The Best Flowers to Grow in Montana

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After 10 years of growing cut flowers in northwest Montana, I thought I’d share my list of favorites – the ones I grow every year, whether they’re perennials, annuals or volunteers that readily self-seed. My flower farm is located in downtown Kalispell, hardiness zone 5b, which is warmer than other parts of the state. Many of these flowers, though, should grow well throughout Montana and in similar climates.

What factors do I consider when putting together a list of the best flowers to grow in Montana? Here are some of my criteria:

  • Easy or relatively easy to grow.

  • Thrives in our climate.

  • Works well as a cut flower.

  • Not prone to insect damage or other diseases.

  • Produces lots of blooms or unique blooms.

  • Also attracts pollinators, is a good dried flower, has an interesting seedpod or can be used for natural dyeing.

  • If a perennial, has no trouble surviving our winters.

For more about how I choose what to grow, and why, see my blog post from last spring, Which Flowers to Grow?

 
 

Asclepias (Butterfly Weed or Milkweed)

Perennial. Full sun, drought tolerant once established. Blooms in mid to late summer.

There are many types of asclepias, and it’s a great plant for pollinators with its large colorful blooms. My favorite variety is Asclepias tuberosa ‘Wild Orange Type.’ These plants produce extra-large blooms that look a bit tropical, and the stems aren’t sappy when cut. They work great as a cut flower. Because they have taproots, asclepias dislike being transplanted.

Columbine

Perennial. Sun to partial shade, moderate moisture. Blooms in early summer.

These flowers are common both in gardens and in the woods. The native columbines typically have smaller blooms and shorter stems, while some of the hybrids have large showy blooms or double petals. Our patch of columbines basically takes care of itself – in part shade and heavy clay soil, they look great even if the deer sometimes nibble on them. These plants bloom in early summer and self-seed easily.

Coreopsis (Tickseed)

Hardy annual. Full sun, dry to moderate moisture. Blooms in mid summer.

While not the best cut flower, coreopsis are a fun flower to grow for their abundant blooms, whimsical shape and potential for natural dyeing. They also self-seed easily, so I look out for volunteer plants in the spring. They have a tendency to lean or topple when the plants get large, so they usually need support.

Cosmos

Half-hardy annual. Full sun, moderate moisture. Blooms in mid to late summer.

Ahh, cosmos. They are a classic garden flower, the perfect large wildflower-style bloom and always among the tallest plants on my flower farm. There are lots of fun colors and petal shapes available, and they are easy to grow from seed. When pinched, well supported, and frequently harvested or deadheaded, they will produce an abundance of blooms all summer.

Delphinium

Perennial. Sun to partial shade, moderate moisture. Blooms in early summer.

One of the few blue flowers, delphinium is a dramatic addition to any garden or flower arrangement. My favorite light blue variety is Delphinium cultorum ‘Giant Pacific Summer Skies.’ The plants are tall and sturdy, but the flower stalks sometimes topple so it helps to add support before they start blooming. I also love Delphinium elatum ‘Magic Fountains Cherry Blossom,’ but they seem more prone to powdery mildew in my garden.

Echinacea (Coneflower)

Perennial. Full sun, drought tolerant once established. Blooms in mid summer.

These are relatively easy to start from seed and can also be found at nurseries and garden centers. My favorite varieties are Echinacea purpurea ‘Bravado’ (bold pink blooms) and ‘Happy Star’ (white blooms) as well as Echinacea angustifolia (native to Montana). If you keep cutting, echinacea will keep blooming for weeks. I also like removing the petals and using the center cones for a textural addition to floral arrangements.

Geum

Perennial. Sun to partial shade, moderate moisture. Blooms in early to mid summer.

If I had to choose just one favorite perennial, it might be geum. The plants are super hardy (the leaves stay green all winter if there’s enough snow cover), they are rarely bothered by insects or disease, and they’ll keep blooming throughout the summer as long as you harvest the flowers and keep them watered. I’ve found that the plants with a little afternoon shade keep blooming the longest. And best of all, the petite blooms are the perfect wildflower shape and the stems are long and strong.

Iceland Poppy

Hardy Annual. Sun to partial shade, moderate moisture. Blooms in early to mid summer.

The only poppy that works well as a cut flower, the Iceland poppy is a favorite of many flower lovers. Technically an annual, I think of it as a perennial when garden planning, because it self-seeds and is one of the first plants to start growing in the early spring. I typically start extra plants each year to fill in the gaps between the self-seeded plants.

Lavender

Perennial. Full sun, drought tolerant once established. Blooms in mid to late summer.

Lavender checks a lot of boxes: fragrant, much loved by pollinators, dries well, low maintenance, often a favorite or sentimental flower. It’s a bit slow to start from seed, but also easy to purchase as a plant. My favorite variety for cutting is Lavandula angustifolia ‘Ellagance Purple.’

Lupine

Perennial. Sun to partial shade, doesn’t mind rocky soil. Blooms in early to mid summer.

Lupine flowers, especially the large hybrid varieties, have a distinctive spire shape with dozens of individual florets and unique palm-shaped leaves. They are a good cut flower, and bees enjoy diving into their florets in search of pollen. Because they have taproots, lupine dislike being transplanted.

Nigella (Love in a Mist)

Hardy Annual. Full sun, moderate moisture. Blooms in early summer.

