A summer garden filled with colorful, long-stemmed blooms is a delight not only for the landscape but also for creating stunning cut flower arrangements. By planting the right bulbs, you can enjoy an endless supply of fresh flowers for vases and bouquets. If you're looking for the best bulbs to grow for cut flowers, these selections—Calla Lily, Asiatic Lily, Gladiolus, Eremurus, Dahlia, and Ixia—are guaranteed to bring beauty and elegance to your summer garden and home.
Calla Lily: Sleek and Sophisticated Elegance
Calla Lilies (Zantedeschia) are synonymous with sophistication, their smooth, trumpet-like blooms adding a contemporary touch to floral arrangements. Available in white, pink, yellow, orange, and deep purple, these flowers boast long-lasting qualities in a vase. Calla Lilies thrive in moist, well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade. Their striking, sculptural blooms and slender stems make them perfect for modern and classic bouquets alike.
Asiatic Lily: Bold, Vibrant, and Long-Lasting
If you’re looking for show-stopping blooms that are easy to grow, Asiatic Lilies are a must. These lilies bloom in a variety of bright hues, including red, orange, pink, yellow, and white. Unlike their Oriental counterparts, Asiatic Lilies have little to no fragrance, making them ideal for those who prefer scent-free arrangements. Their sturdy stems and upward-facing flowers ensure that they stand out beautifully in cut flower displays.
Gladiolus: Dramatic Spikes of Color
With their tall, sword-like stems and sequentially blooming flowers, Gladiolus add height and drama to any bouquet. These bulbs come in nearly every color imaginable and are easy to grow, making them a garden favorite. Plant them in succession every two weeks to ensure continuous blooms throughout the summer. For cutting, harvest when the first few flowers on the spike open, allowing the rest to bloom gradually in the vase.
Eremurus: The Enchanting Foxtail Lily
For an ethereal touch, Eremurus, also known as Foxtail Lily, is an extraordinary choice. These towering spires of tiny, star-shaped blooms create a whimsical, fairy-tale-like appearance. Their delicate, feathery texture contrasts beautifully with bold flowers like Gladiolus or Dahlias in arrangements. Eremurus bulbs require well-drained soil and a sunny location to thrive, producing blooms that can last over a week in a vase.
Dahlia: The Ultimate Summer Showstopper
Dahlias are a staple of the summer cut flower garden, offering incredible diversity in size, shape, and color. From delicate, ball-shaped blooms to large, dinnerplate varieties, Dahlias provide endless possibilities for floral design. They bloom prolifically from midsummer until the first frost, making them a long-lasting source of cut flowers. To encourage more blooms, cut regularly and remove spent flowers from the plant.
Ixia: Exotic Star-Shaped Beauty
Ixia, also known as African Corn Lily, produces delicate, star-shaped flowers in vibrant shades of pink, yellow, white, and red. These exotic-looking blooms thrive in warm climates and well-drained soil. With their wiry stems and delicate blooms, Ixia flowers add a light and airy quality to summer bouquets, pairing beautifully with larger, bold flowers like Dahlias and Asiatic Lilies.
Bringing the Garden Indoors
To get the most out of your cut flower bulbs, harvest flowers in the morning when they are well-hydrated, and use clean, sharp shears to cut the stems at an angle. Remove any foliage that will sit below the waterline in a vase to prevent bacterial growth. Fresh water and regular trimming of stems will extend the life of your arrangements.
By incorporating these gorgeous summer-flowering bulbs into your garden, you’ll enjoy an abundance of blooms perfect for cutting. Whether you prefer the elegance of Calla Lilies, the boldness of Gladiolus, or the whimsy of Eremurus, these flowers will fill your home with vibrant, long-lasting beauty all summer long.
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