If you are thinking of creating a cutting garden, consider perennials as well as or even instead of annuals.

The blog at “Flowers, Arrangements, Design” discusses this subject and shares some thoughts on cut flower garden design with a simple plan that many can use or adapt to suit their needs.

Perennial border in September

The picture of the herbaceous border opposite was taken in Mid September and there is still a wealth of blooms and foliage available.

Tall blue Echinops will even keep for winter displays whilst the lilac asters and white Anemone Japonica are always good as cut flowers.

A great many cut flower gardens use vast quantities of annuals, sown from seed each spring.  These often give months of blooms but the season can be short lived. Many hours of sowing, pricking out and planting can be needed to get the best from the season.

Perennials not only provide year round interest and structure but give the flower arranger a longer season and foliage.

Even the seed heads of flowers look good in autumn and winter arrangements and evergreen foliage is always useful for bulking up a display and adding structure.

Perennials flower year after year and the regular cutting process forces the plant to put on more growth, often creating a second flush of blooms in the year and resulting in a larger plant the following season, which in turn will yield more flowers or foliage.

A wider range of flowers is available throughout the year and because perennials bloom at different times, your arrangements become more seasonal.

More information

Flowers, Arrangements, Design – Blog site dedicated to floral displays, gardens and ladscape