Flower Rainbow

Planting A Cut Flower Rainbow Garden

A Colourful Guide for New Brunswick Gardeners

January. 6th 2026

Grow Your Own Rainbow This Season

If you’ve ever stood in your garden wishing you could bring a bit more colour indoors, a cut flower garden might be exactly what you’re looking for. Even better? Planting a rainbow of cut flowers—one that blooms in reds, oranges, yellows, greens, blues, purples, and pinks—is easier than you might think, especially here in New Brunswick.

Our Maritime climate is surprisingly well-suited to many popular cut flowers. Cool springs, warm (but not scorching) summers, and long daylight hours make it possible to grow an incredible variety of blooms from seed. Whether you’re a first-time gardener or a seasoned grower looking to try something new, a rainbow cut flower garden lets you experiment, learn, and enjoy armfuls of fresh flowers from midsummer right through to frost.

At Scott’s Nursery Ltd. in Lincoln, NB, we carry a wide selection of cut flower seeds from trusted suppliers like OSC Seeds, Halifax Seed, Northern Wildflowers, and more—making it easy to find both classic favourites and exciting new varieties. This guide breaks things down by colour, highlighting flower families that grow well in New Brunswick, how to care for them, and which varieties are worth trying this year.

Think of this as your invitation to play with colour, mix textures, and grow something just a little outside your comfort zone.

Red Flowers:
Bold, Classic & Always Eye-Catching

Red flowers bring instant drama to the garden and make any bouquet feel rich and full. They’re often the first colour people notice, and many red cut flowers are also some of the most productive and beginner-friendly options for New Brunswick gardeners.

From long-lasting zinnias to delicate poppies, these red blooms thrive in our summer conditions and reward frequent cutting.

Zinnias

Bright, dependable, and made for cutting

Zinnias are a cut flower superstar—and for good reason. They’re easy to grow, bloom nonstop once established, and produce long, sturdy stems that hold up beautifully in arrangements. In New Brunswick, zinnias really hit their stride once the soil has warmed, making them a perfect mid-to-late summer bloom.

Care tips:

Plant after the risk of frost has passed

Full sun is a must

Space plants well to encourage airflow and long stems

Cut often to promote continuous blooms

Red varieties to try:

Benary’s Giant Scarlet – Large, professional-quality blooms

Red Riding Hood – Compact plants with bold colour

Mazurkia – Red with rosy tones and a unique look

Poppies

Delicate beauty with early-season charm

Poppies bring a softer, more romantic red to the garden. They bloom earlier than many other cut flowers, making them especially valuable in our cooler Maritime springs. While poppies don’t last as long in a vase as some sturdier blooms, their papery petals and graceful stems make them worth growing.

Care tips:

Direct sow as early as the soil can be worked

Poppies dislike transplanting

Full sun to light shade

Harvest just as buds begin to open for best vase life

Red varieties to try:

Shirley poppy mixes with red tones

Iceland poppies for early, cool-season blooms

Orange Flowers:
Warm, Cheerful & Full of Energy

Orange flowers bring warmth and personality to a cut flower garden. They pair beautifully with reds and yellows, add contrast to softer pinks, and make bouquets feel vibrant and joyful. Many orange cut flowers are also pollinator magnets, making them a great choice for gardeners who want beauty with benefits.

Calendula

Cold-tolerant, cheerful, and endlessly useful

Calendula is one of the most reliable flowers for New Brunswick gardens. It handles cool temperatures with ease, making it perfect for early planting and extended bloom into fall. Calendula’s bright orange petals add a sunny, cottage-garden feel to bouquets and are even edible.

Care tips:

Direct sow early in the season

Full sun to partial shade

Pinch or cut regularly to keep plants blooming

Tolerates light frost, extending the harvest season

Orange varieties to try:

Pacific Beauty – Large blooms in rich orange tones

Orange Flash – Bright petals with contrasting centres

Tithonia (Mexican Sunflower)

Bold colour for high-impact bouquets

Tithonia is all about drama. With tall plants and fiery orange blooms, it adds height and intensity to both the garden and the vase. While it prefers warmth, Tithonia grows very well in New Brunswick once summer settles in and rewards gardeners with armfuls of blooms later in the season.

