Five Plants That Are Good for Cutting

Lilies

• Lilies (Lilium) grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 10. There are more than 80 species of lilies and hundreds of cultivars from which to choose. They come in many different colors, including magenta, red, orange, golden, light pink and white. Blooming time varies, also, with some lilies blooming in midspring, while others bloom from summer into autumn. Lilies need well-drained soil amended with organic material such as compost. Some varieties need full sun, eight hours a day or more, while others can thrive in partial shade. Lilies grow from 2 to 5 feet tall, so they can make a spectacular bouquet.

Black-Eyed Susans

• Another tall flower is the black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta). This perennial grows in USDA plant hardiness zones 2 through 11; it needs full sun. Black-eyed Susans grow to be 2 to 3 feet tall. They are hardy plants that are resistant to drought and damage from disease and insects. Outside, they attract bees and birds; inside, they attract attention as well, with their yellow to reddish-orange blossoms with dark centers.

Dahlias

• Dahlias (Dahlia spp.) are ideal for cutting because the more you cut them, the more they produce. Also, they bloom a long time -- from early summer into fall, when they are most prolific. They are hardy in USDA zones 8 through 10. Dahlias can be grown in colder areas, but you have to dig the bulbs up in the fall and store them in a cool, dry spot for the winter. They bloom in full sun or slight shade and need well-drained soil. Dahlias come in various sizes, shapes and colors. They grow from 2 1/2 to 5 1/2 feet tall, and their blossoms range from 2 to 10 inches wide.

Purple Coneflowers

• Another flower that produces more blossoms when cut is the purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), which grows in USDA zones 4 through 10. Purple coneflowers grow in partial shade in a variety of soils; they do prefer well-drained soil. These perennials grow from 1 to 3 feet tall, and their blossoms are 3 inches in diameter. Purple coneflowers may have purple petals, or they may be pink or lavender. The centers start out orange and brown and turn a purplish-black.

Gladiolus

• Gladiolus (Gladiolus x hortulanus) flowers are ideal for cutting, with long stems and multiple large blossoms. They grow to be about 1 1/2 feet tall with blooms from 2 to 4 inches wide. They come in every color except blue. Gladioluses bloom from midsummer into fall. They need well-drained soil and prefer full sun; although they grow and produce in partial shade, they do their best with eight hours or more of sunshine. Gladioluses are hardy in USDA zone 8 or warmer climates. In colder areas, the bulbs need to be dug up and stored before the first frost.