Avoid placing them in very cold or very hot water. To encourage more blooms, the best time to cut sunflowers is in the early morning, before the flower is fully open. Plant sunflowers and you'll enjoy beautiful blooms through summer into autumn. Click to shop all sunflowers.
10. Tulips
Tulipa
Few things are more beautiful than the sight of slender tulip blooms in a vase. Unlike most cut flowers, the less water tulips have in the vase, the better. With too much water, tulips will keep growing and eventually bend and break. Put a splash of bleach in the water - this will keep the water clear and give you fresh, beautiful tulips for up to a week. Plant tulip bulbs in autumn for glorious spring flowers. Click to shop all tulips.
11. Gladioli
Gladiolus
Level up your cut flower game with the showy tall spires of gladiolus. Equally impressive is its range of colours, from the brightest of shades to delicate pastels. Thankfully ‘gladdies’, like most bulbs, are easy to grow. Cut the stem before the blooms have opened, when the first sign of colour appears. Leave about a third of the stem intact and try not to cut too many leaves, as they are what gives the plant nourishment and ensures flowers return next season. Plant your gladiolus bulbs in spring for glorious summer blooms. Click to shop all gladioli.
12. Dahlias
Dahlia
With their flamboyant blooms bursting onto the scene from December to May, you can get a lot of bang for your buck with dahlias. Dahlias flower in a spectacular yellows, reds, oranges, pinks and purples and happily thrive in a pot or in the garden. Cutting dahlias also promotes flowering. The best time to pick the flowers is early morning. Place the blooms in water as soon as you cut them. Dahlias will offer you abundant flowers through summer into autumn. Click to shop all dahlias.
Top growing tips
- Lilies, tulips and gladioli are not grown from seeds or seedlings, but from bulbs. This means that growing them requires a little extra know-how and patience! Luckily, you've come to the right place - click here for our step-by-step guide on planting bulbs.
- For prolific flowering, make sure you're fertilising your plants as directed on the plant label or the package their seeds or bulbs came in. Depending on the plant, we recommend a few different fertiliser formulas:
- For bulb-grown plants such as lilies, tulips and gladioli, we recommend Trenton Cottage Gardeners Advantage Bulb Fertiliser. Start feeding as soon as you see green shoots poking through the soil.
- For Australian natives such as kangaroo paws, plus proteas and leucospermum, we recommend Neutrog Bush Tucker. This low-phosphorus fertiliser is perfectly suited to the unique needs of these plants.
- For roses and hydrangeas, we recommend Neutrog Sudden Impact for Roses. Despite what the name might tell you, it's not just for roses - it's great for a range of flowering plants.
- For camellias, we recommend Neutrog Kahoona. This product is formulated to suit plants that prefer an acidic growing medium, including camellias alongside azaleas, rhododendrons, gardenias and even blueberries.
- For all other flowering plants, we recommend Yates Thrive Flower & Fruit Soluble Fertiliser. This fast-acting flower food is a cinch to apply - simply add it to your watering can according to package directions and away you go!