11 Long-Lasting Cut Flowers for Beautiful Bouquets

Zinnia

A favorite when it comes to making beautiful summer bouquets, zinnias are available in oranges, reds, pinks, lilacs, and other stunning hues. "With so many variations in shapes, sizes, and colors, they look good paired in a bouquet with practically anything," says Steven Cox, associate director of floral design at Longwood Gardens. "Their disc shapes may be piled high and round in a double-form or simple and flat with colorful petals radiating from a center button."

• Zones: 3 to 10
• Size: varies by type
• Bloom time: summer to first frost
• Growing conditions: full sun; well-draining soil
• Vase life: 5 to 7 days

Dahlia

Dahlias come in a range of colors and shapes and have blooms that can get as big as a dinner plate. "There is truly a dahlia for everyone's taste," says Peggy Anne Montgomery, a horticulturist with FlowerBulbs.com. "They are the divas of the late summer and fall garden and make exceptionally long-lasting cut flowers." Unlike most cut flowers, dahlias should not be picked while in bud, as they won't open. Wait until the flowers have bloomed before adding them to your arrangements.

• Zones: 8 to 10
• Size: 1 to 6 feet tall x 2 feet wide
• Bloom time: late summer to fall
• Growing conditions: full sun; well-draining soil
• Vase life: 14 days

Peony

With big blousy blooms and a potent fragrance, perennial peonies work well as focal flowers in a handful of arrangements. "Peonies are easy to grow and will provide gardeners with many luscious blooms year after year," says Cox. "Cut them when the buds are showing color but have not yet opened to enjoy a week of beautiful peonies once they unfurl."

• Zones: 3 to 7
• Size: varies by type
• Bloom time: late spring to early summer
• Growing conditions: full sun; well-draining soil
• Vase life: 5 to 7 days

Allium

Allium, also known as ornamental onion, is available in a range of pink-and-purple hues, with some types even forming yellow flowers. "They have perfectly round flower heads for modern designs," says Montgomery. "Cut the flowers while about half of the florets are open." Opt for taller varieties when growing allium for flower arrangements with height and movement.

• Zones: 3 to 9
• Size: 20 to 36 inches tall x 1 foot wide
• Bloom time: late spring to early summer
• Growing conditions: full sun; well-draining soil
• Vase life: 14 days

Muscari

A perennial bulb recognized for its dense, urn-shaped flowers that resemble a bundle of grapes, muscari (also called grape hyacinth) will be one of the first cut flowers used in your spring bouquets. Commonly found in shades of purple or blue, the deer-resistant plant can also come in white and pink. "Grape hyacinth are one of the longest flowering early season bulbs," says Montgomery. "They can be arranged with other early flowering bulbs."

• Zones: 4 to 9
• Size: 6 to 10 inches tall x 2 inches wide
• Bloom time: early spring
• Growing conditions: full sun to part shade; well-draining soil
• Vase life: About 14 days

Clematis

Since it's known for being a vining plant, clematis is often overlooked as a cut flower. "Their beautiful star-shaped, open-faced blooms on delicate vines add something special to any arrangement," says Cox. "Many varieties look great even after the bloom is spent and provide you with a delicate tussle of fluff." Cut them from your garden just as the bud is cracking open; they can last for up to 10 days.

• Zones: 3 to 9
• Size: 36 inches tall x 36 inches wide
• Bloom time: Spring to summer
• Growing conditions: Full sun; fertile, well-draining soil
• Vase life: 5 to 10 days

Coneflower

This native plant makes a terrific cut flower. Coneflower, or echinacea, has a dramatic cone and backward leaning petals that add a sturdy line to any arrangement. "They hold up beautifully as a cut flower and their cones also look great when dried," says Cox. "They have become a hybrid kaleidoscope of available colors and textures, one prettier than the next. Butterflies and bees love them, but deer do not."

• Zones: 3 to 9
• Size: 3 to 4 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wide
• Bloom time: summer
• Growing conditions: full sun to part shade; well-draining soil
• Vase life: 7 days

Oriental Lilies

For fragrance and a long life in a vase look no further than oriental lilies. "Blooming in mid-summer, they love filtered sunshine and moist, well-drained soil and will last a week or two as a cut flower," says Cox. Lilies like water, so in order to extend their lifespan once snipped, ensure there's enough water in your vase at all times.

• Zones: 5 to 8
• Size: 2 to 5 feet tall x 6 inches to 1 foot wide
• Bloom time: mid-summer
• Growing conditions: filtered sun and well-drained soil
• Vase life: 7 to 14 days

Montbretia

Crocosmia, also known as montbretia. has long, gracefully arched stems that are tipped with numerous orange, red, or yellow flowers. "Very elegant, their warm shades are a terrific contrast when paired with dahlias," says Montgomery.

• Zones: 5 to 9
• Size: 2 feet to 3 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wide
• Bloom time: late summer to early fall
• Growing conditions: full sun; well-drained soil
• Vase life: up to 14 days

Cosmos

With delicate little pinwheels of petals surrounding a button-like center, cosmos are a charming addition to bouquets. "They float above lacy foliage on thin stems, adding an ethereal quality to any arrangement," says Cox. "Cut the blooms as they first open and they will last over a week." Cosmos are a great way to attract bees and butterflies thanks to their colorful blooms, which range from magenta to white and everything in between. Though delicate, these blooms last for up to a week—and look beautiful even as they begin to fade.

• Zones: 2 to 11
• Size: 1 to 6 feet tall x 2 to 4 feet wide
• Bloom time: summer
• Growing conditions: full sun; well-drained soil
• Vase life: 5 to 7 days

Hydrangea

One of the most well-known flowers of summer, hydrangeas are a popular choice for cut flowers. "Their big heads, made up of much smaller blooms, may be round or conical depending on the variety," says Cox. "They bloom through summer on old growth stems and are available in shades of pink, blue, purple, and red." Your soil's acidity will dictate the color of hydrangeas—acidic soil will form blue or even purple blooms, while neutral soils will yield pink ones.

Hydrangea can be a finicky cut flower, but will last for longer if the stem is placed in water immediately after being cut, says Cox; bring a bucket of water with you into the garden so they get the hydration they need stat. "They can be resuscitated if they wilt by soaking them in a sink of cool water for 15 minutes and recutting the stems, placing the stem in warm water and waiting," says Cox.

• Zones: 5 to 9
• Size: varies by type
• Bloom time: Summer
• Growing conditions: varies by type
• Vase life: 5 to 9 days