Cut Flower Reference Chart
Snell Family Farm, Buxton, Maine 207-929-6166
| crop | variety | pros | cons | drying? | how to grow? | bloom season? | must have? | |
| Acroclinium | New Double Giants | White and Pink flowers, similar to strawflowers, especially for drying | annual | yes | transplants | August | ||
| Ageratum | Blue horizon | Beautiful addition to garden and great filler type flower. Fuzzy purple-blue flowers. | not too tall | annual | so-so | transplants | July-September | |
| Amaranthus | Many Varieties | Excellent accompaniment to sunflowers. Very dramatic flower tassels. | may self seed | annual | so-so | seed or transplants | July-September | |
| Asclepias | Oscar | A very unusual plant. Grows all season to produce funky seedpods in fall. | funky shape, not for everyone | annual | so-so | transplants | September-October | |
| Asclepias | silky formula mix | Beautiful gold to orange flowers. Great with Zinnias. | ocasionally wilts in vase | annual | no | transplants | August-September | |
| Asters | Many Varieties | Beautiful white, pink, red, and purple flowers. Long stems. Good vase life. | Can be susceptible to disease and insect problems. | annual | so-so | transplants | August-September | |
| Celosia | Several Varieties | Unusual flowers add neat texture to bouquets. Colors range from reds and oranges to limes, rose, and yellow. | annual | yes | transplants | July-September | ||
| Cosmos | Sensation mix | A classic garden cut flower. Beautiful floating flowers. | Not such a long vase life. | annual | no | transplants or seed | Ausust-September | |
| Eucalyptus | Silver drop | Lovely texture and fragrance. Silver foliage. | annual | yes | transplants | August-September | ||
| Euphorbia Marginata | Killimanjaro | Unusual green and white foliage. Very graceful. Good vase life. | annual | no | transplants or seed | Late July-September | ||
| Godetia | Grace Mix | Beautiful satin-looking flowers in soft and bright colors. | Blooms tend to all come on at once. | annual | so-so | transplants | July | |
| Gomphrena Globosa | QIS mix | Beautiful clover-like blooms in many colors | annual | yes | transplants | August-September | ||
| Helianthus Sunflower | Many varieties | A very satisfying choice. Grows fast. Choose from all shades of yellow, cream, and bronze. Many avaliable heights up to 8 feet. Some are branching and some make one beautiful stem. Also avaiable: pollenless varieties. | annual | so-so | seed or transplants | Late July-September | yes! | |
| Helichrysum bracteatum | cut flower mix | double star-shaped daisies, especially for drying | may wilt as a fresh cut | annual | yes | transplants | August-September | |
| Lisianthus | Echo mix | A stunning cutflower in all pastel shades. Looks roselike, but more delicate. Vase life of 2 weeks! | Can be finicky in garden. | annual | no | transplants | August-October | |
| Marigold | tall varieties | Old fashioned choice. Very long vase life. Bright colors. | Strong smelling. | annual | yes | transplants or seed | July-September | |
| Millet | Several Varieties | Beautiful texture. Great with Sunflowers. Also beautiful as garden accent. | annual | yes | seed or transplants | July-September | ||
| Moluccea Bellis | Bells of Ireland | Beautiful green bells on tower-like stems. | Finicky to grow in North. | annual | so-so | transplant | August | |
| Nigella | Love in a mist | Beautiful blue or white flowers. Unusual seed pods. | annual | yes | transplant or seed | July-August | ||
| ornamental kale-cutting | two varieties | Neat textures for fall bouquets. Must crowd for tall stems. | annual | no | transplant | September-October | ||
| Phlox drumundi | Tapestry mix | Beautiful colors of small round flowers. Fragrant. A nice addition to short bouquets. | On the short side. | annual | no | transplant or seed | Late June-August | |
| Scabiosa | Olympia Mix and Black Knight | Beautiful pincushion-shaped blooms on straight stems | annual | no | transplant | late july-september | ||
| Snapdragon | Many varieties, especialy Rockets | Tall stems with tube-shaped flowers. Great for early and late color. | annual | no | transplant | Late June-September | yes! | |
| Statice | Many colors | Wide range of colors. Great filler type flower. Excellent for drying. | annual | yes | transplant | Late June-September | ||
| Sweet Pea | royal mix | Beautifully delicate flowers on vines. Heavenly fragrance. | Not very long vase life. Needs tellis. | annual | no | seed or transplants | Early July-September | |
| Tithonia | torch | Unusual bright orange flowers atop fuzzy tall plants. Great for hedging. | Stems can be weak. | annual | no | seed or transplants | Late July-September | |
| Verbena | Bonariensis | Beautiful purple flowers on tall straight stems. Great look in the garden or large containers. Attracts butterflies. | poor germination | annual | no | transplants | Late July-September | |
