10+ Best Cut Flowers to Start from Seed

Starting a cut flower garden can feel like an overwhelming process, and although growing annual flowers from seed can feel extra intimidating at first, it’s actually quite simple once you get the hang of it! (Plus, it is a truly fun and rewarding experience in the long run!)

While many perennial flowers make great cut flowers, annual flowers are the true stars of a cutting garden. Whether you’re creating a backyard flower garden or a larger-scale flower farm for profit, annual flowers started from seed are ideal. And, thankfully, there are plenty of easy-to-grow cut flowers to choose from! To help start you on your journey, I’ve compiled a list of my favourite cut flowers to start from seed.

I hope this list inspires you and gets you one step closer to the cut flower garden of your dreams!

A woman with long brown hair, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a long white dress, stands in a field of wildflowers holding a bouquet of colorful flowers. Trees line the background, and the sky is clear.

Where to start with seed starting

If you’re new to seed starting, here’s what you need to get started…

1. Equipment/Tools

There are many different ways to seed start and the way I’ve seed started and the energy and time I’ve used has really changed over the years. Depending on the seeds your starting, how much money you want to invest, and how much space you have, things will look a little different. Not to worry! You don’t need a huge budget to be successful, even with some repurposed goods from around your home and some seeds from the library, you can have something to grow!

2. Best Seed Companies

There are so many little independent seed companies that have popped up in recent years. This gives you more choices between the established companies that have all the basics you would want and smaller growers who maybe have some more specialized items.

Every year, I do try to support a couple of new smaller companies, and I post a fairly comprehensive list on my Instagram page each year for Canadian growers and cut flower growers! I haven’t personally shopped at every single one, and that’s why you won’t find all the companies listed on the graphics in my blog posts below. The Instagram lists grow each year, so be sure to check back annually for even more options!

3. How-to

As I mentioned before, there are many different ways to start your cut flowers, so the links below go through some of the different methods.

Need a bit more help? Check out Seed Starting Success–perfect for beginners who are looking for step-by-step guidance!

A lush garden with rows of flowering plants in bloom, featuring a variety of colorful flowers such as pink, yellow, and red snapdragons. The garden is surrounded by verdant greenery and a tree line in the background. The garden paths are covered with dark fabric.

easiest cut flowers to grow from seed

1. Calendula

Calendula are easy-to-grow, easy-to-seed-start, and will self-seed! They’re a medicinal flower great for making soaps and tinctures.

A close-up image of a white calendula flower with a vibrant yellow center. The flower is in full bloom, surrounded by green leaves and foliage. The background is slightly blurred, making the flower the focal point of the image.

2. Cosmos

I like to use cosmos both for their greenery and for their flowers! The Double Click series is my favourite.

A close-up of a vibrant pink flower with layers of delicate petals and a yellow center, set against a backdrop of soft-focus green foliage.

3. Feverfew

I always plant at least three different varieties of feverfew for a diverse garden–I recommend Magic Singles, Tetra White, and Magic Lime from my own cutting garden. Around 50% of the plants will return the following year if left in the ground!

A close-up shot of feverfew--small white daisy-like flowers with yellow centers blooming amidst lush green foliage. The flowers are clustered together, creating a vibrant and fresh appearance against the green background.

4. Marigolds

I always grow the really tall varieties of marigolds and like to use them for flowers and greenery. They are easy to save seeds from, as well!

A cluster of vibrant orange marigolds are in focus, standing tall amidst green foliage. The background is blurred, showing a garden area with various plants, containers, and structures, giving a serene, natural vibe to the scene.

5. Orach

Orach grows easily in rich or poor soil and it self-seeds so reliably that once you plant it, you’ll likely not have to plant it ever again!

6. Snapdragons

Snapdragons are hardy plants that can survive the first frost. Varieties like Madame Butterfly and Rocket are best for taller stems and are ideal for cutting.

A vibrant snapdragon flower, showing a range of colors from deep pink to a lighter shade of pink, stands out against a blurred green and brown background with other out-of-focus flowers. The flower's buds and blossoms are in various stages of opening.

7. Statice

Statice is great for drying, and I love all the colours you can grow! They’re cut-and-come-again, you always get tons of stems from them, and they are cold-tolerant!

Close-up of vibrant purple and pink statice with a blurred green background. The delicate, small blossoms are clustered together on thin stems, creating a soft and colorful display.

Related: 15 Best Cut Flowers to Start in Winter

8. Strawflowers

Strawflowers always seem to have good germination rates. They’re not too hard to harden off, and I think they’re one of the few things in my sad soil that I’ve always had a pretty decent crop of.

9. Stock

Stock is easy to start from seed and is a beautiful addition to any cut flower garden. Even though it’s a one-and-done flower, its gorgeous fragrance and perfect blooms land it a permanent home on my flower farm!

A close-up of a cluster of vibrant magenta stock flowers with small, delicate petals, blooming on a green stem. The background is a lush, blurred mix of greenery and other flowers, providing a natural, serene setting.

10. Sunflowers

Sunnies are the perfect flower to start for beginners. They are so easy to grow and because they’re big and cheerful, they are a nice pick for gardeners with kids. Who doesn’t love an adorable picture of their kid next to a huge sunflower twice their? If you don’t want the monster varieties, there are many that grow to reasonable heights, as well.

11. Zinnias

My love affair with these beautiful flowers began in 2006 when my mom and dad grew zinnias for my wedding. They’re one of the easiest possible flowers to start, and they come in so many gorgeous colours and textures!

A person with long hair, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a sleeveless dress, stands sideways while holding a large, colorful bouquet of zinnias. The background is an outdoor setting with greenery. The person is smiling and looking off into the distance.

If you liked this blog post, follow me on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram for more cold-climate gardening tips, delicious recipes, and cut flower goodness! I also make weekly videos over on my YouTube channel. I hope to see you there!

READY TO GROW YOUR OWN BEAUTIFUL CUT FLOWER GARDEN WITHOUT THE HASSLE?

I’ve taken all the guesswork out of creating a cut flower garden with my e-book, Cut Flowers Made Simple. Whether you’re a farmer florist, a beginner gardener, or anything in between, you’ll be able to start your own cut flower garden, with or without seed starting, growing annual flowers.

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HAVE YOU TRIED SEED STARTING, ONLY TO BE LEFT WITH STRETCHED-OUT SEEDLINGS AND DEAD PLANTS?

You’re not a bad gardener–you just need a little know-how. For the price of a few seed packets, you can stop wasting time and money and start growing seedlings that actually live, and you get to harvest. Don’t miss out on another growing season. Get your copy of Seed Starting Success now (videos included)!