Easy to grow perennials for cutting?

[Edith]

Hello. I'm after something I can put in the ground now and cut flowers from. I hope this isn't too tall an order ;-). I had a quite astounding lack of sucess with flowers this year, and I'd just like something I can put in and know I'll get something from.

Am gardening in South Wales on a heavy (but being improved) soil, on a north facing hill. Its not especially shady-we grow pumpkins and tomatoes sucessfully-but things take a bit longer to get going.

Thanks!

[Flummery]

I swear by alchemilla mollis (lady's mantle) and astrantia - masterwort. The latter comes in pale cream, pink and deep, dark red if you can find them. Good time to look for these in garden centres too, as they are in flower now. They last well as a cut flower and I wouldn't be without them.

[Gearoid]

Hardy Rubeckia. Lasts for ages in a vase too.

[rustylady]

I love pinks (dianthus).

[Aberdeenplotter]

sweet williams.

[Edith]

Thanks all

Question- is rudbeckia hardy? TBH my absolute favourite flower for cutting would be dahlias (oh I know they are a cliche :-) ) but I can't be faffing with lifting them in winter (I'd have to find them first...)

[Aberdeenplotter]

you can grow dalhias from seed and treat them as annuals to be discarded after the end of the flowering season

[chris]

I've seen sea holly recently, which has taken my fancy - going to get some seed to grow for the same reason.

[Flummery]

Rudbeckia is totally hardy - we have it in our garden and in the village flower beds and it got through last winter. See hollies are gorgeous Chris but there are lots of varieties. One particular one I fancy looks like it's made of steel. Must look into this!

[chris]

Edith, pughs garden centre in radyr has half price t&m seeds. I just bought 20 packets of flowers :/ you probably shouldn't go there

[chris]

Oh yes i know flummery. I just bought a similar one. One type I want is donard - looks AMAZING.

[Edith]

Chris that is extremely interesting news ;-) .