Half a Dozen Annuals from Seed for Cut Flowers:

1. Amaranthus: Amaranth comes in many colors and flower forms, but the best for cutting offer long, chubby, fuzzy pipe cleaner-like flowers in a variety of shades. ‘Oeschburg’ features upright spikes of burgundy flowers, while ‘Green Cascade’ brings chartreuse tassels to the table. Amaranthus like the heat, and won’t germinate in cold soil. Sow outdoors in warm soil or start indoors three to four weeks before planting out.
2. Calendula officianalis (pot marigold): One of the earliest bloomers, Calendula grows in a wide range of gold through yellow-orange and everything in between. Some forms, like ‘Flashback’, have semi-double flowers, and grow from eight inches to two feet. Sow indoors four weeks before last frost for a first round and then sow outdoors when the soil warms up for later blooms, although Calendula is not a heat-lover.
3. Celosia: Whether you prefer the cockscomb or the plume-like blossoms, Celosia is great for cut flowers, as long as you choose the right varieties. They should be tall enough to cut, like ‘Dragon’s Breath’, which reaches 24 inches, or the Bombay or Cramer series, which can reach four feet tall. Sow seeds indoors four weeks prior to planting outside. Don’t rush planting them outdoors, as Celosia will sulk if the soil is too cold.
4. Phlox drummondii (annual Phlox): This U.S. native comes in colors not available in its perennial cousins. Shades of peach are offered in ‘Cherry Caramel’, while the heirloom variety, ‘Isabellina’ provides a soft yellow. The best varieties for cutting grow about 18 inches tall. Sow seeds outdoors in early spring, or indoors five to seven weeks before frost. Seed needs darkness to germinate.
5. Poppies: Whether you choose the Shirley, California, or the bread seed species, poppies make great albeit short-lived bouquets when cut just before the flower opens. A Shirley poppy mix (Papaver rhoeas) called Falling in Love contains a mixture of pinky-rosie colors that will keep you fascinated through mid-summer. Shirley poppies grow two to three feet tall and can last in a vase for two days. California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) ‘Dancing Ballerina’ is a mix of sherbet shades on 15-inch stems. Bread seed poppy (Papaver somniferum) is ‘Lauren’s Grape’, which can grow up to three feet tall. All grow best when direct sown outdoors.
6. Marigolds (Tagetes): While some dislike the scent, there are varieties that don’t have that distinctive characteristic. Burpee’s developed a hybrid called ‘French Vanilla’ that grows 24 inches tall and can be started indoors four to six weeks before planting out. Alternatively, they can be planted in the ground, but not until all danger of frost is past.

This list is by no means inclusive. It’s a starter list of easy-to-grow cut flowers that anyone would be proud of growing—either from seed or as a plant if you can find them.