These Flowers Will Have Your Gardening Friends Green With Envy

Cue the pitchforks!

I’m not the biggest fan of green in the cutting garden. With all the trees and shrubs, there’s already plenty of greenery—so why use valuable space for even more?

That said, a bouquet isn’t complete without something green, making it an essential and practical colour to have in abundance. While green flowers aren’t usually my jam (hence the lack of photos), these are some of my favourites to grow and arrange with!

Want a rainbow of blooms? Start with my favourite yellow flowers here!

A person in a pink shirt and beige shorts holds a colorful bouquet with yellow, orange, white, pink, and green flowers and greenery.

Disclaimer #1: This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase something, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can read more about it in my privacy policy. Thanks for supporting Shifting Roots!

Disclaimer #2: I’ve chosen photos that best represent each flower variety, but they may not always be an exact match. I apologize for any mix-ups, as I don’t always perfectly keep track of what I grow year to year.

The Best Green Flowers for Your Flower Garden

Bells of Ireland

Bells of Ireland are stunning, unusual flowers that thrive when direct-seeded but can be tricky to germinate. That being said, in colder climates, starting them indoors or using winter sowing can improve success, as they benefit from cold stratification.

Related: 4 Foolproof Ways to Germinate Bells of Ireland

Bouquet Dill

I personally love the scent of dill so I always like adding these flowers in when I have them. I also like adding them in once they’ve dried out as I think they add a beautiful texture to bouquets!

Bupleurum

I’ve only grown one stem of bupleurum, and honestly, I found Lady’s Mantle to be the better deal. With their nearly identical appearance, Lady’s Mantle makes a great perennial alternative to the annual bupleurum.

Cosmo & Marigold Greens

I use the greens from these plants frequently, though, of course, their flowers are not green. Both cosmos and tall marigold varieties pull double duty in the cutting garden, providing beautiful blooms and lush greenery for bouquets. Plus, both are easy to grow and save seeds from, making them a staple for any farmer-florist!

A pink and yellow flower blooms among lush, green cosmos foliage. Grown on a flower farm in Zone 3.

Cress

Cress is a fast-growing filler that germinates in just two days and adds beautiful texture to arrangements. It’s not cut-and-come-again, but in warmer climates, it may bolt and regrow. If you have chickens, be sure to cover your plants—they love cress just as much as I do!

Dart’s Gold Ninebark

A perennial favourite in my flower arranging. I love it for its bright cheerful green colour and for the flowers that later turn into attractive pods. It is a truly beautiful plant to use in all forms.

Eucalyptus

Some of my favourite varieties are Silver Dollar and Silver Drop. I don’t like Lemon Bush, as I think it smells horrible.

Related: How to Grow Eucalyptus for Cut Flowers (Even in a Short Growing Season)

Fennel

I love the smell of fennel. My bouquet subscribers and brides love that licorice smell, as well, and are always delighted to have it in their bouquets!

Frosted Explosion Grass

I’m not usually into grasses, but frosted explosion grass is an exception. Its airy, textured look adds movement and fills in gaps, giving bouquets a soft, wildflower feel. If an arrangement feels like it’s missing something, this versatile grass is almost always the answer!

Green Tails Amaranth

Amaranth is one of my favourite flowers to use in bouquets. With colours ranging from coral and pink to green, orange, and deep red, it adds drama and richness to any arrangement. I especially love using the drooping types for their elegant, eye-catching effect. Plus, amaranth dries beautifully, making it a long-lasting favourite for bouquets and centrepieces alike!

Tall green amaranth plants with drooping blooms in front of a clear-sided greenhouse. The background includes trees and a blue sky, creating a tranquil garden scene.

Holy Basil

Holy basil is the one variety that thrives in my garden, making it my go-to for cut flower arrangements. Its pleasant lemony scent adds a lovely touch, and it even works well for tinctures if you’re into that sort of thing. After many failed basil attempts, this one has earned a permanent spot in my flower garden.

Hostas

Hostas are the perfect solution for shady, bare spots in the garden. With their lush foliage and beautiful white flowers, they thrive where little else will. Plus, they come in a variety of patterns, adding texture and interest to any shady corner!

A top-down view of a hosta plant with green leaves edged in white, surrounded by mulch. Large stones border the plant, with a gray stone path at the bottom of the image. Grown in Saskatchewan.

Related: 57 Best Perennials to Plant in Zone 3

Lady’s Mantle

Lady’s Mantle brings a unique chartreuse pop to the garden, thriving in shady spots and adding contrast to deeper greens. This late-spring bloomer lasts well into summer, making it a versatile perennial. For best results, skip the seeds and start with an established plant from a greenhouse or garden centre!

A backyard garden with various green plants and colorful flowers lines a wooden deck. A small stone path leads through the garden. A beige house and wooden fence are in the background. — Lady’s Mantle is the bush in the middle with the bright chartreuse colour!

Related: 20+ Long-Blooming Perennials to Grow in Zone 3

Lemon Balm

This isn’t actually my favourite crop, but I always have some for boutonnières. I never get long stems from it, so it doesn’t have much else of a use for me. Apparently, it is a very nice medicinal herb and I could probably make a lovely, useful tea out of it, but I just haven’t gotten there yet.

Poppy Seed Heads

Not all poppies produce the stunning blue-green seed pods you see in the photo below, so be sure to check the seed catalogue descriptions for varieties that mention good seed heads. While Iceland and Amazing Grey poppies have less impressive pods, Black Swan is a great choice for striking seed heads.

Close-up of three green poppy seed pods with a web connecting tiny insects on top. The background is softly blurred, showcasing a garden setting with various shades of green.

Related: How to Grow Poppies in Zone 3

Russian Tarragon

Russian tarragon is one of few herbs that are perennial in Zone 3, surviving even the harshest winters. I use it in spring and fall arrangements and as a flavourful herb throughout summer, though it tends to wilt in the heat. The more you cut it, the more it grows back, making it a hardy, reliable choice for both the flower garden and the kitchen!

Queeny Lime Zinnias

Queeny Lime zinnias are incredibly versatile, and though I wasn’t a fan at first, they quickly became a bouquet essential. Their soft, muted tones blend beautifully with other colours, instantly bringing harmony to any arrangement. Another good option is the Envy zinnia, which has a distinct lime green hue. Zinnias are cut-and-come-again flowers that thrive with regular pinching, producing more stems and blooms—a must for any flower grower!

Close-up of a Queeny Lime zinnia flower with pale yellow-green petals tinged with pink at the tips. The flower is surrounded by lush green leaves and stems, with a blurred background of more zinnias against the siding of a house.

Willow

Willow is a great alternative to Lemon Bush eucalyptus when it’s out of season, and it’s one of my go-to perennial greens. I love clipping it along with other greens from trees like caragana and sagebrush for added texture in arrangements.

A hand holds a bouquet of flowers against a light gray wooden background. The bouquet includes light pink roses, white peonies, small white flowers, and various green foliage. The flowers are arranged in a lush, naturalistic style.

Are there any green flowers I missed? Let me know in the comments!

If you liked this blog post, find me on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram to follow more of my farmer florist journey and join in the cut flower conversation! I also make weekly videos on my YouTube channel. You can also sign up for bouquet-making events and buy my flowers at my sister site Shifting Blooms. I hope to see you there!

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