More and more people are discovering the joys of growing cut flowers at home. If you want a thriving flower garden and a fantastic choice of blooms to pick, here are some great flowers to plant in April.
Our selection of cut flowers to plant in April includes dramatic and long-lasting blooms, beautiful filler plants, unique flower heads, and interesting foliage. All the plants can be grown from seed this month, for a fantastic selection of flowers to pick come summer and beyond.
I grew cut flowers in walled gardens for many years as a professional gardener. The flowers were grown for display or to sell to the public as bouquets. This pick of cut flowers to plant in April includes specimens I have grown annually from seed, and I reveal some sowing tips I have picked up over the years.
7 of the best flowers to plant in April
If you are planning a cut flower garden, enjoy an abundance of beautiful blooms to pick by sowing any (or all) of these great cutting garden flowers this month.
1. Bee balm
Bee balm, or monarda, makes fascinating additions to any displays or bouquets. The spiral-shaped flowers come in bright colors and have a gorgeous citrusy smell. When growing outdoors, they are also great plants for pollinators, and the flowers attract hummingbirds.
You can sow seeds outdoors after the frosts, but starting seeds indoors in early spring is a great way to get ahead, and the reward is earlier blooms.
Press the small seeds into the surface of potting compost and cover with a thin layer of soil or vermiculite. Germinate seeds at temperatures of 65-70°F in a greenhouse or on a sunny windowsill and transplant after the last frosts for your region.
A mix of heirloom and open-pollinated bee balm seeds to grow vibrant plants with blooms in shades of pink, white, and scarlet. The flowers will look gorgeous and also attract a plethora of pollinators.
2. Chrysanthemum
Mums are popular cut garden flowers as their blooms, which come in a range of colors, shapes, sizes, and forms, are impressive and long-lasting.
There are annual and perennial mums to grow; the former have brighter flowers and smaller foliage. Annual chrysanthemums can be started from seed in April by sowing directly into the growing site after the last spring frosts.
Growers usually sow seeds indoors in late winter, but you can still get healthy plants by sowing outdoors. They just need to be closely watched to be kept moist, and the seedlings protected from pests, such as slugs or snails, who may be tempted to nibble on them.
Mums may take four months to flower from seed, but direct sowing them this month can mean blooms to cut from early fall onwards.
Discover the range of chrysanthemum seeds at Amazon
Discover the range of chrysanthemum seeds at Walmart
Discover the range of chrysanthemum seeds at Burpee
3. Gypsophila
Gypsophila, also known as baby’s breath, produces an abundance of dainty white flowers that make fantastic filler for flower arrangements. It is also a great option for decorating with dried flowers.
Gypsophila do not like root disturbance, so it is best sown directly into its growing position when the soil temperature reaches 70ºF. If you do sow seeds indoors, consider using biodegradable pots to reduce the root disturbance when transplanting seedlings.
Thinly sow the seeds around a quarter-inch deep and nine inches apart. Cover with a fine layer of soil and keep moist for germination. It is advisable to consider succession plantings of gypsophila to get a long cutting season.
A packet of Ferry-Morse Gypsophila Covent Garden seeds to grow delicate plants covered with tiny, star-shaped flowers, ideal for borders or cutting gardens.
4. Scabious
Scabious is also known as the pin cushion flower, due to its long stems topped with circular flower heads that resemble a pin cushion with their narrow petals. These unique flowers come in shades of white, lilac, purple, pink, and burgundy and are known for their long vase life.
Annual types of scabious can be sown directly into the soil in April. Clear the soil of weeds and rake to a fine tilth before sowing into half-inch drills and keeping the soil moist. Thin the seedlings to a spacing of around six inches, and they should start blooming within 10-12 weeks.
These seeds will produce a gorgeous mix of extra-large blooms in shades of blackberry, wine-red, dusty rose and delicate pale pink. These scabious blooms will look glorious in a vase.
5. Tithonia
Tithonia, also called Mexican sunflower, have bright dahlia-like flowers and makes spectacular flowers for cutting. The plants bloom prolifically, and the flowers attract bees throughout late summer and early fall
As annual plants, they complete their life cycle in one season. Tithonia can be started from seed indoors in April, or direct sown in the soil is warm enough in warmer US hardiness zones.
Sow seeds indoors on the surface of pots or trays filled with seed compost and cover thinly with more soil or vermiculite. Germinate at temperatures of 68-75ºF and plant outside into the cut flower garden after the frosts end, remembering to harden off seedlings first.
A large packet of Tithonia, or Mexican Sunflower, seeds to grow 4-6’’ tall plants covered in bright blooms that are perfect for cutting and also adored by bees.
6. Yarrow
Yarrow, also called achillea, is an easy-to-grow and long-flowering perennial. Its flat-topped flowers, which can be in a wide range of shades, are great for cutting or drying, and the feathery foliage makes a lovely addition to bouquets.
Sow seeds indoors in April on the surface of seed compost. Only cover thinly, as yarrow seeds need light, and seeds can germinate within a week at temperatures of 60-68ºF. Transplant the seedlings into larger pots once large enough to handle and ultimately plant them in a sunny position in the garden.
Plants can start flowering in their first year, and when you cut or deadhead yarrow, it rewards you with a really long blooming time.
See the range of yarrow seeds at Amazon
See the range of yarrow seeds at Walmart
See the range of yarrow seeds at True Leaf Market
7. Zinnia
Zinnias are fast-growing flowering annuals that can spice up any garden with bright and powerful blooms. These cheerful flowers are easy and reliable cut flowers - they are an ideal crop for a beginner grower, and there are hundreds of zinnia varieties and cultivars to choose from.
Plant zinnia seeds indoors in a greenhouse, cold frame, or on a bright windowsill in April. It is best to sow them into biodegradable pots, available at Amazon, as plants are temperamental to root disturbance, so minimizing handling is recommended.
Plant zinnias in a sunny spot; they will produce the best flowers when basking in lots of heat. Pinching out plants when they are around 12 inches tall will result in lots of stems, longer stems, and more flowers.
See the range of zinnia seeds at Amazon
See the range of zinnia seeds at Walmart
See the range of zinnia seeds at Burpee
See the range of zinnia seeds at True Leaf Market
As well as creating a productive cutting garden, April is also a great time to sow vegetable seeds to have a thriving vegetable garden come summer. Our guide to vegetables to plant in April includes an expert-recommended selection of crops to sow this month, including broccoli, corn, cucumber, potatoes, and zucchini.
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