SHIFTING ROOTS

home, garden, food, and prairie lifestyle

DIY Seed Starting from Your Window

When I was a little girl my Grandmother started marigolds every winter in a little modified milk garden planter with her seeds from last year’s crop.  I loved those marigolds in her brick planters and still think of her every time I see a marigold.

You really don’t need a grow light or other expensive equipment to start seeds. Seed starting from your window is relatively easy, but there are some limitations.

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The 36 Best Cut Flowers to Feed Your Floral Arranging Habit All Summer Long

If you’ve been reading this blog or following me on Instagram for awhile, you might have noticed that #ihavethisthingwithflowers.  I am obsessed.  To feed my obsession I need a garden filled with cut flowers that will hold up well in my various arrangements.

Here are my favourite plants to keep me in floral arrangements from June to September.  Pick at least three from each section to plant in your garden so that you can have cut flowers all season long too.

Yes! You can create a cut flower garden for floral arranging all season long. Here's the perfect flower ideas to design your garden, even if you're a beginner. Bonus! Most of the pics are perennials! #flower #garden #cut #ideas #forbeginners

Disclaimer: I am writing from USDA Hardiness zone 2-3, so all plants listed will grow in this location.  The good news is that if you live almost anywhere else, you should be able to grow these flowers.  The bad news is your success with these flowers can vary depending on your area’s growing and soil conditions.

Annuals vs. Perennials

A cut flower garden should have a nice mix of annuals and perennials to help ensure that there will be something to cut all season.  Annual flowers will not come back again the following year they are planted, but generally provide blooms all season long.  Perennials will come back every year once they are planted, but usually have a much shorter bloom time.

Annual flowers are cheaper to purchase, but you have to purchase them every year.  Perennial flowers are more expensive to purchase, but you usually only have to purchase them once.

A good portion of annual flowers meant for cutting will also need to be seed started anywhere from 4-10 weeks before you plant them outdoors. I go into more detail about the easiest annual flowers for beginners to grow here, and provide detailed growing information in my cut flower e-book.

With that out of the way, let’s get on to my favourite cut flowers!

Want to know how to start your own cutting garden on the cheap and what a professional flower farmer grows?  Click here to learn more!

All Season Cut Flowers

1. Daisy

Daisies are beautiful, simple, and look good on their own or with any colour flower.  They can have a spreading habit, so be ready to divide them up and pass them on to a friend or neighbour.

2. Gypsophelia

More commonly known as Baby’s breath.  They make a beautiful filler in any arrangement.

3. Marigolds

Larger varieties like the Mary Helen or Crackerjack varieties look better in floral arrangements.

4. Sedum

Even thought some sedums flower only in one part of the year, or even not at all, I love using them all year round for their interesting shapes and textures.

Spring and Early Summer Cut Flowers

5. Allium

6. Daffodil

7. Hyacinth

These grape hyacinths are the ones most commonly grown in zone 3.  I love them in a small teacup arrangement.  Warmer zones can grow many more and larger varieties of hyacinths.

Need help planning your backyard flower bed and more?  These printables will give you a place to organize your thoughts and plan your projects.  Click here for more information.

8. Iris

You’ll most commonly see irises in purple, but yellow (like these) or even blue are an unexpected choice.

9. Lilac

Lilacs are actually a shrub, and not a perennial.  However, I just had to include them, as spring wouldn’t be the same without a large bouquet of them sitting on my kitchen table.

10. Lily of the Valley

Lily of the Valley is fragrant and beautiful, but it spreads if left unchecked.  Worried about planting something you might regret later?  Check out my list of 28 perennials you’ll regret planting.

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    11. Peony

    I am obsessed with peonies!  We have 8 bushes of them and I can’t bear to give any of them away. . . although I probably should.  Did you know that when you get a new peony plant it won’t bloom for 3 years!?!?  Learn what you need to know about taking care of peonies here.

    Related: The Ultimate Guide to Growing Peonies, plus fun DIY’s

    12. Tulip

    To me, tulips are the ultimate floral expression of spring.  I loved our simple yellow and red ones growing up.

    Summer Cut Flowers

    13. Asiatic Lilies

    Asiatic lilies are so easy to grow and come in an endless variety of colours.

    14. Bee Balm

    Makes a gorgeous filler plant and are great for attracting bees to your garden.

    15. Blanketflower

    Blanketflowers are a great choice on the prairies, as they’re a native plant and don’t require much water or care once established. Want to grow more native plants? Here’s some of my favourites!

    16. Blazing Star Liatrus

    Another gorgeous, easy to grow native plant. The varieties you buy in stores are likely naturalized ones, so to get a truly native plant, you’ll need to order from a specialty seed shop like Prairie Originals.

