A friend at work mentioned she wanted to start a cutting garden. My mind was blank except for daisies , phlox and asiatic lilies. What suggestions do you have.
Texas flowers to cut and arrange
Rudbeckias (Black-eyed Susan), Coreopsis, Purple Coneflowers
Coneflower, Coreopsis, Black Eyed Susan and tall salvias ('Black & Blue', 'Henry Duelberg' S. Darcyi) work real well. Jonquils and daffodils work well in the spring. Copper Canyon Daisy, pineapple salvia are great in the fall arrangements. Roses are always great, though the ones that grow around here only work in short vases. Zinnia's are great for an annual.
Stephanie, great minds think alike! :)
Irises, lilies, chrysanthemums, sunflowers, gladioli
Calla lilies, definitely! They last almost two weeks. I also cut coreopsis, coneflowers, salvias, daisies and roses, of course.
larkspur, foxglove, snapdragons, gaillardia, monarda, celosia, calendula, lisianthus (Texas bluebells), heliopsis, scabiosa, yarrow
My dad grew zinnias when I was growing up and he was always cutting a bouquet for my mom to put in a vase. Our zinnia garden had a very 70's "flower power" vibe, all hot pinks and oranges intermixed. Vivid colors. My memory is that the zinnias did well in vases, although to be honest I didn't pay attention to stuff like that back then. Zinnias are annuals, I believe.
Great suggestions. I never thought of these.
I've always had trouble with zinnias, they always mildew, but I haven't tried them in years, maybe I should.
I think they are better to plant later in the summer...or is that tomatoes?
No idea. Tomatoes aren't a huge favorite around our house. I'm going to try some yellow squash and some sort of green bean in planters this year, though.
Oops, I wrote zinnias, then later remembered that although he lived in Texas for his last 30 years, when my dad was growing those zinnias we were in Minnesota.
So they may not be appropriate for here in Texas (or why didn't he grow them here too?).
I'm not sure why they would be more prone to mildew here though. Is it humidity in the air that fosters mildew? My recollection is that Minneapolis summers are very humid -- all those lakes, you know! He did plant them in full sun.
I'd be interested to know if zinnias DO grow here in Texas, though. I love them.
LiseP
They do grow, but they are very susceptible to mildew. I think there are some more disease resistant varieties available now, though.
Thanks, stephanietx. I'll keep my eye out for the mildew-resistant varieties. I've always wanted to grow some zinnias, as an homage or sorts to my dad. Zinnias, sweet peas and tomatoes -- that was him. LiseP
Be sure to start your sweet peas in the fall. They have to be grown in cooler weather here.
I love to use Ox-Eye Daisy as a cut flower. Zinnias do grow in Texas...I haven't used them as cut flowers yet, but maybe I should!