8 Cut Flowers That Thrive in Pots and Containers

Potted flowering plants arranged outdoors vibrant blooms in planters — Credit:
Getty Images

Planting a backyard cutting garden is a pretty and practical way to use your space. It transforms a section of your landscape into a colorful, textural bed that adds visual interest during the growing season while providing a consistent bounty of flowers for homemade arrangements that brighten your home's interior.

But if your yard doesn't offer enough acreage for a full-sized cutting garden, then consider creating a container garden with bouquet-ready flowers instead. Fill your pots with flowers and foliage that complement each other in cut arrangements—like oversized dahlias, fast-growing globe amaranth, fragrant eucalyptus, trailing nasturtium, and more.

Grouping plants with the same growing requirements, such as drought-tolerant cut flowers in one container and shade-tolerant blooms in another, will make care easier. Ahead, gardening experts share the best cut flowers to grow in containers.

Elizabeth Brown of Foxglove Farmhouse, author of The Beginner's Cut Flower Garden
Laura Walsh, director of marketing at Oasis Forage Products

01 of 08

Dahlias

Eye-catching dahlias (Dahlia spp.) make a statement in containers and work as an anchor flower in arrangements. Elizabeth Brown of Foxglove Farmhouse recommends placing one oversized dahlia in each pot, and filling the rest of the space with trailing flowers and shorter plants. "Place it toward the back of the pot as it will grow quite tall," she says. "You could go with a dahlia variety that will grow an enormous bloom, such as Cafe au Lait, or something that is slightly smaller and might produce more stems—for this, I love the deep orange tones of the variety Cornel Bronze."

02 of 08

Zinnias

Low-maintenance, easy-to-grow zinnias (Zinnia spp.) come in a wide variety of colors, sizes, and petal arrangements, allowing you to find one (or more) that complements any landscape design. Laura Walsh, director of marketing at Oasis Forage Products, recommends the common Zinnia elegans—"bright, long-stemmed blooms that produce more flowers the more you cut," she says—while Brown recommends a smaller, multi-colored variety, like Jazzy Mix. "These will eventually trail off the side of your pot if you allow it," she says.

Cosmos

Like dahlias and zinnias, cosmos (Cosmos spp.) are well-suited to a cutting garden because they are cut-and-come-again flowers. "These blooms perform best when you harvest them continuously throughout the season," Brown says.

The two-tone look of cosmos, with their white, purple, or pink petals circling contrasting centers, gives a meadow-inspired accent to containers and arrangements. Plant the flowers in well-draining soil and place them in a full-sun spot; pinch them back to keep the stems thinner. "Anything in the Double Click series is a show stopper," says Brown. "The flowers bloom with multiple layers of delicate petals and put on plentiful growth in high summer."

04 of 08

Eucalyptus

Aromatic eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp.), which grows best in containers placed in full sun and filled with well-draining soil, introduces a textural element to your arrangements. "Eucalyptus cinerea has silvery-blue round leaves that add softness, movement, and a high-end neutral tone to bouquets," says Walsh. "Plant in a 16-inch or larger container since it grows quickly and appreciates space." An added benefit: The scent of eucalyptus is a natural pest repellent, deterring ticks from your porch or patio.

05 of 08

Hare's Ear

Closeup of a flowering plant with small clustered flowers and narrow leaves — Getty Images

Delicate green hare's ear (Bupleurum griffithii) produces vibrant, citrus-hued flowers that stand out against emerald leaves from summer through fall. "Bupleurum griffithii has lime-green bracts and delicate stems that are the ultimate bouquet filler and brighten any color palette," says Walsh. The plant prefers well-draining soil, full sun, and consistent, not excessive, watering.

06 of 08

Purpletop Vervain

Cluster of small purple flowers in a natural outdoor setting surrounded by green foliage — Getty Images

Purpletop vervain (Verbena bonariensis), another sun-loving flower, requires a deep pot—ideally 14 to 16 inches—to support the roots of flowers that grow to 4 feet tall. Their size and pretty lavender color make them a standout in containers and bouquets. "Verbena bonariensis has airy clusters of tiny purple blooms that float on tall, wiry stems, adding height and movement without visual heaviness," says Walsh. "Water regularly, but let the top inch dry between waterings. Deadhead lightly to encourage continued blooming."

07 of 08

Globe Amaranth

A clear vase with pink flowers arranged on a white surface near a sheer curtain — riroriro / Getty Images

Globe amaranth (Gomphrena globosa) boasts blossoms made from dozens of thin, colorful bracts arranged in concentric circles. "Gomphrena globosa has round, clover-like blooms in pink, purple, or white. They hold their color fresh or dried and add a playful texture," says Walsh. This quick-growing flower matures in fewer than three months and continues to bloom throughout the season.

08 of 08

Nasturtium

Arrangement of flowers in glass vases on a surface — Laurie Rubin / Getty Images

Sunny-colored nasturtiums (Nasturtium spp.) are trailing flowers that look beautiful spilling over containers and add a cheerful pop of warmth to arrangements. This five-petaled flower comes in shades of red, orange, cream, pink, yellow, and maroon (among others); the blossoms are surrounded by rounded leaves with white centers. Plant in full sun with well-draining soil and don't overwater—nasturtiums prefer slightly dry conditions.

8 Cut Flowers That Thrive in Containers—and Make the Prettiest Homegrown Bouquets