Ever wonder what to do with those beautiful store-bought flowers once they start to wilt? In New York’s varied climate, many cut flowers can actually be propagated and grown right in your own garden! Instead of tossing them in the compost, you can give them new life.
With New York’s distinct seasons offering both warm summers and cold winters, choosing the right flowers to propagate is key to success. From spring tulips to summer sunflowers, many popular bouquet blooms adapt surprisingly well to our regional growing conditions.
I’ve experimented with numerous varieties over the years and compiled this list of flowers that consistently perform well when transitioned from vase to garden in New York. These easy-to-grow beauties will reward you with fresh blooms season after season!
1. Tulips
The bulbs from store-bought tulips can absolutely thrive in New York gardens! After enjoying your bouquet, save those bulbs instead of tossing them. I’ve found that planting them in fall gives them the cold period they need to bloom beautifully the following spring.
New York’s cold winters provide the perfect chilling period these Dutch favorites require. Just make sure to plant them in well-draining soil about 6-8 inches deep. Many gardeners in Brooklyn and Queens have great success with this method.
2. Daffodils
Cheerful harbingers of spring, daffodil bulbs from bouquets can establish themselves nicely in New York gardens. Once your cut daffodils have finished blooming, keep the bulbs in a cool, dry place until fall planting time.
Unlike some bulbs, daffodils naturalize well in our Northeast climate and often multiply year after year. Plant them about 6 inches deep in a sunny spot. Central Park’s beautiful daffodil displays started from similar humble beginnings!
3. Roses
Roses from Valentine’s bouquets can become stunning garden specimens with a bit of patience. Take 6-inch cuttings from stems that have finished flowering, remove the lower leaves, and dip in rooting hormone before planting.
New York gardeners have good luck with this method in spring and early summer. Keep the soil consistently moist as they establish roots. My neighbor in Buffalo started her entire rose garden this way – now she has dozens of plants from what began as anniversary bouquets!
4. Alstroemeria
Known as Peruvian lilies, these long-lasting bouquet favorites can grow from rhizomes in New York gardens. After your cut flowers fade, look for small rhizome pieces at the base of stems – these can be planted directly in spring after frost danger passes.
Hardy in most of New York state (zones 6-7), alstroemeria appreciates well-draining soil and partial shade. A gardening friend in Westchester has created a rainbow patch from just a few bouquets, proving how readily these multiply once established.
5. Freesia
Sweet-scented freesia corms can be saved from bouquets and grown in New York gardens or containers. The small, bulb-like corms at the base of stems should be dried and stored until spring planting time.
While not winter-hardy throughout all of New York, freesias grow beautifully as annuals or can be overwintered indoors. Their fragrance is worth the effort! Last year, my sister in Long Island planted freesia corms from her anniversary bouquet and enjoyed dozens of fragrant blooms by summer.
6. Ranunculus
Those gorgeous, rose-like ranunculus from spring bouquets come from tuberous roots that can be saved and replanted. After flowers fade, allow the stems to dry completely, then gently remove the small, claw-like tubers.
Store them in a paper bag until fall planting in New York’s warmer zones, or grow as annuals by starting them indoors in late winter. A community garden in the Bronx features a stunning ranunculus display each spring – all started from rescued bouquet tubers!
7. Anemones
Delicate anemones from florist arrangements can be grown from their small, irregular corms. Look for these hard, brown structures at the base of stems when your bouquet fades. Clean and dry them thoroughly before storage.
Plant anemone corms in fall throughout most of New York for spring blooms. They prefer cool weather and perform beautifully in our climate. The botanical gardens in Rochester feature stunning anemone displays that demonstrate how well these flowers perform in our state.
8. Amaryllis
Those stunning holiday amaryllis can live for decades in New York gardens with proper care! After indoor blooming ends, treat the bulb like a houseplant until spring, when it can move outdoors.
In fall, bring the pot inside before first frost – New York winters are too harsh for these tropical beauties. My aunt in Syracuse has an amaryllis collection that began with a Christmas gift 15 years ago! Each bulb reliably produces bigger, more impressive blooms each year.
9. Lilies
Dramatic lilies from summer bouquets often contain intact bulbs that grow beautifully in New York gardens. Carefully separate the bulb from the stem base once flowers fade, and plant immediately in a sunny, well-draining location.
