Seasonal Spotlight: Colorado Summer Cut-Flower Varieties
Summertime in Colorado is the true kickoff for wedding season—and for good reason: pristine mountain views, dramatic skies (ranging from bluebird days to afternoon storms), blooming meadows, and warm temperatures. While the warmth might finally feel consistent, local flower varieties continue to shift with the season. What’s available in June may not be around by August.
Multiple factors affect bloom timing: nighttime temperatures, soil warmth, and even the amount of daylight (every minute counts!). Some flowers need cooler nights to thrive, while others really take off when the heat sets in. In this blog, we’re spotlighting some of our favorite Colorado-grown flowers available throughout the summer—so you can gather inspiration for your own floral design, whether for a wedding, event, or garden dreams.
Early Summer
This is when we see some of the most coveted blooms: peonies, poppies, and ranunculus.
Peonies are, without a doubt, one of the most beloved flowers—and perhaps that’s because they feel so rare. While they can appear as early as May, Colorado-grown peonies typically come into season in June. You may see Alaskan-grown peonies on the market as late as August, but availability is never guaranteed. During the Southern Hemisphere’s spring (our winter), they appear again—but the long journey makes them costly and often underwhelming compared to local, just-cut blooms.
Poppies—specifically Icelandic poppies—are adored for their delicate, tissue-thin petals that feel like watercolor come to life. As you might imagine, they don’t ship well, even domestically, so we love using them when they’re blooming right here in Colorado. Unlike peonies, poppies have a longer window, often appearing in mid-April and lingering through July, weather depending. When local crops aren’t available, we turn to trusted U.S. farms like 3 Porch Farm in Georgia, whose quality is consistently excellent.
Ranunculus are a favorite among flower lovers. Their ruffled, layered petals are impossibly romantic, and they come in a range of soft and saturated tones. Thanks to their popularity and greenhouse success, they’re available year-round—but nothing compares to a ranunculus grown close to home with care and intention. Colorado’s Arrowhead Dahlias has perfected the art of growing ranunculus in hoophouses, allowing us to source them locally from mid-April through mid-June.
Mid-Summer
By late June, soil temperatures have warmed enough to coax annuals and perennials into full swing. This is when we start to see our first flushes of garden roses, snapdragons, and phlox, with lisianthus and the first dahlias not far behind.
If someone tells us they don’t like roses, we always ask if they’ve ever spent time up close with a freshly cut garden rose. These blooms are heavenly—and often change minds. Roses bloom in cycles, or "flushes," and Colorado’s first and largest tends to appear in late June. Depending on the weather, a plant may give us up to three flushes in a season. Because of their cyclical nature, local garden roses have a more nuanced (and less predictable) availability, but we incorporate them whenever possible.
Snapdragons and phlox may be supporting players in a design, but they bring texture, movement, and color-blending magic. Local snapdragons often feature rare double-petaled varieties that add incredible richness to arrangements. Phlox, with its airy structure and painterly hues, offers a soft touch and subtle motion. We enjoy both from late June through Colorado’s first frost, usually in early October.
Late Summer
By August, many delicate early-season blooms have faded, and the heat-loving stars are in full command. Dahlias, lisianthus, and zinnias are the darlings of this time.
Dahlias are among our favorites to grow in our own cutting garden. They’re prolific, joyful, and endlessly diverse—the more you cut, the more they bloom. While California-grown dahlias start appearing in the wholesale market in June, they often arrive with weak stems or tired petals. Locally grown dahlias, on the other hand, are strong, resilient, and stunning. They’re just as suited to delicate bridal bouquets as they are to large-scale installations.
Lisianthus, specially Colorado grown, might just be our favorite flower to design with in August and September. When sourced locally, lisianthus is unrecognizably better than its imported counterpart—hardy, vibrant, and incredibly lush. Colorado growers are producing stunning lisianthus in hues like dusty lavender, champagne, terracotta, buttery yellow, blush, and more. We adore both single-petal and ruffled varieties, and love using them both as-is or reflexed for a softer, fuller look. Their heat and altitude tolerance make them a designer’s dream in Colorado’s unique conditions.
Zinnias may seem common—often found in front yards and sidewalk gardens—but we think they deserve more credit. New cultivars offer fresh sizes, shapes, and tones, creating exciting color combinations that work beautifully in modern wedding palettes. They bring brightness, whimsy, and a “wild” edge to our designs. And should you choose to grow them yourself, just like dahlias: the more you cut, the more they bloom.
At Yarrow & Spruce, we’re always in awe of what’s possible when we work with nature, not against it. Every season brings its own magic, and summer in Colorado is an especially abundant time. If you’re planning a wedding or event during the summer months—or simply dreaming of flowers—we hope this guide helps you understand what’s locally available and just how beautiful it can be.
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