Tulips, daffodils, alliums, asters, coneflowers and border perennials that the RHS lists for cut flowers, sold as young plants and bulbs to grow your own. We do not sell bouquets or cut stems: this collection is for planting a cutting patch or border. Free tracked delivery to Ireland and 24 more EU countries.
Which garden plants are good for cutting?
The RHS lists tulips, daffodils, alliums, asters, echinacea, echinops, helenium and hellebores among its plants for cut flowers, and we stock young plants and bulbs of each to grow in your own garden. This is a planting collection, not a florist: we sell plants and bulbs to grow your own, not bouquets.
| Plant | RHS hardiness | Size (height x spread) | Sun | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tulips (Tulipa Triumph Group) | H6 (to about -15 °C) | 0.1 to 0.5 m x 0.1 to 0.5 m | Full sun | Spring; RHS says border tulips cut well |
| Daffodils (Narcissus) | H6 (to about -15 °C) | 0.1 to 0.5 m tall, up to 0.5 m spread | Full sun or partial shade | Spring; RHS lists 'February Gold' for winter cutting |
| Alliums (Allium) | H5 to H6 (to about -10 to -15 °C) | 0.1 to 1 m tall, up to 0.5 m spread | Full sun | Summer; 'Purple Sensation': sandy or loam |
| Asters (Aster) | H5 to H7 (to about -10 to -20 °C) | 0.1 to 1 m tall, 0.1 to 0.5 m spread | Full sun; most also part shade | Summer to autumn |
| Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) | H5 (to about -10 °C) | 0.5 to 1 m x 0.1 to 0.5 m | Full sun or part shade | Summer to autumn; sandy or loam |
| Globe thistle (Echinops ritro) | H7 (to about -20 °C) | 0.5 to 1 m x 0.1 to 0.5 m | Full sun or partial shade | Summer; RHS marks it drought tolerant |
| Helenium (Helenium 'Moerheim Beauty') | H7 (to about -20 °C) | 0.5 to 1 m x 0.1 to 0.5 m | Full sun | Summer |
| Christmas rose (Helleborus niger) | H7 (to about -20 °C) | 0.1 to 0.5 m x 0.1 to 0.5 m | Partial shade | Winter to spring; clay or loam |
Figures are from the RHS Plant Finder; temperatures are the warm end of each band.
A cutting garden or a cutting border?
The RHS suggests either planting groups of suitable plants in existing borders, or dedicating a patch to cutting so your beds are not depleted. In a cutting patch, plant in rows with access between them: this makes weeding, staking and picking easier. Taller plants usually need robust supports; avoid windy sites and frost pockets.
Soil and planting
- Sun: the RHS says most cut flowers are sun-lovers.
- Soil: the RHS recommends fertile, weed-free soil. Well-rotted compost or manure each year helps sandy and clay soils hold moisture, and dry summers may need watering for good stem length.
- Bulbs: plant dry bulbs in autumn. The RHS advises setting tulips 2 to 3 times their height deep and at least twice their width apart, and daffodils at 3 times their height. Border tulips often flower best in their first year.
- Plants: in Ireland, plant in autumn (October to November) or spring (February to April), and keep young plants watered until established.
Picking and conditioning
The RHS advises cutting in the morning, when stems are full of water, and putting them into a bucket of water straight away. Most flowers are best picked as they start to show colour. Strip the lower leaves, re-cut the stems cleanly, and leave them somewhere cool for two to three hours or overnight. Our plants arrive young, so let them settle before cutting much.
What this list does and does not mean
Being named by the RHS for cutting makes a plant a suitable candidate for a cutting garden. It says nothing about how long a stem lasts in a vase, and we make no promise about that. Tolerating a condition is not the same as thriving in it. Data is from the RHS Plant Finder and RHS advice, checked October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Do you sell cut flowers or bouquets?
No. We sell young plants and bulbs to grow your own, so you can pick from your garden once they grow.
Which of these plants flower in spring, and which later?
Tulips and daffodils flower in spring, and hellebores from winter into spring. Alliums, echinops and helenium flower in summer, and echinacea and asters from summer into autumn. Mixing them extends the picking season.
Are they hardy in Ireland?
The plants in the table are rated H5 to H7 by the RHS. The collection also holds a little agapanthus (H3, about 0 C), which needs frost protection.
Can I grow cut flowers in clay or sandy soil?
The RHS says both benefit from yearly additions of well-rotted compost or manure. See our collections of plants for clay soil and plants for sandy soil.
What else could I grow?
See our flower bulbs, wildflower meadow plants and plants for underplanting roses and shrubs.