It’s a running joke around here that I can’t say no to a pretty flower—and I proudly stand by it! Over the years, I’ve learned which flowers thrive in our climate, which ones I adore, and which ones I need to avoid (looking at you, allergy-inducing blooms). Beyond my personal preferences, I’ve also discovered which varieties are most sought after by wedding couples, florists, and local customers.

For a flower farm like ours, it’s not just about growing what we love—it’s about finding that sweet spot between beauty, market demand, and profitability. Our local market often looks for flowers that bring a unique touch, whether that’s unusual colors or forms that simply aren’t available from large wholesalers.

As much as I’d love to grow every beautiful bloom, that approach wouldn’t make sense for our space, time, or resources. Flower farming is a balancing act, and today, I’m sharing the top five flowers we grow that deliver both stunning beauty and strong market appeal.

Let’s dive in!

Silver Years dahlias in full bloom—a perfect reminder of why we love growing unique, local flowers that can’t be matched by wholesalers.

Which Flowers Are Worthy of Cut Flower Production?

The answer to this question will vary for every grower, but for us, the most successful crops meet a few key criteria:

Unusual forms or colors: These stand out in floral designs and offer something special that wholesale options lack.
Best when locally grown: Some flowers simply don’t ship well or lose their charm when transported long distances, giving local growers a big advantage.
Aligns with our offerings: Whether it’s for weddings, farmers’ markets, or wholesale to florists, we focus on flowers that fit seamlessly into our business model.

While we can’t compete with wholesalers on volume or standardized “perfection,” we can offer something even better: fresh, high-quality blooms with unique character. This is especially true for flowers with delicate scents or forms that are lost when shipped or mass-produced.

So, which flowers make the cut on our small-scale farm? Here are our top five crops that we just can’t grow enough of—and why they’re worth the space in our fields!

Snapdragons

Snapdragons are a staple on our flower farm. While you might spot them at nurseries or even wholesalers, they’re less common in mixed grocery store bouquets, making them a special find for local customers. Snapdragons are versatile, serving as both a filler flower and a striking line element in floral designs.

What truly sets locally grown snapdragons apart is their scent—something often lost when sourced from wholesalers. They’re also relatively inexpensive to grow and reward us with abundant blooms in both spring and fall.

While we grow traditional forms like Potomac and Rocket snapdragons for mixed bouquets, it’s the novelty forms—Chantilly and Madame Butterfly—that we find most valuable for wedding work and event florists. These varieties are less common at wholesalers, giving them that distinctive “local flower farmer” charm.

Chantilly Snapdragons
- Chantilly snapdragons may not have the longest or sturdiest stems, but their delicate open-faced blooms make them perfect for wedding work and event designs. Their unique shape and early bloom time are especially prized by florists and customers alike. Even in our challenging climate, Chantilly snapdragons start blooming as early as May!
- Our favorite colors include light pink, bronze, and white. This year, we’re adding the light salmon variety from Johnny’s Seeds to the mix. While the highlighter yellows and reds don’t suit our palette as much, Chantilly’s softer hues shine in our offerings.
Madame Butterfly Snapdragons
- If you love a delicate floral fragrance, you’ll adore Madame Butterfly snapdragons—they smell like bubblegum! These azalea-like blooms are perfect for summer and fall, offering a fantastic alternative to stock for clients who prefer a more subtle scent.
- Madame Butterfly flowers are also incredibly versatile, whether filling out a mixed bouquet or adding texture to floral installations. Their smaller florets can even be used in intricate designs like flower crowns or dog floral collars.
- We grow ivory and bronze as our main colors, with a few reds and pinks for variety. They’re always a hit for burgundy wedding requests or soft romantic palettes.
Traditional Form Snapdragons
- Traditional snapdragons—such as the Costa, Potomac, and Rocket series—are the reliable workhorses of our flower field. They pair beautifully with novelty varieties like Chantilly and Madame Butterfly while also holding their own in mixed bouquets and event designs.
  - Costa and Potomac varieties thrive in spring and fall, producing long, sturdy stems perfect for wholesale or bouquets.
  - Rocket snapdragons are our go-to for summer, though they do require extra attention to fend off caterpillars during the warmer months.

If you’d like to learn more about growing snapdragons, be sure to check out our snapdragon growing guide for tips and tricks!

Zinnias

Zinnias are a love-hate crop for many growers. They’ve long been considered a “cheap” flower due to how easy they are to grow, but their poor storage and short vase life give local growers a unique edge. Zinnias don’t ship well, so their freshest, most vibrant forms are often found on small-scale farms like ours.

