Which bulbs are best for producing cut flowers?

We are often asked which bulbs are best to grow in the garden specifically for cutting so that you can have flowers in your home. It is not surprising really. Why just limit a beautiful, colourful and sweet-smelling display of flowers to the garden when you can have them brightening up your household as well?

This is particularly the case in Spring, especially when Spring seems to be rather late arriving and it feels like the grey skies, dark mornings and evenings and cold and wet weather conditions will never end. Spring flowering bulbs therefore start arriving at just the right time, adding colour, brightness and a feeling of cheerfulness to the garden which can be easily transferred to the home as well.

A lot of people don't think about growing their own flowers but will instead buy bunches of flowers from the supermarkets or florists. Whilst there is a certain element of convenience by doing this, for example by picking up a bunch of flowers for a special occasion like a birthday or anniversary, using your own flowers to decorate your home is a much cheaper, longer lasting and more renewable option that is better for the environment and allows you to choose your favourites rather than having to rely on what is available in the shop.

If you do decide to use bulbs to grow flowers for cutting, you can either adapt existing borders to include relevant bulbs, dedicate a specific area of the garden just to growing flowers for picking, or even grow them in containers. So, which bulbs should you go for? These are the most popular and easiest to grow flower bulbs to choose if you are wanting to grow cut flowers:

We have different Hyacinth bulbs that flower at different times, with some flowering in the winter, and others flowering in the Spring. They can be planted in rockery beds and borders, in perennial borders, in formal beds and in containers, and are available in a wide range of vibrant colours including blue, white, yellow, purple, pink and red. Hyacinths look amazing with their bold, tall, spire shaped flower heads, and have a beautiful honey scented aroma that will fill your rooms with a wonderful bouquet. 

We have a range of Muscari bulbs available, including the well known Muscari Ameniacum (Grape Hyacinth), Muscari Ameniacum Venus, Muscari Babys Breath, Muscari Blue Spike, Muscari Goldren Fragrance, Muscari Latifolium and Muscari Pink Sunrise. These beautiful flowers are hardy, easy to grow and have long-lasting blooms which cluster tightly to form heads similar to hyacinths. They flower in the spring and can be grown in borders, beds or containers.

Daffodils and Narcissus flower in spring and can be grown almost anywhere in the garden, including water gardens, rose beds, shrubberies, perennial borders, formal beds, in the grass and in containers. They a generally available in various shades of vibrant yellow and white and are easily recognised with their bold trumpets on top of tall, sturdy stems.

Tulips also flower in the spring and are available in a wide range of colours, shapes and sizes, including dwarf types, doubles and singles, and taller species such as Darwin, Lily, Parrot and Triumph. They can be grown in water gardens, rose beds, shrubberies, rockery beds, perennial borders, formal beds and containers. Check out our tulips page to appreciate just how versatile and spectacular the tulip is, and what a huge choice you have when it comes to growing flowers that you would like to decorate your home, with colours including red, white, orange, pink, purple and yellow.

Allium Bulbs can be grown in perennial borders, in formal beds or in container. They are available in white, pink, blue and purple and flower in late spring and early summer. They look spectacular, and colourful spherical flowers on tall, graceful stems with a garlic scent that make an impressive display in the home, particularly in long, tall vases. As a bonus, they attract all types of pollinating bees and insects, so you will be doing the wildlife a favour too if you plant these in your garden!

Finally, snowdrops (Galanthus) flower in the winter, and in fact are usually the first flower to appear in the new year, and so can really brighten your home up, especially when it is looking really bare and empty just after the Christmas decorations have been taken down. Their beautiful white flowers can provide hope that spring is just around the corner, in the house as well as in the garden!

Once you have cut your flowers to decorate your home, here are a few points to remember:

• Use a clean vase - a dirty vase will contain bacteria which is not good for your flowers
• Use cold water for spring bulbs such as tulips and daffodils. Use tepid water for other flowers.
• Remove all foliage from any part of the stem that will be under water - otherwise it will decay and become smelly
• Cut your flowers stems at an angle, to allow for more uptake or water and to stop the stem resting on the bottom of the vase
• Keep your flowers away from heat, direct sunlight, draughts and fruit bowls
• Change the water every few days and also add fresh flower food at the same time
• Remove any flowers that are dead or dying from the vase so as not to affect the healthy flowers

If you need more help with growing cut flowers from bulbs, then please contact us. Boston Bulbs Wholesale is a privately-owned business with over 35 years experience of importing only the finest quality horticultural products throughout Europe and from farmers and growers all over the UK. Whether you're a landscaper, nursery, local authority, wholesaler, retailer, private business or individual gardener, just give us a call on 01775 769 333 or visit / for help with flower bulbs, grass seed and more.