The Cut Flower Sourcebook: Exceptional Perennials and Woody Plants for Cutting

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What I can say is currently reading Piet Oudolf and Noel Kingsbury’s book on designing with plants, I can see where Rachel has gleened her philosopy of naturalistic vase arrangements. There is no line to my mind between the garden and floral designs, both of whose “arrangements” are inspired by the natural world. So when she was confronted with the complex challenges of climate change, as well as the practical demands of ensuring a steady supply of cut flowers for her business throughout the growing year, she soon made the decision to put the focus on resilient species, or what she calls “trusty performers with a relaxed attitude and natural style”. Over the last few evenings I have had the pleasure of reading “The Cut Flower Sourcebook – Exceptional Perennials & Woody Plants For Cutting” by Rachel Siegfried. With the range of seasons’ we experience in this country (UK) it is ideal to know which perennials and shrubs Rachel ( pictured right) has discovered through her own particular challenges growing for the flower market. As she says in the introduction: “ These stalwarts have also played a central role in developing my natural floral style as I moved from garden designer to flower farmer and florist.”

What every cut flower grower wants to know is the specific varieties to plant that give beautiful but useable stems in productive and coverable colours, oh and when to cut the flowers so they reach their peak – e.g. in the hand of a bride as she walks down the aisle or in the floral tribute for a departed loved one that comforts and consoles. During the six years I spent growing cut flowers for the elite, I began to wonder why these garden-grown beauties were not more commonly available. It seemed strange that we had a slow food movement in the UK but not a floral equivalent. Surely enjoying flowers in your home should be a simple pleasure, without the environmental burden of air miles and chemicals? As a nation of gardeners, why were we so disconnected from the idea of buying flowers locally and seasonally, or even growing our own? Her book’s excellent plant directory aside, Siegfried also gives great tips on propagation by seed, cuttings and division – all skills that make the business of creating a garden so much cheaper as well as far more meaningful and joyful. Seasonal tasks are well covered too, from the importance of spring mulches to the summer art of “cut and come again” to produce a second flush of flowers, and the pleasures of home seed saving in autumn.

Clare Foster

As for her list of resilient perennials, it’s a long one that includes many kinds of sanguisorba; the ornamental thistle known as Eryngium, “Blue Glitter”; the graceful and impressively drought-resistant Gaura lindheimeiri; greater masterwort or Astrantia major; varieties of toadflax or Linaria, different kinds of echinacea, including the oh-so-graceful Echinacea pallida; and the pretty goat’s rue or Galega officinalis.

Unfortunately, these are the sort of hardworking, decorative plants whose impressively good-natured urge to grow no matter what the growing conditions has left them vulnerable to a certain kind of silly garden snootiness that values exclusivity above all else. I say silly, because these are the very kinds of plants that have proven their ability to stay the pace, even as the challenges of climate change increase.Clare Foster is Garden Editor at House & Garden magazine and a freelance garden journalist, and author of 4 books. There are plenty of useful tips on creating your very own seasonal foam-free arrangements, as well as oodles of photographs of mouth-wateringly gorgeous arrangements Trees and shrubs are the foundation of our planting on the flower farm,” says Rachel. They act as a structural foil for the flowers, in a parallel role to the one that these “woody cuts” play in an arrangement. They are also vital for shelter, along with cutting hedges. “One of your first jobs will be to establish the direction of the most damaging winds and plan a shelter belt for fast-growing woody cuts to protect your planting,” she advises. Deciduous trees and shrubs planted as hedges have an advantage over evergreens because of their blossom, autumn color and berries. Native crab apple, Rosa glauca, Viburnum opulus, native spindle and hawthorn all grow on the farm. Above: Climbers are trained against reinforced steel mesh at Green and Gorgeous Flowers, Oxfordshire. Photograph by Eva Németh.