In recent years, zinnias have experienced a renaissance. Thanks to small-scale breeders, we now have access to incredible colors and forms that elevate these once-overlooked blooms. Florists and wedding clients have fallen in love with zinnias for their versatility and charm, making them one of our most requested summer flowers.

Here’s a closer look at the varieties we grow and why they’ve become indispensable on our farm:

Oklahoma Zinnias: These adorable button-sized zinnias are perfect for bud vases and small-scale arrangements. Their compact size and vibrant colors make them a favorite for accenting larger designs. Our go-to colors are ivory, salmon, and pink, as they pair beautifully with a wide range of palettes.

Benary Giant: If you want zinnias that can rival the size of dahlias, the Benary Giant series is the way to go! These large, robust blooms are showstoppers in bouquets and event work. Salmon Rose is our most requested color, but this series offers plenty of other stunning options to explore.
Queen Lime: The muted tones of Queen Lime zinnias—mauve, peachy-orange, and lime green—are perfect for fall designs and event work. They work beautifully as “bridge colors,” connecting different elements in a floral arrangement. However, these colors can appear muddy or dull in casual bouquets, so we save them primarily for weddings and styled designs.
Zinnia haageana: These petite zinnias, often called Aztec or Persian Carpet varieties, bring a whimsical touch to fall arrangements. Their rich, warm hues remind me of Gryffindor colors from Harry Potter, but their versatility ensures they’re a favorite far beyond the magical realm.
Zinderella: The Zinderella series is known for its unique forms, particularly in shades like lavender and peach. While achieving the desired look can sometimes be hit or miss, the successes make them well worth the effort.
Specialty Bred Zinnias: In the past few years, I’ve been captivated by newly bred zinnias from small-scale growers. These experimental varieties often showcase muted, unique tones that wholesalers can’t offer, making them a treasure for local markets. Here are a few breeders to keep an eye on for exciting zinnia innovations:
- Dawn Creek Flower Farm: Kori is creating breathtaking zinnias with rich tones and captivating forms.
- Floret Flower Farm: Known for high-quality specialty zinnia seeds, including collaborations with smaller breeders like Dawn Creek. Their next launch is February 6th, 2024!
- Blomma Flower Farm: Tiffany’s zinnia work is nothing short of magical. Her stunning varieties, ranging from soft blushes to bold salmons, have inspired my own zinnia breeding projects.
  - Supporting these breeders not only enriches our farm’s offerings but also helps sustain the creativity and dedication of small-scale growers.

If you’d like to learn more about growing zinnias, check out our zinnia growing guide for detailed tips and inspiration!

Cosmos

Cosmos are the quintessential happy flower—light, airy, and perfect for adding movement to bouquets and arrangements. They’re inexpensive to grow, low maintenance, and beloved by both florists and customers.

Our love affair with cosmos started at a farmer’s market, even before we officially became flower farmers. We stumbled upon a nosegay filled with pink and purple globe amaranth, lemon basil, and seashell cosmos. The simplicity and charm of those flowers stuck with me, though I quickly learned that seashell cosmos have a tendency to shatter prematurely. Over time, we’ve found other varieties that better suit our needs, and they’ve become a staple in our fields.

Versailles Cosmos: While not our go-to for flowers, this single-petaled variety is a standout for its greenery, especially early in the season. Versailles cosmos are incredibly affordable and a practical addition for bouquet fillers.
Double Click Cosmos: Fluffy and romantic, the Double Click cosmos add a touch of Victorian elegance to arrangements. Their flower heads tend to nod slightly due to their weight, but this only enhances their delicate appeal. Our favorite is the Snow Puff variety, though the cranberry color is stunning for fall palettes.
Cupcake Cosmos: True to their name, Cupcake cosmos look like cupcake liners, offering a whimsical and unique design element. We love growing them in white and blush shades, which not only delight our customers but also attract bees late into the season.
Apricotta Cosmos: A newer favorite, Apricotta cosmos stand out for their prolific blooms and stunning color. While we experimented with Apricot Lemonade cosmos, we found their stem quality lacking. Apricotta, however, has proven to be a reliable and beautiful addition to our fields.
Never Enough White Cosmos: White cosmos are a must-have for weddings and brighten up any arrangement. Two of our favorites are:
- Psyche White: A robust variety that produces abundant stems.
- Fizzy White: Similar to Psyche but with a charming tufted center that adds extra character.
Cosmos have been with us since the beginning of our flower farming journey, and they continue to bring joy to both our fields and our customers’ designs.
If you’d like to learn more about growing cosmos, check out our cosmos growing guide over on Bootstrap Farmer.