Care tips:

Start seeds indoors 4–6 weeks before last frost

Plant in full sun with good airflow

Taller varieties may benefit from staking

Cut frequently to encourage branching

Orange varieties to try:

Torch – Tall plants with intense orange blooms

Goldfinger – Compact habit with abundant flowers

Yellow Flowers:
Sunshine in Every Stem

Yellow flowers are the backbone of many cut flower gardens. They brighten bouquets, mix beautifully with every other colour, and bring that cheerful “summer just walked into the room” feeling. Many yellow cut flowers are also highly productive, making them especially rewarding for New Brunswick gardeners.

Sunflowers

A cut flower classic with serious impact

Not all sunflowers are created equal for cutting. Branching varieties produce multiple blooms per plant, giving you a steady supply of flowers throughout the season. They’re easy to grow, thrive in full sun, and are a must-have in any rainbow garden.

Care tips:

Direct sow after the risk of frost has passed

Full sun is essential

Succession plant every 2–3 weeks for continuous blooms

Harvest when petals are just opening for the best vase life

Yellow varieties to try:

Teddy Bear – Dense, shaggy, pom-pom-like, bright yellow blooms

Sunrich Gold – Reliable, pollen-free, golden-yellow flowers

Starburst – Fluffy, golden-yellow petals surrounding a green center

Rudbeckia

Long-lasting blooms with strong stems

Rudbeckia adds a slightly deeper, golden-yellow tone that works beautifully in both garden beds and bouquets. Known for excellent vase life and durability, it’s a great option for gardeners who want reliable blooms through the heat of summer and into early fall.

Care tips:

Start indoors or direct sow after frost

Full sun to partial shade

Deadhead regularly to encourage more blooms

Tolerates New Brunswick’s summer humidity well

Yellow varieties to try:

Irish Eyes – Fresh green centres with bright petals

Goldstrum – Bright golden daisy-like petals with dark brown centres

Green Flowers & Fillers:
The Secret to Professional Bouquets

Green flowers and foliage are often the unsung heroes of beautiful arrangements. They add texture, movement, and balance—making colourful blooms really stand out. Florists rely heavily on green fillers, and luckily, many of them grow beautifully in New Brunswick gardens.

Bells of Ireland

Unique, architectural, and surprisingly elegant

Bells of Ireland are instantly recognizable with their tall spikes of soft green “bells.” They’re a favourite among florists for adding height and structure to bouquets. These plants prefer cooler conditions, making them well-suited to our Maritime climate.

Care tips:

Start seeds indoors early; light aids germination

Cooler temperatures encourage better growth

Full sun to partial shade

Harvest when bells are well formed but still fresh

Green varieties to try:

Classic Bells of Ireland (green)

Bupleurum

Light, airy, and perfect as a bouquet filler

Bupleurum is a fantastic filler flower with delicate, chartreuse-green umbels that blend effortlessly with brighter blooms. It adds a soft, natural look to arrangements and works especially well in garden-style bouquets.

Care tips:

Direct sow early; bupleurum dislikes transplanting

Full sun to light shade

Harvest when stems are fully elongated

Excellent for both fresh and dried use

Green varieties to try:

Bupleurum griffithii

Bupleurum rotundifolium

Blue Flowers:
Cool Tones for Balance

True blue flowers can be hard to find, which makes them especially valuable in a cut flower garden. Blue tones add calm, contrast, and depth to bouquets, balancing out warmer colours like red, orange, and yellow. Many blue cut flowers also thrive in cooler Maritime conditions, making them excellent choices for New Brunswick gardeners.

Bachelor’s Buttons (Centaurea)

Easy, reliable, and beautifully blue

Bachelor’s Buttons are one of the easiest blue flowers to grow from seed. They’re quick to bloom, tolerant of cool temperatures, and ideal for early-season cutting. Their classic blue shade pairs effortlessly with almost any colour palette.

Care tips:

Direct sow early in spring

Full sun to partial shade

Deadhead or cut regularly to extend bloom time

Can self-seed lightly for future seasons

Blue varieties to try:

Blue Boy – A true, classic blue

'Blue Diadem' – Beautiful sky-blue double flowers

Larkspur (Annual Delphinium)

Tall, graceful spikes for elegant arrangements

Larkspur brings height and a refined look to bouquets with its vertical flower spikes. It prefers cooler weather, making it particularly well-suited to New Brunswick’s spring and early summer conditions. Larkspur blooms earlier than many annuals, helping bridge the gap to peak summer flowers.

