I have had this long-standing dream for my farm that has finally come to fruition this season: an all-native bouquet, including fillers, foliages and focal flowers. It took several seasons of curating a diverse collection of perennials and shrubs – culling some and adding others – to be able to make bouquets of only-native ingredients that are beautiful and long-lasting for our customers. And while it’s not really feasible to have a flower farm of only native plants, it is incredibly valuable for every farm to add as many native plants as possible to their crop plans to be truly regenerative.
What exactly is a native plant? It’s a plant species that has been in a place since before colonization. Essentially an indigenous plant that was not carried by humans across a sea or other great distances to be where it is now. It can be hard to determine what’s native and not native as many plants have become so common in the landscape that they do not appear “exotic” in origin any longer. A great reference database is this site for the Biota of North America Program (other countries likely have something similar for readers who are not based in North America).
So why focus on native blooms and foliages when there are sexy flower rockstars like dahlias, tulips, peonies and ranunculus that always seem to need more space in your fields? In a nutshell: ecological resiliency. Life on this planet is intrinsically interwoven in such a way that we humans can not even begin to fathom. Birds and bugs and microbes and much more all co-evolved alongside each other and alongside native plants, each becoming interdependent on the other in a cycle of reciprocity that helped them all thrive, not just survive. When we humans turn a blind eye to that interconnectedness and populate a landscape with lots of non-native plants in an effort to meet our own goals, we fail to be part of that cycle of reciprocity and thus the ecosystem as a whole (humans being a part of that) is crippled.
One oft-cited example of how powerful a native plant is in the landscape versus a non-native plant is that of the research done by Doug Tallamy at the University of Delaware. His data collection shows that a native oak tree in the mid-Atlantic region here in the United States supports on average over 500 species of caterpillars. In contrast, a ginkgo, a common landscaping tree brought in from Asia, hosts only 5 species of caterpillars. Caterpillars (and other bugs that live in trees) are vital food for the young broods of nesting songbirds so more are better. Birds and caterpillars are just one tiny link in a complex and massive food chain that keeps our world in balance. The selection of trees in a single one-mile stretch of a street or field hedgerow could have a powerful impact on how much wildlife can live and thrive there. The same is true with our flower farms!
By choosing to incorporate as many native plants into your flower fields and gardens as you can, you’ll be making a concerted effort to have a healthier environment and a more resilient growing space in the face of drastic weather changes. You’ll encourage the bird population in particular; these winged friends will repay you by hunting for pests like cucumber beetles, slugs and grasshoppers among your flowers. Your soil will improve as the native plant root systems spread and feed soil microbiology. With each season, as the ecosystem rights itself, your farm will become more sustainable and less dependent on sprays and time consuming techniques like organza bags over blooms. And the stems harvested from native plants will be among your most unique, setting your bouquets apart in the local marketplace. Native plants are truly a win all the way around!
Depending on where you are located, the list of the most likely native candidates for planting at your farm may vary. The Audubon Society has a wonderful searchable database where you enter your zipcode and they give you an exhaustive list of all the plants native to your region and the birds they support. It’s a really fun way to spend a few hours reading!
But not all native plants make for good cutting material on a commercial level. Some have short vase life. Some are slow growing so you can’t cut much from them at any one time. Some don’t hydrate well. I would recommend doing a few trial plantings before putting in dozens of any given plant. The following is a list of 15 of my favorite native plants here at my farm in Philadelphia (Zone 7), all of which have proven to be great for designing and hold up well in bouquets. This is not an exhaustive list of all the native plants grown at Love ‘n Fresh Flowers, but these are the ones I think are best to get started if you too are flower farming in North America, particularly the mid-Atlantic region. If you farm elsewhere, do a little digging and experimenting to find out what native plants in your region work best for cutting.
And guess what? The best time to plant native perennials and shrubs is in the autumn! If you take just a few hours now, you’ll be able to source plugs and liners to get these beauties going yet this year on your farm. North Creek Nurseries and Walters Gardens are two great places to start looking but there are many suppliers and I suggest shopping as locally to you as possible.
Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum muticum is a fan favorite in the flower farming world. It’s abundant fragrant foliage is equally perfect for market bouquets and bridal bouquets. It gets at least 24” tall (often taller) and has stiff, slender stems that, unlike typical culinary mints, hold up really well once they’ve been hydrated properly. We begin cutting it when the small white flowers appear in mid-summer (basically, if the bees are buzzing all over it, it’s ready to cut). One criticism of mountain mint you may hear is that it spreads readily. We’ve not experienced that, likely because we cut it so much that it doesn’t have extra energy to run. Even if it did, I’d be thrilled! We never have enough!
Coneflower
Echinacea purpureais currently a darling in the flower farming world because of all the new and fun hybrids that have come to the market in recent years. One of the few native focal flowers here in the mid-Atlantic region, it’s great that they are available in such a wide range of colors and shapes now. The classic straight species purple is still a winner in my book and the simplest to grow from seed for your own propagation. Drought-tolerant and unfussy plants, it’s easy to love them. But sometimes their petals get nibbled by bugs. Rather than despairing, we pluck the petals off mature blooms and use the bare cones as textural accents in bouquets. Super fun and long-lasting!
Baptisia
Baptisia australis is another standout native and one of the most productive plants at my farm. In spring, it puts out striking flower spikes in shades of yellow, purple, pink, cream or near-blue. I leave about half the flowers on the plants though as I love the green seed pods that come next; a great accent in June wedding designs! Then the rest of the year we’re using the abundant foliage for mixed bouquets and wedding designs alike. The flowers and foliage can be a bit tricky to initially hydrate. Harvesting should be done in the early morning and the flowers and foliage should both be stored in the cooler over night before being put to use. One criticism of baptisia is that you have to wait at least three years before starting to harvest, but it’s totally worth the wait. Once you have an established patch, you’ll never be without.
Rudbeckia
Rudbeckia trilobais a personal favorite of mine, but all rudbeckias (black-eyed susans) are notable native cut flowers. My affinity for R. triloba lies in the fact that it’s a cheerful and highly productive filler that reseeds itself happily so once you’ve got it, you’ll never have to worry about getting more. Towering at about 5 feet on my farm, we are able to cut steadily from it from mid-summer into the fall. Its little clear yellow flowers go with most any color palette. I’ve got mine in some afternoon shade without any irrigation and it’s happy as can be.
Yarrow
There’s some debate about if Achillea millefolium can really be called a native plant to North America. According to the definitive definition, a native plant is one that was here before colonization. Yarrow, native to Europe, was brought here by colonists really early on and has since naturalized so much in the U.S. that it is now essentially considered a native wildflower by many horticulturalists since it is capable of supporting so much in our ecology here. Because it’s such a great cut flower, it’s getting a nod in this list as a perennial that can help balance your farm’s ecosystem. Many useful medicinal qualities to boot too!
Penstemon
Penstemon digitalis, also commonly known as beardtounge, is a perennial spike flower that reminds me of a more whimsical version of a snapdragon. Highly productive once established, these meadow and prairie dwellers are drought-tolerant and pest-free, blooming profusely in early summer and then sending out secondary stems sporadically through the summer. There are several new cultivars coming onto the market right now that make for an extra showy stem that is likely to fetch a premium price. Certain varieties also make interesting seed heads that dry well. This is a plant family worth looking into more for cut flowers!
Phlox
Phlox paniculatais not to be confused with the little annual phlox varieties that are so popular in flower farming at the moment. This perennial native is often towering and productive in a way those wimpy annual types will never be. A wide array of cultivars are available in a rainbow of colors. ‘David’ and ‘Jenna’ are two of my longest lasting favorites that come back reliably year after year. In our hot, humid summers here, they have appreciated a touch of afternoon shade and a deep mulch to keep their roots cool. While deer-resistant, I have found groundhogs to enjoy nibbling on them. To avoid shedding, cut when the buds are swollen and colored but before the blooms open. Once pollinated, the individual florets drop immediately.
Diervilla
Diervilla rivularis, also known as bush honeysuckle, is a small native shrub that deserves a lot more attention in the flower farming world. It can be used for its small yellow flowers as a filler or, most often here at Love ‘n Fresh Flowers, its long-lasting foliage is excellent in all manner of bouquets and designs. About thigh-high, it is constantly sending up new slender woody stems throughout the season so we keep cutting from it for months. It is a suckering plant so it will spread if left unattended, but that quality is what makes is such a productive cut.
