Growing cut flowers to sell can be a brilliant way to make money from your garden.
That’s especially true if you pick the right varieties that people actually want to buy and that grow well in British weather. Some flowers are absolute goldmines because they’re expensive to buy in shops but quite easy to grow, while others might look pretty but won’t make you much cash. If you want to increase your profit margin a bit, here are some great choices.
1. Sunflowers are massive moneymakers.
People absolutely love sunflowers and will pay good money for them, especially the really tall varieties that make a statement in bouquets. They’re dead easy to grow from seed, and you can get loads of flowers from just a small patch of ground. The best part is that one stem sells for quite a lot because they’re so dramatic and popular. Kids especially love them, so you’ll always have customers during summer months when people want cheerful, bright flowers.
2. Sweet peas smell amazing and sell brilliantly.
Sweet peas have this incredible scent that you just can’t get from shop-bought flowers, and people will pay premium prices for that fragrance. They grow really well in British weather and keep producing flowers for months if you keep picking them. The more you cut them, the more they produce, so you get loads of stems from each plant. They’re perfect for wedding bouquets and special occasions because of the smell and delicate colours.
3. Delphiniums command high prices.
These tall, dramatic spikes are expensive in flower shops, but surprisingly easy to grow once you get the hang of them. They come in brilliant blues and purples that people can’t resist, and each stem is worth quite a lot because they’re so impressive. They’re particularly popular for formal arrangements and special events because they add height and drama to bouquets. The fact that they’re perennials means you get flowers for years from the same plants.
4. Cosmos keep flowering all summer long.
Cosmos are absolute workhorses that produce loads of flowers from summer right through to the first frost. They’re cheap to grow from seed, but the cut flowers sell well because they have that delicate, cottage garden look that’s really popular. The best thing about cosmos is that they literally flower more if you keep cutting them, so you get a constant supply of saleable stems. They come in loads of colours and mix well with other flowers.
5. Dahlias are cut flower superstars.
Dahlias produce massive amounts of flowers in incredible varieties of colours and shapes, and people love them for their bold, showy appearance. Each tuber can produce dozens of stems over the season, making them brilliant value. The larger decorative varieties can sell for quite high prices because they’re so dramatic and long-lasting. Plus, you can lift and store the tubers each year, so it’s a one-time investment that keeps paying back.
6. Larkspur gives you those expensive spiky flowers.
Larkspur looks similar to delphinium but is actually an annual that’s much easier to grow and produces loads of tall, spiky flowers. They’re popular for arrangements because they add height and texture that florists charge good money for. They self-seed really easily, so once you grow them once, you’ll probably get free plants for years. The flowers come in brilliant colours and are perfect for both casual and formal arrangements.
7. Zinnias are incredibly productive.
Zinnias pump out flowers non-stop from summer until frost, and they come in amazing colours that really pop in arrangements. They’re cheap to grow from seed, but produce masses of cutting material that people love. The bigger varieties like State Fair Mix produce really substantial blooms that look expensive and professional. They’re also brilliant for beginners because they’re basically impossible to kill once they get going.
8. Rudbeckia adds that golden yellow everyone wants.
These bright yellow flowers with dark centres are incredibly popular because they add sunshine to any arrangement. They’re tough perennials that produce loads of flowers and come back every year, getting bigger and better. The cut flowers last ages in a vase and have that cheerful look that people associate with summer and happiness. They’re particularly good for farmers’ markets because they photograph so well.
9. Antirrhinum gives you professional-looking spikes.
Snapdragons produce tall spikes of flowers that look really professional and florist-quality. They’re not too hard to grow and keep producing new stems if you keep cutting the main spikes. The tall varieties can sell for good money because they add structure to arrangements. They come in loads of colours and have this classic cottage garden look that never goes out of style.
10. Celosia offers unique textures.
These unusual flowers come in amazing shapes: some look like brain coral, and others like feathers. Plus, they’re really popular with florists because they add interesting texture to arrangements. They’re quite exotic-looking, but actually quite easy to grow. People pay good money for unusual flowers that they can’t get everywhere, and celosia definitely fits that description. The colours are often really vibrant, and they dry well too, which adds to their value.
11. Amaranthus creates dramatic trailing effects.
Love-lies-bleeding and other amaranthus varieties produce these amazing drooping tassels that florists absolutely love for adding drama to arrangements. They’re easy to grow but look really professional and expensive. The long trailing stems are perfect for wedding work and special occasions where people want something really dramatic and different. Each plant produces loads of stems over the season.
12. Nigella gives you interesting seed pods too.
Love-in-a-mist produces lovely, delicate flowers, but the real money is often in the seed pods that come after. These papery, inflated pods are really popular with florists for adding texture and interest to arrangements. You basically get two crops from one plant because of the flowers early in the season, and then the decorative seed pods later. Both sell well and the plants self-seed everywhere, giving you free plants for next year.
13. Orlaya is like cow parsley but better.
This delicate white flower looks like expensive cow parsley, but is much more refined and long-lasting as a cut flower. It’s become really trendy with florists, and people pay good money for that wild, natural look. It’s annual but self-seeds readily, and the flowers have this airy, delicate quality that’s perfect for both rustic and elegant arrangements. It photographs beautifully, which helps with social media marketing.
14. Scabious produces loads of cottage garden charm.
These pin-cushion flowers have that perfect cottage garden look that’s really popular right now. They produce loads of stems per plant and keep flowering for months if you keep cutting them. The flowers come in lovely soft colours and have this vintage, romantic quality that people love for weddings and special occasions. They’re perennials, too, so they keep coming back and getting more productive each year.