Cut Flowers

All Cut Flowers Content

variety of flowers growing in a yard

Flowers & Ornamental Grasses

Everyone can enjoy the natural beauty of flowers and ornamental plants with some simple recommendations.

A metal high tunnel enclosed in plastic is in a field

High Tunnels

A focus on high tunnel education benefits the growing population of specialty crop producers across South Dakota through updated education and expansion of high tunnel research. Extension programming continues to include extensive training on high tunnel assembly, management, and cropping innovations.

High tunnel used for specialty crops

How to Build High Tunnels

A video series developed to help producers learn how to build high tunnels.

Northern Corn Rootworms on sunflowers, zinnias, and dahlia flowers.

Corn Rootworm Presence in Cut Flowers

Multiple cut flower farms in Eastern South Dakota have reported corn rootworms on a variety of crops, including sunflowers, zinnias, and dahlias. Careful attention to species present, their timing, and the damage they cause can help inform integrated pest management strategies.

Various chemical symbols for common nutrients found in garden soil over a selection of young plants emerging from garden soil.

Managing Phosphorus and Other Nutrients in Gardens

Fact sheet on managing phosphorus and other nutrients in gardens.

A sign directs drivers to an SDSU Extension field day

SDSU Extension hosts 5th annual Specialty Crop Field Day

July 24, 2025

South Dakota State University Extension is pleased to announce its fifth annual Specialty Crop Field Day at the SDSU campus in Brookings.

Several pink-to-white, cut Gerbera Daisies arranged at a floral shop.

Enjoying Gerbera Daisies at Home

Gerbera Daisies have a typical daisy shape but come in a wide range of vibrant colors, ranging from white to pink, red, yellow, orange, and burgundy.

Producer harvesting dahlia flowers on a flower farm.

An Introduction to Cut Flower Production

In addition to their stunning colors and beauty, cut flowers can add supplemental income to gardens and farms alike. Learn some tips for growing, harvesting and marketing cut flowers this growing season!

Four blooms are shown in close-up, one multi-colored, one white, one fuschia and one orange-and-pink

SDSU Extension publishes zinnia research for cut flower producers

October 18, 2024

Kristine Lang, assistant professor and SDSU Extension Consumer Horticulture Specialist, managed the research trials. Over two years, Lang and her team monitored the growth and quality of four popular zinnia varieties: Zinderella Peach, Oklahoma Ivory, Queen Red Lime and Benary’s Giant Purple.

field of zinnia flowers

Growth and Quality of Four Zinnia Cultivars Grown in Eastern South Dakota

The purpose of this study was to assess the production and quality of four zinnia cultivars grown in eastern South Dakota to support local specialty cut flower growers in their operations.