Learn how to create easy Mason jar bouquets from your cut flower garden with tips, flower recipes, and inspiration for making homegrown arrangements.
You don’t need fancy tools or floral arranging skills to make something beautiful.
Mason jar bouquets are all about simplicity and fun. Just snip what’s blooming, pop it in a jar, and let the flowers do their thing.
No floral tape, no foam, no wire, or other mechanics.
All you need is a jar of clean water and some fresh flowers.
Mason jar flower arrangements are quick to throw together, don’t have to be perfect, and somehow always look charming.
Just grab a jar (or whatever holds water), add some garden cuttings, and you’ve got a sweet little arrangement for your kitchen, bathroom vanity, or to bring over to a friend’s table.
I love creating bouquets for Mason jars because they work well with shorter stems—giving you more flower and filler options than you’d expect.
These easygoing bouquets are one of my favorite things to create in the summer—and once you try them, I think you’ll be hooked too.
Easy to Make, Easy to Share
Mason jar arrangements are also perfect for sharing. They are small, easy to transport and display, and beautiful.
There’s no pressure to return the jar, so recipients can truly enjoy the thoughtfulness behind the gift even if they don’t know it only took you a few minutes to throw together!
I find myself making dozens of these throughout the summer. Some, of course, are for the house; some are for guests, and plenty for bringing along to dinner parties.
I hope these easy, informal bouquet combos inspire you to grow your own arrangements and share the beauty with others.
No Mason Jar?
Don’t have a mason jar? No worries!
Use a sturdy drinking glass, a recycled sauce or jam jar, or even a coffee mug.
If it holds water, it can be a vase.
Thrift stores also sell plenty of small vases and jars for cheap if you need them right away.
My Favorite Mason Jar Bouquet Combos
I rely on these tried-and-true combinations all summer long.
Flower recipes like these are easy to pull together, use what’s already blooming in the garden, and look good together no matter how casually they’re arranged.
Let’s go through each one together!
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Cheerful Cottage Classics
Zinnias + Cosmos + Sage or Basil
These three bouquet ingredients are staples in the summer garden. They are all very easy to grow, fast to bloom, and the flowers come in such cheerful colors.
I would recommend starting with these cottage garden classics if you’ve never grown a cut flower garden before.
BONUS TIPS: Cut cosmos early before the petals fully open for the longest vase life. For zinnias, do the “wiggle test” to see if the flowers are mature.
Pink Romance
Cosmos + Dahlias + Oregano flowers or Queen Anne’s lace
This flower recipe is soft and romantic, like something out of an English cottage garden.
I absolutely love the floaty, delicate look of cosmos flowers with their wiry stems.
It’s hard to choose a favorite, but the pinks always get me.
Pair them with more grounded flowers like big zinnias or dahlias like I have here, and soften the whole arrangement with airy white flowers like oregano or Queen Anne’s lace.
Dainty and Sweet
Snapdragons + Orlaya or Tall Candytuft + Sage or Mint
Snapdragons, Candytuft, and Orlaya bloom together in my garden in late spring or early summer, depending on the weather. All three are known as cool flowers, or flowers that grow well in cool conditions. They are among the first in the cut flower garden to burst into bloom.
NOTE: Tall Candytuft, like what I have here, is hard to find. The seeds I had were mislabeled, and I lucked out on this variety. I thought I was planting a short pink type! If you want to try to grow it, be sure to get a tall variety like this one and not the short bedding version.
Same goes for snapdragons. Check the label or variety name to make sure it grows over 20″ tall.
Orlaya seeds are much easier to source. Try a variety like White Finch.
Sunset Shadows
Sunflowers + Rudbeckia + Heuchera flowers or any similarly wispy flower
I was actually going for a Gryffindor theme with this bouquet’s colors, and I ended up loving the rich, moody tones.
Try dark red sunflowers like Procut Red and rudbeckia like Cherry Brandy to get a similar vibe.
Rudbeckias look like mini sunflowers, so I think they play off each other nicely. I know it’s hard to see the sunflowers in the photo because they haven’t fully openedyet , but they are there in the lower half of the bouquet.
With all the dark-eyed, bold flowers, a lighter filler helps to balance things out. I used these floaty heuchera flowers from my ornamental garden, but flowering dill, oregano, mint, or basil would also work beautifully.
TIP: Some sunflowers can grow too big for a Mason jar. Plant single-stem varieties of sunflowers close together in the garden to keep flowers smaller, or grow branching types. They will bloom smaller and give you more stems.
Check your seed packet or do a quick search of your plant’s variety name for more info.
Finally, cut sunflowers before the petals fully open for longest vase life.
Scented Simplicity
Lavender flowers + Sage leaves + Basil leaves and flowers
This combo is as much for your nose as it is for your eyes, and it even tastes great!
Pick a little bouquet of these herbs to make a sweet smelling posy for your kitchen counter or bedside table.
Lavender lasts a long time in the vase, though you’ll need quite a few stems to fill up a whole jar.
It does smell amazing, so create this Mason jar bouquet if you need a little garden aromatherapy!
TIP: A dark-colored basil like Purple Petra or Deep Purple basil will play off the purple lavender really well!
Tips for Arranging Mason Jar Bouquets
- Stick with odd numbers of stems (1, 3, 5, 7). Odd numbers of stems tend to look more natural and balanced. If you’re using a large focal flower like a dahlia or sunflower, limit it to just one per jam jar so it doesn’t overwhelm the rest of the ingredients.
- Vary stem heights. Let tall, spiky flowers like snapdragons rise above the rest. Allow heavy flowers like sunflowers and zinnias rest closer to the rim of the jar. Fill in gaps with foliage and airy fillers like dill or ammi.
- Add something unexpected to these basic recipes. A sprig of herbs is always great to use and smells good, too. Wild grasses and weeds are fair game, as well. Don’t be afraid to get creative. A cluster of tomatoes, small peppers, or a stem of blackberries can add surprise and interesting texture. Wander around your yard and you may find just the thing to finish off your bouquet.
- Strip leaves below the water line. Always strip off any foliage that will sit in the water to prevent bacteria from building up. (Want more tips on making your flowers last longer? Check out this post!)
- Keep it simple. A jar of zinnias is just as beautiful as an elaborate arrangement with a dozen different ingredients!
- Stick to a color palette. I highly recommend choosing flowers for your Mason jar bouquets in a consistent color scheme, like all whites, pastels, shades of pink, or brights. Coordinating tones and colors will really make a bouquet look intentional, even if the arrangement is quick and casual.
Start Snipping Your Own Mason Jar Bouquets
Mason jar bouquets remind us that beauty doesn’t have to be fussy or complicated.
With just a few snips from the garden, you can create something joyful, fragrant, and totally your own.
Pick a combination to grow and arrange this season. You don’t need to grow it all, just a few flowers and fillers will do!
Whether you’re filling your home with blooms or sharing the love with others, I hope this post gives you the inspiration to start arranging.
Have a favorite flower recipe of your own? I’d love to hear about it—drop a comment below and share what you’re snipping this season!