    17. Clustered Bellflower

    Shopping for a bellflower plant?  Make sure to get the clustered variety and not the regular bellflower.  The regular kind is more weed than flower and can easily take over your flower bed in a few years.

    Related: 28 Perennials You’ll Regret Planting

    18. Coral Bells

    Coral bells can tolerate a bit of shade and make a stunning filler.

    19. Dahlia

    So many dahlias, so little time.  Dahlias come in practically every colour of the rainbow, and the sizes can range from 1 inch to the size of a dinner plate.  They’re a must have for the garden, although the bulbs must be dug out every fall and replanted in the spring. I’ve included everything you need to know about removing and storing dahlia tubers here.

    20. Delphinium

    An old fashioned favourite that’s easy to grow. I have found in my garden that they seem to need 5 years to really establish, although you’ll get blooms every year. Make sure you stake them, because they will be the first thing to break in a summer storm!

    21. Dianthus

    22. Glads

    Glads are a staple of late summer floral arrangements.  In colder climates you’ll need to dig the bulbs out every fall and replant in the winter.

    Gardening Newbie?  Here’s how to create a beautiful cut flower garden with ease–no fancy skills required!

    23. Hydrangea

    Be careful of what you purchase in zone 2 or zone 3!  Often the hydrangeas in the big box store will not be hardy enough for these climates.  Check on the tag that the plant is hardy to at least -30 degrees celsius.

    24. Lady’s Mantle

    25. Lupin

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      26. Coneflowers

      Some of my favourite coneflowers are echinacea and rudbeckia. They don’t only have to be yellow either! You can find many lovely shades of pinks and reds too.

      There are many type of coneflowers and all of them are good candidates for your next cut flower arrangement.  Check for black eyed susan’s in ditches along the road.

      27. Sweet Pea

      28. Veronica

      29. Yarrow

      Fall Cut Flower

      30. Aster

      Asters come in both perennial and annual varieties. This year I’m experimenting with the much larger annual varieties. The ones pictured here would work better as a filler flower.

      31. Annual Sunflowers

      Sunflowers come in so many different heights, and even in shades or orange, red, plum, brown, and almost white.  Plant at least one every spring for the children in your life.

      32. Brown Eyed Susan

      See coneflower above.

      33. Chinese Lantern

      Chinese lanterns can be invasive, depending on your soil. I have a problem with mine running wild, so this year I’m trying to grow Pumpkin On A Stick as an annual alternative.

      34. Chrysanthemum

      You know it’s fall when the pots of mums appear at the big box stores.

      Dahlia

      See dahlia above in the summer section.

      35.Goldenrod

      Golden rod grows wild where I live.  Hurray for free cut flowers!!

      36. Strawflower

      Strawflower is one of my new favourite flowers.  Light as air and super pretty! They last forever in and out of the vase and are very easy to collect seeds from.

      37. Zinnia

      Zinnas hold a special place in my heart and I go a little crazy each year planting them.  So worth it once they bloom!

      What is your favourite cut flower?  Let me know what I’ve missed!

      Ready to grow your own beautiful cut flower garden, without the hassel?

      I’ve taken all the guesswork out of creating a cut flower garden with my e-book, Cut Flowers Made Simple. It’s the perfect way for beginner and intermediate gardeners to start their own cut flower garden with or without seed starting, growing annual flowers.

      Click on the picture to find out more or get your copy.

      20+ Canadian Seed Companies & Nurseries to Order the Garden or Landscape of Your Dreams

      Are you a beginner gardener with no idea where to buy your seeds?  Whether you’re looking for flowers or vegetables, heirloom seeds, organic seeds, wildflower seeds for your xeriscape, or hardy fruit trees, you’ll find something in this list.

      Are you a beginner gardener with no idea where to start?  Whether you're looking for flowers or vegetables, heirloom seeds, organic seeds, wildflower seeds for your xeriscape, or hardy fruit trees, you'll find something in this list. Order early so you can try seed starting before it's gardening season! #gardening #seedstarting #seeds #startingseeds #flowers #vegetables #landscaping #seedcompanies
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      5 Easy Annual Flowers for Beginner Seed Savers

      What’s the easiest way you can make a dent in your gardening budget?  Saving seeds!! It’s so easy to save seeds from cut flowers and other annual flowers that you can use next year.  While some seeds require a little more know-how than others to save, I’ve compiled some of the easiest flower seeds to save–even if you don’t know what you’re doing. Here’s my list of 5 easy annual flowers that are perfect for beginner seed savers.