Both Asiatic and Oriental varieties perform well throughout New York state. The bulbs multiply generously over time. My community garden plot in Buffalo boasts a stunning lily collection that all began with three bulbs saved from a birthday arrangement!
10. Hyacinths
Fragrant hyacinth bulbs from spring arrangements can be saved and replanted for years of blooms. Once the flowers fade, keep the bulb and any attached leaves in water until the foliage yellows naturally.
After drying, store bulbs until fall planting time. New York’s cold winters provide the perfect chilling period hyacinths need. A neighbor in Albany has lined her entire walkway with hyacinths that originated from a single Easter arrangement years ago!
11. Lisianthus
These elegant, rose-like flowers can be propagated from cuttings taken from bouquet stems. Select healthy stems, cut just below a leaf node, remove lower leaves, and place in water until roots form.
While challenging to grow from seed, rooted cuttings adapt well to New York’s summer climate. They make excellent container plants for patios and balconies. A florist friend in Manhattan grows dozens of lisianthus plants on her rooftop garden – all started from leftover bouquet stems!
12. Chrysanthemums
Fall bouquet mums can easily become garden perennials throughout New York state. Look for stems with small root buds at the base, remove lower leaves, and place in water until roots develop.
Plant rooted cuttings in spring after frost danger passes. Hardy mums survive our winters with minimal protection. The botanical gardens in the Finger Lakes region showcase impressive mum collections that began as simple bouquet cuttings and now return reliably each fall.
13. Carnations
Those long-lasting carnations from grocery store bouquets root readily from stem cuttings. Cut 4-5 inch stem pieces just below a node, remove lower leaves, and place in moist potting mix or water until roots form.
New York gardeners can grow carnations as perennials in most regions, though they may need winter protection upstate. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden includes several carnation varieties that demonstrate how well these flowers perform in our climate when given proper care.
14. Gladiolus
Dramatic gladiolus corms can be saved from summer bouquets and grown in New York gardens. Look for the flat, disc-like corm at the stem base, clean it, and dry thoroughly before storing for winter.
Plant these corms in spring after frost danger passes. While not reliably winter-hardy throughout New York, they can be dug up each fall and stored indoors. The community gardens in Queens showcase beautiful gladiolus displays each summer – many started from rescued bouquet corms!
15. Gerbera Daisies
Cheerful gerbera daisies from bouquets can become garden or container plants with proper care. Keep the entire plant base intact when removing from arrangements – you’ll often find small roots already forming.
Plant in well-draining soil and protect from extreme heat and cold. In New York, they perform best as container plants that can be brought indoors during winter. My apartment in Syracuse has a sunny windowsill filled with colorful gerberas – all rescued from various bouquets throughout the years!
16. Scabiosa
These pincushion-like flowers can be grown from seeds collected from dried bouquet blooms. Allow the flower heads to dry completely, then gently crush to release the seeds. Store in a paper envelope until spring planting time.
Scabiosa thrives in New York’s summer climate and often self-seeds once established. The Hudson Valley botanical gardens feature beautiful scabiosa plantings that demonstrate how well these flowers perform in our state when given proper growing conditions.
17. Dahlias
While not common in standard bouquets, specialty dahlia arrangements can yield tubers for future growing. After flowers fade, look for the tuberous root structures at the stem base and plant immediately in containers.
Grow through summer, then dig up and store tubers before New York’s first hard freeze. The famous dahlia display at the Buffalo Botanical Gardens began with just a few rescued bouquet tubers! These spectacular flowers multiply generously once established in your garden.
18. Sunflowers
Saving seeds from bouquet sunflowers is incredibly easy and rewarding in New York gardens. Allow the flower head to dry completely, then gently rub to release the plump seeds. Store in a paper envelope until spring planting.
Direct sow after frost danger passes for summer blooms. New York’s growing season is perfect for these sun-lovers. A community garden in the Adirondack region features a magnificent sunflower wall each August – all grown from seeds collected from a single bouquet years ago!
19. Stock Flowers
Fragrant stock flowers can be propagated from stem cuttings taken from bouquets. Select healthy stems, cut below a leaf node, remove lower leaves, and place in water or moist soil until roots develop.
These cool-season bloomers perform beautifully in New York spring and fall gardens. My friend in Ithaca maintains a fragrant cutting garden filled with stock flowers – all originated from a single Mother’s Day bouquet! Their sweet scent makes them worth the effort.