The Power of Patience – Why Biennials Deserve a Place in Every Cutting Garden

1 Jun

If there’s one group of flowers that tests your patience but rewards you in spades, it’s biennials. Often overlooked in favour of quick-growing annuals or ever-reliable perennials, biennials are the quiet achievers of the flower world. And here at Evie & Flo – The Sudbury Flower Farm, we adore them.

Let’s dive into what biennials are, why they matter, and which ones deserve a spot in your garden (or your bouquet!).

🌱 What is a biennial?

Biennials are plants that take two years to complete their life cycle. In their first year, they focus on growing strong roots and leafy foliage. Then, after experiencing a winter chill, they burst into bloom in year two, set seed, and finish their life cycle.

Unlike annuals (who rush from seed to flower in one season) or perennials (who bloom year after year), biennials play the long game — but the payoff is early, abundant blooms when everything else is still waking up.

💐 Why grow biennials?

1. Early blooms: Biennials are some of the very first flowers to bloom in spring, often appearing before hardy annuals or perennials really get going.

2. Brilliant for bees: Because they flower so early, biennials are a lifeline for pollinators coming out of winter.

3. Filler magic: Many biennials provide amazing texture, height, and scent — perfect for early bouquets and arrangements.

4. Reliable & tough: Once established, biennials are hardy and low-maintenance. Most shrug off frosty nights with ease.

📅 When do you sow them?

Here’s the catch (and the reason many gardeners skip them): you sow biennials in late summer to early autumn (June–September) for flowering the following spring.

That means while you’re picking flowers in summer, you’ve also got to think ahead and start sowing next year’s early bloomers — but trust us, it’s worth it.

You can sow them in seed trays, modules, or directly into the ground if your beds are empty by late summer.

🌼 Our Favourite Biennials for Cutting

Here are some of the biennials we grow and love here at Evie & Flo:

1. Sweet Rocket (Hesperis)
• Height: 80–100cm
• Bloom Time: April–June
• Notes: Scented, airy, and available in soft purple or white. A beautiful early filler that adds movement and fragrance to spring bouquets.

2. Foxglove (Digitalis)
• Height: 100–150cm
• Bloom Time: May–June
• Notes: Tall, striking spires that bring height and drama. Loved by pollinators and perfect for natural-style arrangements.

3. Honesty (Lunaria)
• Height: 60–90cm
• Bloom Time: April–May (flowers), August (seed pods)
• Notes: Pretty purple or white flowers in spring, followed by papery silver seed heads in late summer – great for dried arrangements.

4. Wallflowers (Erysimum)
• Height: 40–60cm
• Bloom Time: March–May
• Notes: Compact, colourful, and sweetly scented. A reliable early bloomer that mixes beautifully with tulips and spring foliage.

5. Canterbury Bells (Campanula)
• Height: 60–80cm
• Bloom Time: June–July
• Notes: Bell-shaped blooms in soft pastel shades, perfect for romantic summer arrangements.

6. Daucus carota (wild carrot)
• Height: 100cm
• Bloom Time: May–July
• Notes: Frothy, delicate white umbel flowers that make a fantastic filler. Long-lasting and elegant.

Tip: Some of these, like Daucus and honesty, can also self-seed — so once you start growing them, they might stick around with minimal effort.

🌸 How we use them at the flower farm

At Evie & Flo, biennials are an essential part of our spring flower offering. They fill the gap between the last of the tulips and the first summer blooms, bringing colour, scent, and structure to our early bouquets.

Here’s how we grow them:

Sow in June – We start seeds in trays or modules in our sheltered growing space.
Plant out in August – Once the seedlings are strong enough, they’re planted into beds to establish before winter.
Overwinter in the beds – We cover the beds with a simple, makeshift polytunnel to protect young plants from harsh frosts and heavy rain.
Spring into action – Some varieties are planted in autumn, others very early in spring to stagger flowering.

It’s a gentle rhythm that works beautifully with the seasons and ensures we always have something special blooming early in the year.

🌿 Want to try growing biennials?

If you’re planning a cutting patch or flower garden for next year, consider setting aside a little space this summer to sow some biennials. You’ll thank yourself when spring arrives and your garden is already full of bloom and buzz.

And if growing isn’t your thing — we’ve got you covered! Keep an eye on our stand and market stalls from April onward, when our biennial beauties take centre stage in bouquets and jam jars.

Here’s to growing with the seasons — and letting flowers teach us the joy of patience.
With love,
Caroline x

Caroline Coward