Sweet Peas

Sweet peas are one of the most sentimental flowers we grow. At the farmer’s market, their intoxicating scent and delicate blooms make them an instant favorite—our customers often scoop them up within the first hour. Beyond their beauty, sweet peas hold a special place in many hearts, making them a meaningful choice for weddings, bouquets, and personal arrangements.

Sweet peas don’t ship or store well, which is why locally grown varieties truly shine. From their peak scent to their soft, ruffled petals, they bring a charm that wholesale options simply can’t replicate. While our harsh climate presents challenges, we’ve found success by focusing on Spencer varieties, which perform well despite the lack of infrastructure like high tunnels on our farm.

Here are some of our favorite varieties:

Mollie Rilstone: A soft, blush-pink beauty.
Jilly: A timeless creamy white.
Memorial Flight: Subtle yet elegant.
Bristol: A striking deep shade.
Windsor: Perfect for those rich burgundy requests.
White Frills: A lovely addition to any palette.

Learn More About Growing Sweet Peas

If you’d like to grow sweet peas or refine your techniques, we’ve got you covered with two resources we’re proud to have written:

Our Sweet Pea Growing Guide: Packed with personal tips for growing sweet peas in challenging climates.
Bootstrap Farmer’s Sweet Pea Guide: A comprehensive resource we contributed to, covering everything from seed starting to harvesting for maximum success.

Sweet peas are a labor of love, but their beauty and popularity make them more than worth it. Whether you’re growing them for market, weddings, or simply to enjoy in your garden, sweet peas bring elegance and nostalgia to any arrangement.

Dahlias

Dahlias are the crown jewel of our flower farm. While they require a higher upfront investment compared to other crops, they more than pay off with their beauty, versatility, and market demand. From brides to florists, dahlias are one of the most requested flowers we grow—and for good reason.

Unlike many wholesale flowers, dahlias are fragile and bruise easily, making locally grown varieties a superior choice. Local growers also have access to newer and more exciting varieties that wholesalers often don’t carry. For us, the most in-demand colors are white, blush, cream, salmon, and bronze, though Cafe au Lait is the undisputed favorite.

One of the best things about dahlias is their ability to multiply. By propagating cuttings or dividing tuber clumps, you can expand your stock each season, making them a worthwhile long-term investment for any flower farmer.

Our Favorite Dahlia Varieties

Though it’s hard to narrow it down, here are the varieties we find ourselves using most often:

Cafe au Lait: The number one requested dahlia by name, especially among brides.
Ryecroft Jann: Soft and sophisticated.
Rock Run Ashley: Bold yet elegant.
Castle Drive: A reliable choice for stunning designs.
Honey Crichton: A warm, golden favorite.
Bracken Sarah & Bracken Rose: Versatile and timeless.
Jowey Winnie: Always a crowd-pleaser.
Linda’s Baby: Delicate and charming.
Terracotta: Perfect for autumn palettes.
L’ancresse: Clean and classic.
Sweet Nathalie: Soft blush tones that work beautifully in weddings.

This list barely scratches the surface of the varieties we grow, but these are the ones that consistently shine in our bouquets and arrangements.

Learn More About Dahlias

If you’re interested in growing dahlias or expanding your dahlia stock, we’ve shared everything you need to know in our Dahlia Growing Guide. It covers planting, lifting, dividing, and storing tubers to help you make the most of your dahlia investment.

Dahlias are a staple on our flower farm, and their popularity only continues to grow. By focusing on the varieties that are most in demand and well-suited to our market, we can ensure that they remain one of our most valuable crops season after season.

Bringing It All Together

As much as I wish I could grow every flower that catches my eye, flower farming requires a thoughtful balance of beauty, demand, and profitability. By focusing on crops that are uniquely suited to local markets—like snapdragons, zinnias, cosmos, sweet peas, and dahlias—we can ensure that our fields are both productive and inspiring.

These top five picks have proven themselves time and again, not just in their beauty but in their ability to meet the needs of our wedding couples, florists, and market customers. Embracing what works best for your farm and market can make all the difference in building a sustainable and successful operation.

We’d love to hear from you! Which flowers have been the most successful on your farm or in your garden? Are there any new varieties you’re excited to try this season? Let us know in the comments below—we’re always excited to connect with fellow flower lovers.

Our Top 5 Flower Field Favorites: Profitable and Beautiful Picks for Local Growers

Which Flowers Are Worthy of Cut Flower Production?

Snapdragons

Zinnias

Cosmos