British Grown Flowers: Favourite Flowers of 2026 (so far)

It’s been busy lately but also SO beautiful. The first week in June was pure magic. My tiny cut flower farm produced more than ever. Dream wedding flowers, gorgeous Best of the Week bouquets, table flowers and a stunning garland workshop left my heart full (and head full of cold!).

On this floral journey, I’m learning to be really proud of myself. I have to manage growing flowers with an increasingly busy family life. Getting anything out of the ground is feeling such a huge achievement. This year, I feel the garden is fully supporting my efforts. The flowers blooming are incredible and I couldn’t be any more bewitched by them.

By now I’ve learnt which flowers suit the cutting beds, Sweet Peas, Poppies, Nigella, Cornflowers, Snap Dragons. But I always leave space for new varieties. This year using a mix of plug plants and my home grown seedlings there are new favourites I want to share.

Campanula – These are what I call fairy flowers, each bloom like a fairies teacup. SO pretty and most importantly for a small space – PRODUCTIVE. There must have been at least 35 long stems from one plant and I used them all! Personally, the softer shades worked better for me. There was also a deep purple version which didn’t float my boat. I’ll be adding lots more of these to the beds. I planted plug plants in the Autumn, which I think came from J. Parkers. This mix is fairly standard but have a feeling there are going to be lots of new varieties coming through. They were outside all winter and took care of themselves, easy peasy!

Orlaya – I’d had a few dud attempts with this but found sowing in a seed tray and planting out late winter was the best option, no potting on. I packed each seedling into the bed which meant they naturally supported themselves. From a 50 x 70cm patch of flower bed there were so many usable stems and enough for seed. They have a soft aniseed scent and give a softness to a bouquet. I’m often asked for Gypsophila in arrangements, probably one of my least favourite flowers (if you can call them that!). Orlaya makes a great June and far more pleasant alternative for Gypsophila.

Talking of seeds, I have been collecting and re-sowing seeds Nigella ‘Miss Jekyll White’ and Cornflower ‘Snow Man’ since this June 2024 wedding. Every year they come back better and stronger than ever. Give them both a try when Autumn arrives and the whole process starts again.

Bladder Campion (Silene vulgaris) – Is my new favourite ‘flower’, the tiny almost holographic pods bring so much to any arrangement. I didn’t expect to love them as much as I do. They seem to grow every where, the most successful spot is at the hot dry allotment surrounded by weeds. These again were plug plants from Picked at Dawn, and have been spectacular. A bedful would be wonderful.

I hope this post gives you a little more insight into the flowers you can grow in your own cutting garden. The sheer delight of growing your own is unmeasurable.

Gathering handfuls of home grown flowers soothes and inspires parts of me I never knew about. Time feels like its going so fast, pausing to admire the flowers is one way of stopping the clock, if only for a few moments. Any questions let me know, or come and find me on Instagram for regular garden updates.