Heirloom flower gardening is an emerging trend among gardening enthusiasts. I think an heirloom garden recreates the elegant and romantic atmosphere of half-wild country gardens through the use of heritage plant and flower varieties. Heirloom plants are those that have not been crossed with other examples of the same genus to create hybrid strains. These varieties resulted from open pollination – by birds, bees, and the forces of nature – at least fifty years ago. Many gardeners discovering these flowers for the first time are surprised to find out how popular they were just a couple generations ago.
The presence of heirloom and heritage plants does much more than lend a mysterious and unexpected element to your garden. These plants make a great addition to a cutting garden of any size. In fact, by combining heirloom flower varieties with traditional cutting garden selections, you can create an entirely new type of gardening experience. An old fashioned cutting garden will surprise and delight you every time you encounter it.
Alyssum - A popular low-growing border plant, alyssum is known for its pretty white daisy-like blossoms. They make an excellent accent to a bouquet and their sweet smell is known to attractive natural pollinators, including butterflies and hummingbirds.
Asters – One of the most popular additions to any cutting garden, asters are beloved for their bright colors, luscious blooms, and rapid germination. You can begin enjoying purple, pink, yellow, and red flowers just 6 – 8 weeks after planting.
Baby Blue Eyes - A native North American plant, this little flower gained rapid popularity thanks to its stunning blue color and tendency to spread. Baby blue eyes make a striking ground cover, border plant, or container flower.
Calendula – These flowers have a rustic, simplistic charm that makes them an irresistible addition to any old fashioned cutting garden. The compact calendula flower is perfect for tucking into a nosegay or small bouquet. Depending on the heirloom variety you choose, you can grow calendula flowers in bright yellow, light orange, or dark orange.
Canterbury Bells – A European garden favorite! Also called bellflower, these tall plants stand out thanks to their upturned, bell-shaped blossoms. Heirloom pink and blue varieties are the most popular. Canterbury Bells are also vigorous self-seeders and will return year after year. Their height makes them a dramatic addition to any bouquet or flower arrangement.
Forget-Me-Not – I think that no old fashioned garden is complete without a few forget-me-not plants tucked into the corners. The sweet, simple flowers are clustered together at the top of stems and readily attract insect pollinators. This is a relatively short plant and so is great for small space gardening.
Hollyhock – Gardeners love hollyhock for its showy height, rich blossom colors, and tendency to self-seed. Hollyhock plants will grow readily in most soil conditions and generally needs very little encouragement to take root. It is an excellent choice for planting near a fence or along a garden path. Hollyhock stems make dramatic additions to flower arrangements. Heirloom hollyhock varieties come in white, red, or purple.
Iris – Iris varieties are enduringly popular though for an authentic heirloom garden you should seek out non-hybrid strains. Irises come in a wide range of colors; white, yellow, light purple, and deep royal purple are just a few of the most popular colors. They have an elegant smell that makes them a perfect addition to a flower arrangement. Irises are a perennial plant and will spread new growth in just a few seasons.
Lily – Like irises, lilies need little encouragement to propagate. Heirloom varieties tend to be a little smaller than the large Easter lilies sold in nurseries and supermarkets every spring though they are still very dramatic flowers. Most heirloom varieties are pleasantly scented and so make an excellent addition to a cut bouquet. They start easily from bulbs planted in late fall; check the label to make sure that you are purchasing an heirloom variety and not a standard hybrid.
Nasturtium – These bright little flowers are the perfect addition for a hand-held bouquet. Though they are prized for their distinctive shape and attractive yellow and orange colors, historically nasturtiums were grown as an edible garnish. Fresh nasturtiums can be added to a green salad, chopped and sprinkled on top of a cake, or candied with sugar. If you do plan to use your nasturtiums in the kitchen you should plant them in a pot and use natural pest control methods.
Phlox – Recognized primarily by its height, phlox has been often used as a backdrop for shorter flowers. These plants readily grow in most soil conditions; heirloom varieties come in pink, lavender, purple, and white. They bloom in late summer after many other flowers have already passed their peak.
Poppy - Poppies have always been much-loved by gardeners. Their bright, colorful blooms may not last very long but they are a welcome sight during their blossoming season. Some old fashioned poppy varieties are longer-lasting than others; select these for use in a cutting garden. Old fashioned poppy varieties come in many different sizes so even compact gardens can squeeze in a few of these plants.
Rose – Heirloom rose varieties have always been a popular choice in cutting gardens. These varieties tend to branch and so are often used to cover trellises and other garden frames. Heirloom roses come in a range of pink, red, and yellow colors. Roses are a great choice if you want to attract pollinators to your garden.
Snow Drops - Gardeners have prized snow drops for their eager arrival in springtime. The gracefully dropping stem and small white flowers are a welcome sight as the seasons change. They can comfortably grow in small spaces and so are perfect for a square foot cutting garden that features heirloom plant varieties.
Viola – These little gems are often mistaken for violets. They are a little larger than traditional violets and can be recognized by their deep purple color. Violas make an attractive border plant or blooming grown cover. Though the flowers may be a little small for adding to a large arrangement, they are perfect for tucking into a Victorian-inspired nosegay arrangement.