Crepe Myrtle Flowers

One of the best performers during hot, dry summers is crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia spp.). "With so many to choose from, one can find the right color and size to best suit their garden," says Roethling. "It’s one of the last summer flowering trees to leaf out. In June, July, and August, large panicles burst—from white to many shades of red and purple." In fall, some leaves are orange, and the panicles go from flowers to small, rounded capsules. Crepe myrtle offers winter interest thanks to its cinnamon-brown bark that exfoliates and intensifies in color.

Chinese Snowball Viburnum Flowers

Often confused for a hydrangea, Chinese snowball viburnum (Viburnum macrocephalum) is a showstopper in the front yard. "In late spring, large white flowers cover the plants so long as they are not in too much shade," says Roethling. "Some re-flowering can occur in fall. The flowers come out green and, when fully open, brighten to a giant white, snowball-like inflorescence." This tree variety does well with pruning should it begin to outgrow its space.

Dogwood white flowers tree

Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) boats beautiful white, yellow, or pink flowers in early spring. Native to eastern North America, the blooms on this understory tree will attract butterflies and bees to your yard, while songbirds come to snack on its red fruits, which appear from fall throughout winter. Commonly found in woodland margins, flowering dogwood can be challenging to grow in a landscape setting, but its beauty is well worth the extra effort.

Zones: 5 to 9
Size: 15 to 25 feet tall x 15 to 30 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-draining soil

Purple Sensation (Allium Hollandicum) Flowers

Type: Ornamental onion
Zones: 3 to 8
Dimensions: 2 to 3 feet tall, 1 to 2 feet wide
Growing conditions: Full sun; dry to medium, well-drained soil

Zinnias flowers

Zinnias come in a variety of colors and grow large blooms. With full sun access, these flowers can reach up to 4 inches in height. "This is a flower we recommend giving a 'pinch' when they reach 12 to 18 inches tall to promote branching and flowering on the plant," say the O'Neals. "The more you cut zinnias, the more blooms they produce."

Do note that you should cut a zinnia when it's fully mature. The best way to tell that it's reached this point is by giving it a wiggle test, they say. Bounce the stem between your index and middle finger, and if the stem is rigid, it's ready to be cut. When the stem is floppy, it's not ready to cut and won't stand up straight in the vase. After cutting your zinnias, they will last for about seven to 10 days, however, they are known as a "dirty" flower, say the O'Neals. "Their stems are hairy, so they make vase water murky quickly," they say. "We recommend changing the water for a vase with these flowers once a day, retrimming the bottom of the stems each time."

Celosia flowers

When exposed to full sun, the celosia, specifically Celosia argantea, will grow vibrant, feathery blooms, which the O'Neals say are a great filler in bouquets. "This type of celosia can be pinched at 18 inches if you want to keep it a bit shorter," they say. Like zinnias, make sure the stem is rigid before cutting.

Salvia flowers

For a beautiful blue bloom, consider growing salvias. The Salvia blue bedder is a favorite of the O'Neals, and it can be grown as a perennial in zones 8 to 10. "Salvia serves as a supporting filler and adds a striking pop of color in a bouquet," they say. "Salvia is a bloom we give the wiggle test to, to see if it's mature to cut."

Peonies flowers

Some of the best peony varieties to grow for cutting are Paeonia lactiflora 'Vogue,' Coral Charm, and 'Baroness Schroeder,' says Speight. "Herbaceous peonies should be planted in the fall where they rise from the earth the following spring," she says. While peonies can take a growing season or two to bloom, they will grow in a variety of colorful hues.

Cosmos flowers

Producing daisy-like flowers in shades of pink, white, and red, cosmos are another great cutting flower, say the O'Neals. "Their blooms are incredibly delicate and add the sparkle element to a bouquet," they say.

While they need full sun and typically grow in the 32- to 48-inch range, cosmos can be kept at a shorter length when they are pinched at 18 inches (this promotes branching!). "Cut blooms from them regularly, or remove old blooms to promote flowering," say the O'Neals. "Cosmos should be cut when the first petal is just beginning to curl open to give them the maximum vase life."

Strawflower, Straw Flowers

These flowers grow in shades of blush, orange, red, white, and yellow, and produce paper-like petals. Since they bloom into different shapes, the O'Neals love using this as a "filler flower" in an arrangement. These can be grown as annuals in zones 2 to 7 and as perennials in zones 8 to 10. "We give strawflowers the wiggle test to make sure the bloom is mature to cut," they say. "When cut at the proper stage, strawflowers can have a vase life from seven to 10 days."