7 Flowers I Can’t Stop Growing on My Flower Farm

I often get asked which flowers I like best - but honestly, it’s less about favourites and more about the ones I love to grow on my little farm. Each has its own personality, quirks, and magic, and they all bring something special to bouquets, arrangements, and the garden itself. Here are seven of the blooms I enjoy nurturing most:

1. Firework-style heirloom chrysanthemums

These chrysanthemums are show-stoppers. Their delicate, curling petals explode outwards like tiny fireworks, and they’re endlessly fun to grow. They’re so different from anything you get in the supermarket, which is part of what I love about them. Chrysanthemums are perennial, extremely easy to take cuttings from, and begin flowering just as everything else slows down. These firework-type chrysanthemums in particular don’t flower until October - but they are prolific! This year I only planted one succession, and it flowered from May all the way until the frost. Well, it actually survived the first few frosts and kept going. They add drama and texture to any arrangement and always make me smile when they finally open.

2. White limonium

White limonium might seem understated, but it’s a workhorse in bouquets. Its airy texture and subtle blooms provide the perfect backdrop for more flamboyant flowers, and it’s a joy to grow in abundance for all-season arrangements - and they are prolific! This year I only planted one succession, and it flowered from May all the way until the frost. Well, it actually survived the first few frosts and kept going.

3. Cosmos

I love all cosmos, but the ‘Purity’ variety is my absolute favourite. I adore their simple form and their ability to coordinate with just about anything. They are perfect for pastel spring bouquets and also give a lovely pop of contrast in autumnal-coloured arrangements. And of course, they are absolutely perfect for weddings - cheerful, elegant, and endlessly versatile.

4. Fimbriated dahlias

Fimbriated dahlias are my dramatic divas. With intricate, ruffled petals and vibrant colours, they demand attention. Just like the chrysanthemums, dahlias are perennial and divide up into new plants very easily. I love the challenge of growing them well, and there’s nothing quite like cutting a perfect fimbriated dahlia for a vase.

5. Zinnias

Zinnias are the ultimate show-off flowers - bold, bright, and endlessly cheerful. The thing I love about zinnias is that there’s a zinnia for every occasion: big ones, teeny tiny ones, multi-petalled ones… and the colours! I love pops of orange in the form of tiny little zinnias in mid-summer bouquets, and I adore using the larger, pastel-coloured ones for weddings. They’re robust, easy to grow, and flower prolifically, making them ideal for cutting and spreading colour through bouquets all season.

6. Potomac snapdragons

Potomac snapdragons are, to me, the king of all snaps. They have super tall, sturdy stems, come in a range of gorgeous colours, and provide the perfect vertical element in bouquets. The only drawback? They take absolutely ages to grow, and the seeds are minuscule, so patience is key! Their upright stems and elegant spikes give bouquets structure, height, and a touch of whimsy - and harvesting them is incredibly satisfying.

7. Peonies

Everyone loves a peony, right? My four-year-old peony plants finally got into their stride last spring with their first proper flush of flowers, meaning I was able to harvest armfuls of big, squishy blooms. I grow a few different varieties that all flower at slightly different times to spread the peony season out a little longer - because it is fleeting. Their fragrance, shape, and delicacy make them a must-grow for me, even if they can be a little temperamental.

These seven flowers might not be the “favourite” flowers of the world, but they are mine — the ones I love to grow, nurture, and share in bouquets and arrangements. Each has its own story, its own character, and all of them make my flower farm feel alive and joyful.

About Cicely Flowers
Cicely Flowers is a small, one-woman flower farm based in Bradford on Avon, near Bath. I grow seasonal, sustainably cultivated blooms for weddings, picked-to-order bouquets, flower subscriptions, and a self-serve flower stand. Every flower is nurtured with care, ensuring bouquets and arrangements that are unique, fragrant, and full of character - all grown in harmony with the seasons.