Nigella is a must-grow for me, every year. It self-seeds easily and enjoys cool weather, so it’s one of the earliest summer blooms. It’s most commonly seen in blue, but flowers can also be white or shades of pink and lavender. It doesn’t last long as a cut flower, but the flower centers and seedpods are usable as well. The pods also dry easily. Grow them very close together for single stems or spaced farther apart for larger branching plants.

 
 

Penstemon (Beardtongue)

Perennial. Sun to partial shade, doesn’t mind rocky soil. Blooms in early summer.

Depending on the variety, penstemon blooms can be delicate or substantial. My new favorite variety is Penstemon digitalis ‘Pocahontas,’ a tall plant with dark reddish-brown leaves and soft pink flowers. The stems are sturdy and in late summer the seedheads are an interesting addition to bouquets.

Peony

Perennial. Full sun, moderate moisture. Blooms in early summer.

One of the largest blooms you can grow, peonies are a show-stopper in bouquets or in the garden. The plants can live for decades, although you should wait several years after planting before you can harvest any flowers. Over the years I’ve added more peonies to my collection, and I now have nearly 80 plants and about a dozen different varieties. Different varieties bloom at different times, so I’m able to harvest peonies throughout the month of June.

Rudbeckia (Black-Eyed Susan or Brown-Eyed Susan)

Perennial. Sun to partial shade, moderate moisture. Blooms in early to late summer.

While not the best cut flower, rudbeckia are very easy to grow and bloom for weeks or even months at a time. There are native varieties as well as many cultivars with varying flower colors and shapes. I grow lots of Rudbeckia hirta ‘Cherokee Sunset’ (ruffled blooms in shades of orange, gold and rust) and ‘Gloriosa Double Daisy’ (extra large yellow-petaled blooms). Many of the plants get quite tall and need support.

Scabiosa (Pincushion)

Hardy Annual or Perennial. Full sun, moderate moisture. Blooms in early to late summer.

Whimsical, playful and wildflower are all words I would use to describe scabiosa. Their long stems and fun shape make them a great flower for bouquets or the garden. My favorite annual varieties are Scabiosa atropurpurea ‘Salmon Queen’ and ‘Black Knight’ (excellent for natural dyeing), and my favorite perennial is Scabiosa caucasica ‘Fama White.’

Sedum (Stonecrop)

Perennial. Sun to partial shade, drought tolerant once established. Blooms in mid to late summer.

If you want low maintenance, sedum is a great choice. Some sedums are ground covers and others are taller plants with long-stemmed blooms. My favorite for cutting is Sedum telephium ‘Emperor's Wave,’ which has a reddish-pink bloom that fades to reddish-brown later in the summer.

Snapdragon

Hardy Annual. Sun to partial shade, moderate moisture. Blooms in early to late summer.

In my garden, snapdragons win for most productive throughout the summer. Because I plant several varieties that have staggered bloom times, they start blooming in early July and don’t stop until our first hard frost. The blooms are most abundant in early summer, but if you keep cutting they’ll keep producing flowers. My current favorite is Antirrhinum majus ‘Chantilly Light Salmon’ with ‘Madame Butterfly Cherry Bronze’ as a close second. The ‘Potomac’ series is another go-to. Snapdragons need to be pinched if you want lots of blooms and slimmer stems.

 
 

Sunflower

Tender Annual or Perennial. Full sun, drought tolerant. Blooms in late summer.

Sunflowers are such an easy flower to grow that I always plant some. I don’t always cut them because they aren’t usually requested as a wedding flower, but that just means more for the pollinators and the birds. I prefer varieties with smaller blooms, which are easier to use in bouquets. One of my favorite nontraditional colors is Helianthus annuus ‘Ruby Eclipse’ (formerly ‘Strawberry Blonde’). I also love the perennial Helianthus maximiliani, which is native to Montana.

Veronica

Perennial. Full sun, moderate moisture. Blooms in early to mid summer.

Delicate spikes, whimsical shapes, easy to grow – veronica is an excellent garden plant or cut flower. It comes in various shades of purple/blue, pink and white. The best tall purple/blue variety I’ve found for cutting is Veronica spicata ‘Blue Spires.’ This variety is relatively easy to start from seed and produces lots of blooms.

Yarrow (Achillea)

Perennial. Full sun, moderate moisture. Blooms in early to late summer.

A great filler flower that’s available in lots of colors, yarrow can also be used as a dye plant and a medicinal plant. Be sure to support the plants if you want straight stems. I like Achillea millefolium ‘Summer Berries’ for its range of colors and Achillea ptarmica ‘The Pearl’ for its unique shape (although the white blooms brown quickly so it has a short harvest window).

Zinnia

Tender Annual. Full sun, moderate moisture. Blooms in mid to late summer.

Even though zinnias don’t always love the Montana climate, they’re still a great flower to grow – they’re easy to grow from seed, come in tons of colors and sizes, and are a garden favorite. The tall varieties grown for cutting definitely need support. Zinnia elegans ‘Oklahoma Salmon’ is one of my most productive varieties and a great color for late summer palettes.

Well, that’s my list! You might notice that popular specialty cut flowers like ranunculus, dahlias and lisianthus aren’t on this list. That’s because, while I often grow them, they don’t meet all my criteria and they aren’t necessarily easy to grow or well suited to the Montana climate. If you grow flowers in Montana, are there any others you would add to this list?