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      44 Pollinator Friendly Flowers and Herbs to Help Save the Bees

      Creating a pollinator friendly garden is a win for both you and nature. You create habitat for the bees, which in turn pollinate your garden, which leads to delicious vegetables and better yields.

      But what flowers are the best flowers to save the bees and other pollinators? I’ve researched and come up with a list of 44 annuals, perennials, and herbs you can grow in your backyard landscape to attract bees in your garden.

      A quick disclaimer–I garden in zone 3b in the Canadian Prairies, so my suggestions reflect what grows here. If you know of another flower that bees love in another zone, please put it in the comments, along with what zone you’re in so we can all learn.

      Alyssum

      Sweet Alysum can also be grown as a cover crop between rows to help suppress weeds and add nutrients to the soil once it is worked in for the season.

      Agastache (Anise Hyssop)

      Agastache is a very drought resistant perennial and provides height in the landscape.

      Apple Trees (Or really any fruit tree)

      Okay, so this one is sort of cheating. But to be fair, have you ever seen a fruit tree in bloom that didn’t have tons of bees buzzing around it? Yes, many fruit trees need the bees to pollinate them, but not all. So plant those apple, cherry, plum, saskatoon berry, or any other flowering fruit free to encourage bees.

      Related: 28 Hardy Fruit Trees for Zone 2 and Zone 3

      Asclepias (Butterfly Weed)

      Butterfly weed isn’t just for butterflies–bees love it too!

      Aster

      There are many varieties of asters to choose from, from the late summer blooming perennial, to the kind used as bedding plants or grown from seed in a cut flower garden.

      Bachelor’s Buttons

      Kids of all ages love bachelor buttons. They’re easy to grow from see and bees can’t get enough of them.

      Borage

      Borage is an excellent companion flower in the garden and has medicinal purposes as well. In some climates it can get invasive.

      Blanketflower

      A stunningly beautiful native flower that’s also drought resistant.

      Calendula

      Calendula is a workhorse in the garden. It’s easy to grow from seed, loved by pollinators, is a good companion plant for vegetables, and can be used as an ingredient is soaps and diy beauty products.

      Related: 14 Companion Plants for the Vegetable Garden

      Catmint

      You might plant catmint for the bees, but your cats will enjoy it as well. I once planted catmint, but there were so many neighbourhood cats that got into it that it didn’t stand a chance and died shortly after.

      Celiosa

      Celiosa is a striking and more unusual addition to your flowerpots.

      Clover

      Clover is an excellent cover crop and can be used as an alternative to grass in a lawn.

      Cosmos

      Cosmos are an easy cut and come again flower that you can start from seed. They look beautiful in the garden and as part of floral arrangements.

      Crocus

      Crocuses are a welcome early-blooming flower and one of the first food sources for bees in the Spring.

      Chives

      A garden isn’t complete without perennial chives. I adore their purple blooms and use fresh chives in my cooking all season long.

      Echinacea (Coneflower)

      Echinacea is drought resistant and a lovely native plant to use in both the garden and in landscaping.

      Related: 5 Benefits to Landscaping with Native Flowers

      Foxglove

      Foxgloves are a gorgeous addition to the garden, but not a good choice if you have children or pets. Every part of the plant is poisonous and can be fatal if ingested.

      Geranium (Cranesbill)

      Not to be confused with the ones used as bedding plants! Cranesbill Geraniums are perennials.

      Goldenrod

      This late summer to fall bloomer is a native plant that is drought tolerant and perfect in cut flower arrangements.

      Heliotrope

      Heliotropes are very fragrant with a smell that both bees and humans find irresistible.

      Lavender

      Lavender is another fragrant choice. The flowers can be used in soaps or as a flavour in drinks and desserts.

      Liatris

      Blazing star liatris is an easy-to-grow, drought resistant and deer resistant perennial. A must in any landscape!

      Related: How to Design a Low-Maintenance Flower Bed

      Lupin

      Lupins are a gorgeous choice in the garden, but also dangerous for kids and pets.

      Marigolds

      Marigolds are easy to start from seed and are a good companion plant in the vegetable garden.

      Mint

      Every garden needs a mint plant, but keep it in a pot, as it is highly invasive.

      Related: 28 Perennials You’ll Regret Planting

      Mondara (Bee Balm)

      It’s called bee balm–enough said.

      Oregano

      Another herb that is loved by both bees and humans.

      Nasturtium

      Nasturtiums are edible flowers with a peppery taste, and their seeds are easy to collect and grow.

      Pansy

      A beautiful and very hardy bedding plant. Pansies often survive a light frost or two.