Goldenrod
Solidago speciosa is such a common meadow wildflower around here that it’s gotten a bad rap as being the culprit for autumn seasonal allergies. However, goldenrod is pollinated exclusively by beneficial insects (which means no pollen up our noses), making it an incredibly valuable native plant to have on your farm. In my experience, it hates to be domesticated and won’t thrive if “cropped” in the traditional rows in a flower field. Instead, I let a patch of it run wild on the edges of the farm, where it is utterly carefree and zero maintenance. It can be harvested for greenery starting in July, but we cut the bulk of it when it reaches the chartreuse bud stage – an amazing filler for late August bouquets. It’s still wonderful to use as it ages into its mature golden yellow state, but then I find customers see it more as a “weed” and sometimes complain. It’s also a great dried flower that fades to that oh-so-popular tan/bleached shade that’s trending right now.
Monarda
Monarda punctata is my favorite of all the beebalms. There are many monardas used for cutting, but this one is incredibly striking for wedding design work. It has an incredible vase life so it’s equally useful for consumer bouquets. A prairie wildflower by nature, it’s a free loving spirit that can adapt to most any sunny spot and soil. It’s little yellow florets with brown spots remind me of teeny orchids. Sometimes these little florets won’t look so great in your design work, but it is easy to pluck them out and leave the soft lavender pink foliage in place. A member of the mint family, monarda can spread, but I’ve never had any trouble with it being a thug here at my farm. In fact, I’m always trying to get it to spread more because I love it so much.
Joe Pye Weed
Eupatorium dubium is another lesser-known native rock star for cut flower production. It has a delicate umbel of creamy pink flowers in late summer that are superb in mixed bouquets and event design work alike. The first flush of sturdy straight stems is hip-high or taller, and then it re-blooms throughout the autumn with shorter side shoots. We never seem to have enough even though the patch gently spreads each year. The variety ‘Little Joe’ is my favorite, and I like the flowers best in bud stage. And if you weren’t already convinced, Eupatorium is very drought tolerant and a major butterfly magnet.
Clethra
Clethra alnifolia, also called summersweet, is a smaller native shrub that can handled tricky spots with less-than-ideal soil or sun. Part shade and wet soils are its favorites, but it’ll adapt to pretty much anywhere. It will spread if left unchecked, a habit I quite like personally, but one to be aware of if you are confined to a small growing space. Small flower spikes, either in white or pink, develop in the middle of summer that have the sweetest scent. Great filler for wedding designs as the fragrance is notable and floral, but not overpowering – one of those smells that will tickle guests’ memories for years to come.
Bleeding Hearts
Dicentra spectabilis is such a charming woodland plant and perfect for any deeply shady spot around your farm or garden. Its delicate appearance belies a surprisingly long vase life. A spring ephemeral, it is only harvestable for about one week each season, but given it can thrive in spots many other cut flowers would fail, it’s worth tucking into your crop plan. Harvest when a flower or two at the bottom of the stem has gone to seed, which signals the stem is mature enough to not wilt.
Aronia
Aronia arbutifolia, also commonly called chokeberry, is a wonderful, slender-stemmed shrub that offers up bright red foliage in the autumn and glossy green foliage in the summer. Foliage holds up well out of water! Shrubs also produce beautiful fruits in the fall that can be used in centerpiece designs. The fruit is edible if you happen to be looking for a value-added product like jams and other preserves produced by your farm. Bonus: this is another shrub that can handle part shade well and we have it planted at the edge of our woods here where not much else will grow well.
Arrowwood Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum is one of my hardest-working shrubs around the farm. Producing filler flowers, foliage and berries all on one plant over the course of the season. It gets its common name from its historical use as wood for the shafts of arrows used by indigenous peoples in its native range, which is to say it’s got the most perfect slender sturdy woody stems for arrangements! Birds adore it as shelter and a food source. It tolerates most any soil and flowers on new wood so you can cut and cut and cut from these without fear of losing potential.