Care tips:

Direct sow as early as possible

Full sun to partial shade

Cooler temperatures encourage stronger stems

Harvest when about one-third of the florets are open

Blue varieties to try:

Blue Lace – Strong stems and rich colour

Cobalt Dreams – A blend of blues and soft white

Purple Flowers:
Drama & Depth

Purple flowers add a sense of elegance, richness, and mystery to any garden or bouquet. They work beautifully as a bridge between warmer and cooler tones and are perfect for creating depth and contrast in arrangements. Many purple varieties also thrive in New Brunswick’s Maritime climate, offering long-lasting blooms and excellent cut stems.

Scabiosa

Delicate, pincushion blooms with excellent vase life

Scabiosa, often called the pincushion flower, is a florist favourite thanks to its unique flower shape and long-lasting stems. Its muted purple shades pair beautifully with brighter reds, pinks, and blues, creating a natural, garden-style bouquet feel.

Care tips:

Start indoors or direct sow early in spring

Full sun to partial shade

Regular cutting encourages continuous blooms

Prefers well-drained soil

Purple varieties to try:

Black Knight – Deep, dramatic purple

Vivid Violet – Soft lavender tones for contrast

Statice

Textural, durable, and perfect for fresh or dried arrangements

Statice is prized for its papery flowers, which maintain colour even when dried. Purple statice provides texture and volume in arrangements, making it an excellent companion to almost any flower colour. It’s also a great choice for New Brunswick gardens due to its drought tolerance and sturdy stems.

Care tips:

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before last frost

Full sun with good airflow

Cut just before flowers are fully open for best vase life

Works well in bouquets fresh or dried

Purple varieties to try:

QIS Lavender – Bright, long-lasting stems

'Seeker Purple' – Excellent for mixed arrangements

Pink Flowers:
Soft, Romantic & Reliable

Pink flowers bring a gentle, romantic touch to any cut flower garden. They’re versatile in bouquets, pairing well with all other colours in the rainbow, and are often easy to grow, making them ideal for both beginner and experienced gardeners in New Brunswick. From airy cosmos to charming snapdragons, pink blooms add softness, texture, and elegance to your rainbow garden.

Cosmos

Airy, forgiving, and endlessly charming

Cosmos are a go-to for gardeners who want effortless beauty. They’re easy to grow, tolerate New Brunswick’s cooler spring conditions, and produce long stems perfect for cutting. Cosmos also mix beautifully with almost any other flower colour, making them a must-have in a rainbow garden.

Care tips:

Direct sow after the last frost, or start indoors 4–6 weeks prior

Full sun, tolerates poor soil

Minimal maintenance; just deadhead occasionally

Cut frequently to encourage continuous blooms

Pink varieties to try:

Sensation Pink – Soft pink with classic cosmos form

Double Click Rose Bonbon – Double blooms with extra fullness

Snapdragons

Classic, upright spikes for structure and charm

Snapdragons offer height, vertical interest, and delicate, romantic flowers in shades of pink. They thrive in New Brunswick’s cool spring weather and are ideal for early-season bouquets. Regular cutting encourages a long-lasting display and abundant blooms.

Care tips:

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before last frost

Prefers cooler temperatures for stronger stems

Full sun to partial shade

Harvest when lower flowers open for continuous blooms

Pink varieties to try:

Rocket Pink – Upright, early-blooming, and prolific

Madame Butterfly – Soft pastel pink, perfect for mixed bouquets

Start Small, Grow Colourfully

Planting a rainbow of cut flowers is not just about colour—it’s about creating joy in your garden, discovering new favourites, and enjoying the satisfaction of bringing fresh blooms indoors. Even a small patch of reds, yellows, and pinks can transform your summer garden and fill your home with fragrance and beauty.

Tips for success in New Brunswick:

Start early with indoor sowing for tender varieties

Choose a mix of familiar favourites and new, exciting flowers

Cut regularly to encourage continuous blooms

Embrace the natural rhythms of your Maritime garden—late frosts, cool springs, and warm summers all shape a thriving rainbow garden

Visit Scott’s Nursery Ltd. in Lincoln, NB to find seeds from trusted suppliers, expert advice, and everything you need to start your colourful cut flower adventure this year. With a little planning and a rainbow of blooms, your garden can become a living bouquet that grows from the ground up.

To Join Our Mailing List And Never Miss A Monthly Newsletter!