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HARDY ANNUAL
CUT FLOWERS
The Delight of 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.
Ammi (Ammi majus)
Ladybird Poppies (Papaver commutatum)
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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 the fall to establish strong roots before winter, rewarding you with a head start on blooms as soon as the temperatures rises.
Bachelor’s Buttons (Centaurea cyanus)
Ladybird Poppies (Papaver commutatum)
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Favorite Hardy
Annual Cut Flowers
Want to get started? Here are some tried-and-true hardy annuals, fall sown at Vineyard Gardens, that are beautiful in your garden and on your table.
Sweet Peas (Lathyrus odoratus): Delicate tendrils, a sweet fragrance, and endless color options make these an old-fashioned favorite.
Larkspur: Tall, elegant spires that add drama to any bouquet.
Bachelor’s Buttons (Centaurea cyanus): Cheerful, easy to grow, and perfect for natural, meadow-style arrangements.
Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus): Vibrant, long-lasting, and available in a variety of colors.
Ammi (Ammi majus): Delicate, lacy flowers that resemble Queen Anne’s Lace, adding a whimsical touch.
Ladybird Poppies (Papaver commutatum): 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.
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!
Ladybird Poppies, Cornflower, Larkspur [illustration by karen blackerby logan]
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Ready to
Plant Today!
Antirrhinum (Snapdragons) are part of the Potomac series which are excellent cut flowers.
Centaurea cyanus are also known as Bachelor Buttons or Cornflowers.
Larkspur 'Fancy Rose Striped'
Larkspur 'Fancy Smokey Eyes'
Larkspur 'Frosted Skies'
Larkspur 'Misty Lavender'
Larkspur QIS 'Lilac'
Larkspur QIS 'Pure White'
Larkspur QIS 'White'
Orlaya 'White Lace'
Papaver 'Imperial Pink'
Papaver 'Lady Bird'
Papaver rhoeas
Scabiosa 'Black Knight'
Scabiosa 'Fata Morgana'
Scabiosa 'Merlot Red'
Scabiosa 'Oxford Blue'
Agrostemma 'Ocean Pearl'
Agrostemma 'Purple Queen'
Ammi visnaga 'Green Mist'
Ammi majus 'Select White'
Antirrhinum majus 'Cherry Rose'
Antirrhinum majus 'Dark Orange'
Antirrhinum majus 'Potomac White'
Antirrhinum majus 'Royal'
Asperula orientalis
Asperula orientalis ‘Cloud Nine’
Centaurea cyanus 'Blue Boy'
Centaurea cyanus 'Select Ultraviolet'
Centaurea cyanus ‘Lady Mauve”
Larkspur 'Deep Blue'
Larkspur 'Fancy Blue Purple'
Ammi (Ammi majus)
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A Garden
That Gives Back
There’s something magical about stepping into the garden in early spring, 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?
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