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HARDY ANNUAL

CUT FLOWERS

The Delight of Late Spring Bouquets

Have you ever longed for a garden that bursts into bloom early in the season, filled with flowers ready to be cut and arranged, lifting your spirits from the greys of winter? Hardy annuals might just be your new best friend. These resilient flowers thrive in cooler temperatures, one of the first to awaken your landscape as winter fades.

Learn more about Hardy Annuals & Succesion Gardening

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What are

Hardy Annuals?

Hardy annuals are flowers that complete their entire lifecycle—from seed to bloom to seed again—in one growing season. But unlike tender annuals, they can tolerate (and even prefer) the cooler temperatures of early spring and fall. Vineyard Gardens sows theirs in early winter to establish strong roots, rewarding you with a head start on blooms as soon as the temperatures rises.

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Favorite Hardy

Annual Cut Flowers

Ready to Plant Today!

Want to get started? Here are some tried-and-true hardy annuals, sown in December at Vineyard Gardens, that are beautiful in your garden and on your table.

Agrostemma : Brings a delicate yet striking presence to garden borders and meadow plantings. Attracts pollinators. Adds ethereal quality to cut flower arrangements.
- Ocean Pearl
- Purple Queen
Ammi Majus ‘Select White’ : Delicate, lacy flowers that resemble Queen Anne’s Lace, adding a whimsical touch.
Ammi visnaga ‘Green Mist’ : Lacy, green-tinted white flower, that resembles Queen Anne’s lace, adding a soft, ethereal touch to garden borders and floral arrangements.
Antirrhinum majus (Snapdragons) Vibrant, long-lasting, and available in a variety of colors. Potomac Series is the best cut-flower snapdragons we will have this season. Hardened off outside and ready to go.
- Cherry Rose
- Dark Orange
- Potomac White
- Royal
Centaurea cyanus (Bachelor’s Buttons): Easy to grow. Frilled blooms atop slender, upright stems. Versatile addition to wildflower meadows, cottage gardens, and floral arrangements..
- Blue Boy
- Select Ultraviolet
- Lady Mauve
Larkspur: In the Delphiniums family, gorgeous flowers that will reseed in your sunny garden. Tall, elegant spires that add drama to any bouquet.
- Deep Blue
- Fancy Blue Purple
- Fancy Rose Striped
- Fancy Smokey Eyes
- Frosted Skies
- Misty Lavender
- QIS 'Lilac
- QIS 'Pure White'
- QIS 'White'
Lathyrus odoratus (Sweet Peas): Delicate tendrils, a sweet fragrance, and endless color options make these an old-fashioned favorite.
Orlaya 'White Lace' : Delicate, lacy white blooms resembling Queen Anne’s Lace. Soft airy appearance. Ready to be planted! A great cut flower.
Papaver commutatum (Lady Bird) : Bright red blooms with striking black spots, these poppies add a bold splash of color to bouquets. While their vase life is short, sealing the cut stem with a quick flame can help prolong their beauty.
Papaver:
- Bridal Silk
- Imperial Pink
- Papaver rhoeas
Salvia horminium : Vibrant, long blooming colorful, papery bracts in shades of pink, purple, and white. Bold color and unique texture add contrast in a cut flower arrangement.
- Pink Sunday
- Blue Monday
Scabiosa : Adds a bold contrast to garden borders and cut flower arrangements while attracting bees and butterflies.
- Black Knight
- Fata Morgana
- Merlot Red
- Oxford Blue

Cutting flowers encourages more blooms, so don’t be shy about filling your vases!

Want to dig deeper? Explore a couple of our favorite varieties below and tips for planting success!

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A Garden

That Gives Back

There’s something magical about stepping into the garden in late spring early summer, scissors in hand, and gathering a bouquet of homegrown blooms. Hardy annuals make this possible, bridging the gap between winter’s dormancy and the abundance of summer.

So why not carve out a little space in your garden for these cold-tolerant beauties?

Ladybird Poppies, Cornflower, Larkspur [illustration by karen blackerby logan]

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