Top 7 Perennials for a Cut Flower Farm (With Growing & Harvest Tips)

This spring has been the ultimate example of the importance perennials play on my flower farm. After a brutally cold winter and unusual spring, I found myself scrambling to pull together 4 weeks of bouquets for my spring subscription members. The anemone were late and ranunculus lackluster, so I turned to the reliable perennials I’ve diligently added to the field over the past 7 years. The result? Some of the most lush and unique bouquets I’ve made yet!

If you're building a cut flower farm or cutting garden, incorporating perennials into your growing plan is a smart move. These reliable bloomers come back year after year, require less maintenance than annuals once established, and can be some of your most profitable crops.

I've shared a lot about my favorite perennials recently on Instagram and TikTok, and I wanted to pull everything together here in one easy-to-reference post.

Why Perennials Matter for Flower Farmers

While annuals often steal the spotlight in cut flower production, perennials play a critical role in the long-term plan. Specifically:

1. Lower input costs over time. Because perennials are hardy to your zone, you can skip the replanting each year. Perennials are an investment upfront but quickly pay for themselves, making them a smart business move for a flower farm.
2. Low maintenance. Perennials, once established, will bloom for years. Most of my plants have been in the field for 5+ years and require very little upkeep from year to year.
3. Dependability. Barring really extreme weather, perennials will bloom the same time year after year, cutting out the risk of crop failure that can happen with annuals.
4. Early or extended bloom times. Perennials are often the earliest to bloom in my field, coming in weeks and even months ahead of hardy or tender annuals.

Now, let’s dive into my top picks! 

Top 5 Perennials on my cut Flower Farm

1. Peonies

By far, the most profitable and beloved perennials on my farm. Their bloom window is short, but the demand is sky-high and these gorgeous blooms command top dollar. Peonies fill a gap from late-spring to summer annuals; I dry store them and pull from that stash each week to fill the flower shed and make subscription bouquets. Find my favorite varieties here!

Hardy to Zones: 3–8

Harvest Tip: Cut in the marshmallow stage for best vase life.

Watch my reel on peony storage here.

2. Baptisia (False Indigo)

A great alternative for snapdragons, baptisia is a unique addition to arrangements with tall, striking stems. The foliage comes in handy later in the season as the blue-green hue and small leaves resemble eucalyptus.

Hardy to Zones: 3–9

Harvest Tip: Cut just as buds are starting to pop open and store upright in tall buckets.

3. Apple Mint

A fragrant, textural filler that surprises customers with that classic mint scent.

Hardy to zones: 5–9

Harvest Tip: Harvest early in the morning and hydrate for several hours. Mint is best harvested when stems are ‘woody’ and mature.

Note: Mint can spread aggressively—consider planting in containers or dedicated rows.

4. Mock Orange (Philadelphus) 

Beautiful white blooms and a heavenly citrus scent makes mock orange my favorite filler-foliage combo each May.

Hardy to Zones: 4–8

Harvest Tip: Cut hard to encourage new growth and long stems in subsequent years.

See how I use mock orange in bouquets here!

5. Hellebore 

The earliest plant to bloom on my flower farm, hellebore are a welcome sight after the winter months, often popping up out of the snow to announce the coming of spring. I rely on hellebore as a foliage and filler mixed with anemone, lilac and narcissus.

Hardy to Zones: 4–9

Harvest Tip: Hellebore are prone to wilt; cut when when stamens drop, petals feel leathery and seed pods have developed.

6. Ninebark (Physocarpus)

Grown primarily for its foliage, ninebark is a go-to for spring bouquets. My favorite variety is Summer Wine, with burgundy foliage and blush pink blossoms.

Hardy to Zones: 2–8

Harvest Tip: Cut in early spring just as blossoms are opening as a filler flower, then again as a late summer foliage when leaves have matured.

7. Spirea

Delicate, wispy clusters of flowers add romance and texture- perfect for bridal and event work!

Hardy to Zones: 4–8

Harvest Tip: Best used as a supporting stem in airy arrangements. Cut just as blossoms begin to open or risk them shattering.

See how I used spirea in bouquets here!

Ready to grow your own perennial beds?  

If I haven’t convinced you already, here’s a final nudge to add some perennials to your growing plan this year. Since they’re typically a bit pricier than annual blooms, I’ve grown my perennial patch slowly, allocating a bit of my budget each year to investing in these plants.

The first stop I’d recommend for sourcing perennials is your local garden center or nursery. Both will stock plants that suit your growing zone and end-of-season sales are a great time to grab plants at a steep discount.

Looking to add peonies to your lineup? You can grab my tried-and-true varieties shipping here from Hidden Springs. Bare roots will ship in the fall, but be sure to pre-order because they always sell out before the summer ends!

And if you’re looking to invest in a large number of plants, be sure you’re looking for wholesale prices. Farmer Bailey is a great resource for perennial plugs if you have a business account.

Looking for more? 

My Grow List for Cut Flower Farms & Gardens is a complete list of flowers that we grow at Hidden Springs, including annuals, perennials, corms & more. List includes my favorite varieties and notes.  

Set yourself up for a profitable year ahead by getting a head start on planting this fall. I plant the majority of my perennials in the fall, along with a large number of hardy annuals, roots and corms. Unlock the secrets to fall planting with my FREE mini course!

And be sure to follow me @hiddenspringsflowers on Instagram and TikTok for all things flower farming, cut flowers and a behind the scenes look at running my business as a mom.

Have a favorite perennial I didn’t mention? Drop a comment below or tag me in your flower field photos — I love seeing what you’re growing!