These 6 Popular Bouquet Flowers Cost Less to Grow at Home Than to Buy at the Store, Experts Say

There are few things better than a vase full of fresh flowers decorating your kitchen countertop, but the cost of a store-bought bunch can end up taking this little joy off the table until a special occasion.

The good news is, growing and arranging your own florals means you get to enjoy blooms both indoors and out for a whole season (or more). Here are some stunning flower varieties that are cheaper to grow than buy.

One flower type all of our gardening experts adore are the colorful and vibrant zinnias (Zinnia elegans). These cost around $4 per seed packet compared to $2 to $4 per stem.

Even though they’re annuals, you’ll only have to make this purchase once to have a lasting supply of seeds and blooms.

“To collect seeds from zinnias, wait until blooms start to look a little past their prime,” gardening pro Nicole Burke advises. “Cut the stems beneath the spent flowers and hang them upside down to dry for about a month until they’re completely dehydrated.”

Grow zinnias in full sun using well-draining, nutrient-rich soil, water occasionally, and fertilize 1-2 times during their growing season.

Cosmos

Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) are another favorite flower amongst all our pros, who adore them for their warm-toned hues and variety of petal patterns. These low-maintenance annuals are also a go-to for cut flower bouquets.

“Their longer bloom period and easy care make cosmos one of the most economical flowers to grow for fresh-cut arrangements at home, producing an abundance of blooms from a seed packet costing less than $4,” gardening expert Rebecca Sears says. “When purchased as cut flowers, cosmos typically sell for $1 to $3 per stem.”

Plant cosmos in beds or pots with neutral soil, and in full sun. Once they’re established, these flowers will be drought-tolerant and self-sow.

Deadheading will allow flowers to bloom again and the seeds to drop, go dormant over winter, then blossom the following year.

Sweet Peas

For a cottage-style garden and whimsical blue, purple, pink, and white blooms, sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) are the perfect pick, but these flowers are hard to come by in stores. A single stem can cost up to $4 alone, while packet of sweet pea seeds is $4-7 and can supply you with hundreds of stems.

This annual flower calls for alkaline, well-draining soil that is kept moist at 1 inch deep. Because sweet peas are a climbing plant, you’ll also need a fence, trellis, or support system for them to grow on.

Use tomato fertilizer or another blend rich in phosphorus and potassium once a month during growing season, and plant in partial to full sun.

Lavender

Lavender (Lavandula spp.) is another great flower to bring texture and height to a cut bouquet, and these fragrant perennials don’t require water or fertilizer once they’re established.

“A packet of seeds can cost less than $5, while fresh or dried lavender bundles can range from $10 to $20 each,”. “In addition to being a beautiful, airy yet structured flower, lavender can also help deter pests and is deer-resistant.”

Keep your plants in well-draining, alkaline soil in an area with plenty of sunlight and air circulation, and you’ll have stems for years to come.

Dahlias

Dahlias (Dahlia spp.) make the perfect focal point for a floral arrangement, with blooms that can grow up to 10 inches in diameter. These late-season perennials grow best in full sun and loamy, rich soil.

You’ll need to water them once a week, use a phosphorus-heavy fertilizer every two weeks, and dig up the tubers to store indoors each winter; given the work that goes into cultivating them, dahlias are pricey picks in stores.

“A single dahlia tuber costs anywhere from $5 to $25, but can produce 20 or more blooms in a single season, making it one of the most cost-effective flowers to grow,” cut flower grower. “Plus, dahlia tubers multiply underground each year, allowing you to divide and replant them, often ending the season with twice more than you started with.”

Sunflowers

Summer and sunflower (Helianthus annuus) bouquets go hand-in-hand—but growing them in your garden is a lot more cost-efficient than buying bundles of stems all season.

“A packet of mixed sunflower seeds runs about $3 to $5, and you can succession plant them every two to three weeks for continuous blooms,” Burke says. “One stem at a professional florist? Anywhere from $3 to $6 each, sometimes more for the fancy varieties.”

Plant sunflower seeds a few feet apart each, and in a spot that gets at least six hours of sunlight a day. Use well-draining soil or supplement with mulch and slow-release fertilizer, and water regularly as the top 1-2 inches of soil dry out.