10+ Best Greens & Fillers for Cold Climate Flower Farmers

If, for some reason, I had to flower farm on a desert island (that happened to be in a cold climate!), and I could only grow ten (or so) greens and fillers, these are the flowers I would arrange with. These are my ride-or-die cut flowers–the ones I turn to most that enable me to make all sorts of wildflower-inspired bridal bouquets and eye-catching arrangements for subscribers! Filler flowers add movement, texture, and intrigue to bouquets, and I could not arrange without the greens in this list!

Keep reading for my favourite greens and fillers, or watch below if you prefer videos:

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Best fillers and greens for zone 3

1. Cloud Grass

This is a new one for me, and it grows so easily in my cold climate! Even once it’s dry, I’ll tuck it into fresh cut flower arrangements. It adds a delicate bit of sparkle to any bouquet without being overpowering.

A patch of dry, straw-colored cloud grasses with thin blades is growing amid green vegetation and some mulch. A small cluster of purple flowers is visible near the base of the grasses. There is a narrow black path or fabric on the left side.

2. Cosmos Greens

Even if I’m not using cosmos in an arrangement, the greens from this cut flower work so well as filler in any bouquet! They’re the perfect double-duty flower for any farmer florist.

White cosmos with yellow centers bloom among green, fern-like foliage in a natural setting. The tall stems and delicate petals give a sense of a serene garden or meadow scene.

3. Cress

I use cress in every arrangement I can. It is unfortunately not cut and come again, though I think it will bolt and come again in warmer climates. My chickens also really like cress, so I always plant a little extra in case they destroy it.

Close-up of a bundle of cress with small green leaves and tiny white flowers, resting on a wooden surface. The stalks are long and slender, and the wooden surface is weathered and has a grayish tone.

4. Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus is difficult to grow in a short growing season, but it is so worth it!

Close-up of a silver dollar eucalyptus plant with its distinctive round, silvery-blue leaves arranged along a stem. The background is a mix of blurred green foliage and brown earth, creating a natural garden setting.

5. Feverfew

If you like feverfew, I recommend planting at least three different varieties of it. I usually plant Magic Singles, Tetra White, and Magic Lime in my cutting garden, and with these three varieties, I’m set up for success. You can start feverfew every year while also letting some from the previous season go to seed so that you have multiple successions.

A cluster of small, white feverfew flowers with yellow centers bloom amidst lush green foliage. The flowers appear delicate and are captured in soft focus, creating a dreamy, serene atmosphere.

6. Frosted Explosion Grass

This is my ultimate favourite filler. I put this in almost every bouquet I arrange. It gives movement and light to arrangements, and I will never arrange without it.

Close-up of green, spiky frosted explosion grass blades with delicate, purplish flowering tips in a garden. The background shows a mix of additional green foliage and blurred trees under a clear sky, suggesting a serene, natural environment.

7. Lemon Basil

I haven’t had a lot of success growing lemon basil, especially regarding stem length, but when I use it in arrangments, it adds such a heavenly fragrance to my bouquets. If you don’t love fragrant flowers, you might skip this one!

A bunch of fresh lemon basil plant stems with green leaves and flowering tops lie against a light gray background. The stems are upright, showcasing clusters of small flowers and vibrant green foliage.

8. Ninebark

Both the burgundy and lime varieties are beautiful, and I arrange with them whenever I can!

Close-up of small, delicate white flowers blooming on a ninebark shrub with dark green and reddish-brown leaves. The plant appears in a natural outdoor setting, and the background features more foliage, a bit blurred.

9. Russian Tarragon

Russian tarragon is one of the few herbs that is perennial in Zone 3. I use it in spring and fall arrangments and as a delicious herb throughout summer when it tends to wilt. The more you cut it, the more it comes back!

Close-up of tall, thin Russian tarragon plants with narrow leaves in a garden. The background features a lush, green tree canopy with dappled sunlight filtering through, creating a serene and natural outdoor setting.

10. Saponaria

I use Saponaria in everything! This flower was new to me last year, and I have grown it in both pink and white. I continue to do more successions of it because it is reasonably cold tolerant and works well in my short growing season.

An overhead view of a flowering saponaria plant featuring clusters of small, delicate pink flowers with green leaves interspersed. The flowers create a lush and vibrant display, with some blooms appearing closer and more in focus than others.

11. Spirea

I use the greens from this plant, and the pointed blooms work in both fresh and dry arrangements.

A cluster of green leafy spirea branches with small white flowers arranged in a vertical pattern, placed against a plain light background. The leaves are elongated with serrated edges, and the flowers are tiny and densely packed on the stems.

12. Willow

We have lots of willow growing around our acreage, and I always cut it. This is a great dupe for Lemon Bush eucalyptus if you’re in need and it’s not in season yet.

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, including willow. The flowers are arranged in a lush, naturalistic style. — This bouquet features willow, saponaria, and frosted explosion grass!

13. Yarrow

I use yarrow in everything! My mom has an established yarrow patch in her garden, and I cut from that whenever I can, especially if I don’t have enough of my own. It comes in a variety of colours and really helps fill out bouquets.

A close-up of delicate, pale pink and white yarrow flowers blooming on tall thin stems against a lush green backdrop of foliage and grass, bathed in warm sunlight. The scene evokes a serene outdoor natural setting.

For more of my holy grail cut flowers, check out the other posts in this series:

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!

EAGER TO MAKE BOUQUETS WITH YOUR HOMEGROWN CUT FLOWERS?

Bouquets Made Beautiful includes a collection of my best bouquets of all sizes, throughout all seasons, including a flower-by-flower list with pictures for every single one! I also share my favourite colour palettes that I return to over and over again. Whether you’re a backyard gardener or a farmer florist, this highly visual ebook will help you create better-looking bouquets and give you more confidence that you’re growing the right things.

If you’re planning for an event and ready to take your flower farming to the next level, this ebook is also available in the DIY Wedding Bundle alongside Cut Flowers Made Simple and the Flower Farmer Garden Planner.