15 Cutting Annuals

This tall ageratum offers long stems perfect for plucking and plunking into vases. Fuzzy flowers shift through purple shades from deeply tinted buds to pastel faded blooms. Plants reach 24 to 30 inches tall and are deer-resistant. The more you pick, the more blossoms you’ll see.

This heirloom poppy is a Dutch variety dating to 1891. The rich red flower cups boast a white cross inside. Bees can’t resist these blossoms, so make sure you’re not carrying any indoors when you gather flowers. Gather with larkspur and daisies for a Memorial Day bouquet.

You’ll have non-stop blossoms for bouquets when you add 'Prairie Sun' rudbeckia to your garden. This black-eyed Susan features an unusual green eye, which contrasts beautifully with the gold-tipped orange petals. Flowers unfurl up to 5 inches across on plants 24 to 26 inches tall. Plants often self-sow when happy, so you can count on these flowers for years to come.

Painted tongue blossoms are the stained glass art of the flower garden. When sun shines through their petals, colorful patterns appear. 'Little Friends' flowers in shades of yellow, pink, violet and red—it forms a colorful party in a pot or planting bed. Give plants full sun to part shade for best bloom. Snip stems for bud vases to showcase the artfully painted blossoms.