      Peony

      Planting a peony bush? Just make sure you keep it farther away from the house so ants aren’t encouraged to come through your doors. Learn more about growing peonies here.

      Phlox

      Phlox makes a good ground cover in a rock garden and can be grown underneath a tree if there is enough light.

      Poppies

      Poppies are another easy-to-grow flower that often re-seed themselves.

      Rosemary

      We love rosemary for it’s deliciousness in cooking. Bees love rosemary for the little blue-ish flowers.

      Related: How to Dry Herbs so They Still Taste Good!

      Roses

      Roses can be tricky to grow in zone 3. Stick to the Morden series of roses for the best success. Tea roses or anything fancy will not survive our winters.

      Rudbeckia (Black-Eyed Susan)

      A staple perennial of the late summer garden.

      Sage

      Sage has a lovely smell and is also a beautiful filler piece for flower arrangements.

      Salvia

      Scabiosa

      The unusual blooms of scabiosa make a statement in the garden.

      Snowdrops

      Plant snowdrop underneath a tree or in the shade by your house for best results.

      Stonecrop (Sedum)

      There are so many types of sedum to chose from. To keep it bee-friendly, choose flowering varieties like Autumn Joy.

      Sunflowers

      Sunflowers are also fun to plant with kids around. Compare their height to the sunflowers!

      Thyme

      Bees love the delicate purple flowers and you’ll love the fresh taste in your cooking.

      Related: How to Grow a Mini Outdoor Herb Garden

      Yarrow

      I personally adore yarrow because it is a perennial with a long bloom time, it works well in flower arrangements, and it’s drought tolerant.

      Zinnia

      Every garden needs some cheerful zinnias! Zinnias are good companion flowers and cut flowers.

      More Tips for Creating a Garden to Attract Bees

      As I mentioned before, this list is definitely not exhaustive to all zones! There’s also a few general tips you can use to decide if a flower would encourage bees to your yard or not.

      Use Organic Gardening Methods & Avoid Hybrids

      Avoid using pesticides, herbicides, or insecticides as much as possible–even ones marketed as organic. They can contain ingredients that are harmful to pollinators.

      Hybrid flowers are bred to have benefits to gardeners, but unfortunately they often have less pollen and nectar–bad news for bees. While I don’t think you should avoid all hybrids, maybe keep them to only a few favourites if you’re trying to attract bees.

      Prioritize Native Flowers and Colourful Flowers

      Native flowers have so many benefits to them, including being good for the bees. For ideas, go to your local library and pick up a book on plants native to year area, or google [your province or state] + native flowers for ideas. Some native flowers in my area that I like are goldenrod and asters.

      Bees love colourful flowers! While all colours will work, bees prefer yellow, white, and blue/purple. While there are tons of flowers to choose in these colours, I like marigolds for yellow, alyssum for white, and bee balm & delphiniums in the blue/purple family.

      Fragrant Flowers and Herbs

      Fragrant flowers were meant to attract bees. Some of my favourites are lily of the valley, citronella geranium, and lilacs. Herbs such as chives, mint, sage, and lavender are also good choices.

      Long blooming Flowers 

      Gardeners love long blooming flowers because they provide colour for more of the growing season. Bees love long blooming flowers because they provide a good food source for a longer amount of time. Try planting yarrow, rudbeckia, and daisies.

      Want to attract bees and other pollinators and beneficial insects to your vegetable garden? Plant a variety of these 44 annual, perennial, and herb flowers that bees love! Bonus, all the plants are good for zone 3!! #bees #pollinators #garden #flowers

      Early Blooming Spring Flowers 

      Even thought I’m personally not a fan of dandelions, I’ll leave them all of May because they’re one of the few sources of food for bees in early Spring. Try planting some early varieties of tulips, crocus, and daffodils.

      Plant More Than One of Each Flower and Have Something Blooming in Every Season

      While one bee-friendly plant is better than no bee-friendly plants, it’s better to have more than one of each type of flower you’re planting. Your landscape should also contain flowers that bloom in early-Spring, late-Fall, and everything in-between so there’s always a food source for the bees.

      Have a Variety of Shapes and Sizes

      Different bees have different shapes and lengths of tongues. Therefore, you need a variety of flowers to make sure that your garden can benefit as many bees as possible.

      Feeling inspired to add a few bee-friendly favourites to your garden? Which ones will you add?

      Welcome!

      Hi, I’m Kristen and I help new gardeners learn to grow their own vegetables and beautify their yards. I also share recipes that use all that delicious garden produce. Grab a coffee (and your gardening gloves) and join me for gardening tips, simple recipes, and the occasional DIY, all from the lovely city of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

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