| Zinnias | many kinds and colors | Wide range of colors. Each plant makes many blooms. | 4 day vase life. | annual | no | seed or transplants | July-September | yes! |
| Dahlias, Karma | Many colors | Tall plants send of many many beautiful flowers. Colors range from creamy white to pinks, magentas, maroons, and oranges. | Susceptible to disease and insect problems. | annual that creates tuber | yes | tubers or transplants | august-October | |
| Dianthus Barbatus | Sweet William | Wide range of colors. Early Bloomer. Fragrant | comes and goes fast | biennial | no | seeds or plants | Late June-July | |
| Digitalis | Several Varieties | Beautiful spikes of flowers atop tall stems | occasionally wilts in vase | biennial/ perennial | no | seeds or plants | Late June-September depending on Variety | |
| Lilies | Asiatic and Oriental | Beautiful flowers, some fragrant. | red lily beetle | bulb/ perennial | no | bulbs/plants | June-August | |
| Achillea | Yarrow: Many colors | Beautiful Filler type flower. Reliable grower. | perennial | so-so | plants or seed | June-August | ||
| Alchimilla mollis | Thriller (Lady's Mantle) | Pretty chartreuse flowers in spring. Foamy filler.Can grow in partial shade | occasionally wilts in vase | perennial | possibly | plants | Late June-Late July | |
| Asclepias | perennial types | Great to have in the garden to attract Monarch Butterflies. Also a beautiful filler-type flower. Comes in white, rose, or orange. | perennial | no | transplants | July | yes! | |
| Astilbe | many kinds and colors | Delicate plumes from white to rose, red, and lavender | 4 day vase life. | perennial | yes | plants or bareroot | July-August | |
| Baptisia | australis | Beautiful blue spikes in late spring. Foliage a good filler all season. | Sometimes plant is slow to get rolling. | perennial | no | plants | June-July | |
| Buddleia | Butterfly bush: Several shades | Lilac-shaped flowers. Beautiful texture. | Hardy to Zone 5. Not so reliable in colder areas. | perennial | July-September | |||
| Campanula | persicifolia blue and white | Beautiful bells atop tall stems | may need staking | perennial | no | seeds or plants | Late June-July | |
| Chelone | both pink and white | Unusual flowers. Beautiful with Zinnias. Can take partial shade. | perennial | no | plants | August-September | ||
| Convalaria | majalis Lily of the Valley | Amazing fragrance. Delicate blooms. | Short. Very aggressive spreader. | perennial | no | plants or bareroot | Late May-Early June | |
| Delphinium | many kinds and colors | Gorgeous flowers in blues, purples, whites, and pinks. Can be giant stalks. | may blow over in wind and rain. May need staking | perennial | yes | plants | July-September | yes! |
| Echinacea | purpurea | Very hardy plant. Lots of purple daisies. Attacts butterflies | japanese beetles like it. | perennial | seed heads, yes | seeds or plants | July-October | |
| Echinops | Veitch's Blue | Beautiful blue globe thistle. Unusual metallic blue color. Tall stems. | Can be difficult to establish from seed. | perennial | yes | plants | August-September | |
| Eryngium | Several Varieties | Beautiful metallic thistle flowers. Nice with sunflowers. | not so reliable year to year | perennial | yes | plants | August-September | |
| Eupatorium | chocolate | Beautiful dark foliage with creamy flowers in late fall. | late bloomer | perennial | no | plants | September-October | |
| Grass | Phalaris Picta (ribbon grass) | Beautiful white and green striped grass. | spreads quickly | perennial | no | plants | all season | |
| Heliopsis | Summer sun | Tall plants with bright yellow daisies. | perennial | maybe | seeds or plants | Late summer | ||
| Hosta | many varieties | Beautiful leaves in many shades of green with white markings. Adds nice edge to spring and summer bouguets. Leaves hold up in vase best if grown in some sun. Flowers can also be useful | slugs eat the leaves | perennial | no | Plants or roots | Leaves all season, blooms mid summer | |
| Leucanthemum | Beckie Daisies | Best shasta daisy avaliable. | perennial | no | plants | Late July-September | yes! | |
| Matricaria | ultra double white | Excellent filler-type of flower. Beautiful white blooms | perennial | so-so | seeds or plants | Early July-August | ||
| Monarda | several colors | Beautiful flowers, fragrant plant, attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. | can be an aggressive plant | perennial | so-so | plants | Late July-September | |
| Penstemon | Husker red | Beautiful white flowers atop dark foliage. May bloom again in fall. Chocolate colored seed pods. | perennial | no | plants | Late June-July | yes! | |
| Rudbeckia | Several Varieties | Beautiful bright blooms | occasionally wilts in vase | self seeding annual/ perennial | no | seeds or plants | July-October | yes! |
| Paeonia | many varieties | Gorgeous buds and blooms super hardy plants | can be beaten in rain, may need staking | possibly | plants or roots | Late June | yes! |