Flower Picking

New for 2026 — Pick your own flowers near Charlotte at Carrigan Farms. We’re opening a brand new flower field, and it is going to be gorgeous.

Walk rows of towering sunflowers, jewel-toned zinnias, feathery celosia, bold marigolds and cascading amaranth. Clip your favorites and take home an armload of color. Three seasons of blooms — spring through first frost — on a 5th-generation family farm in Mooresville, NC, just 30 minutes north of Charlotte.

This isn’t a garden center. This is a working farm field, wide open sky overhead, dirt under your feet, and more flowers than you can fit in your arms. Bring your people. Take your time. Leave with something beautiful.

Spring: Snapdragons

April – May

The season opens with colorful snapdragons — tall, elegant spikes covered in ruffled blooms that open from the bottom up. The waist-high stems have dense flower clusters in a full spectrum of spring colors: soft pinks, buttery yellows, fiery oranges, deep reds, and creamy whites. Snapdragons are the first flowers of the season, blooming April through May.

Snapdragons are a cool-weather flower. They thrive in the mild days of a Carolina spring and fade when summer heat arrives, which makes them fleeting and worth the trip and spring is the perfect time to pick your own flowers before the summer rush.

The snapdragons are planted right alongside our strawberry fields — so if you’re coming out for strawberry picking in April or May, the flower field is steps away. Grab a basket of berries and a handful of snapdragons in the same trip. It’s the ultimate spring morning at the farm.

Spring pricing and hours announced soon. Check back or follow us on social media for updates.

Pick Your Own Flowers: Summer & Fall

Starting in mid-June, the summer pick-your-own flower field explodes. Located in the center of the farm, and accessed via the West entrance, rows upon rows of zinnias, sunflowers, cosmos, celosia, amaranth, marigold, gomphrena, and asters await — hundreds of thousands of blooms in every color the Carolina sun can coax out of the soil. Whether it’s your first time or your fifth, there’s no better place to pick your own flowers near Charlotte.

Here’s how it works: select and reserve a date and time using the link above. When you arrive, fill your cup. We provide the souvenir cups and cutting shears. Walk the field at your own pace, cut what catches your eye and fill your cup to overflowing.

The field changes every week as new varieties peak and fade. No two visits look the same. Early summer features bold zinnias, bright marigolds, and airy cosmos. Midsummer the sunflowers tower overhead. By August the celosia plumes are electric and the amaranth is draping like velvet curtains. Come once, come every month — there’s always something new reaching for the light.

Summer (June – August)

The flower field is located at the back of the farm. Enter at the west entrance.

There are four time slots per day to choose from 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 5:30 PM and 6:30 PM.

Evening sessions are golden hour — the light through the flower field is unreal. Bring your camera.

Fall (September – October)

The flower field moves to the front of the farm. Enter at the market.

Sessions: On the hour from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Evening sessions are golden hour — the light through the flower field is unreal. Bring your camera.

What Flowers Can You Pick?

We grow over 20 varieties across nine types of flowers. Here’s what you’ll find when you pick your own flowers at Carrigan Farms.

Zinnias

The undisputed queen of the summer flower field. Our zinnias produce massive dahlia-shaped blooms up to six inches across — densely layered petals in deep red, burnt orange, coral, lime green, wine, purple, bright pink, salmon, golden yellow, and white. We also grow specialty varieties with cactus-shaped blooms in muted desert tones of peach, buff, and gold, and two-toned vintage beauties with contrasting centers in apricot, butter yellow, and coral. In the language of flowers, zinnias mean lasting affection — thinking of a friend who isn’t here. Read more about flower meanings. Vase life: 7–10 days.

Sunflowers

Nothing says summer like walking into a wall of sunflowers taller than you are. Our field includes towering giants that stretch well overhead — the kind that make you feel small in the best way — alongside a pollenless rainbow mix of branching sunflowers in warm golds, rich burgundies, bronzy coppers, and classic yellows at varying heights from three to six feet. No pollen means no mess on your clothes or your table. In Greek mythology, the sunflower was a nymph who loved the sun god so much she became a flower, forever turning to face the light. Read more about flower meanings. Vase life: 7–12 days.

Cosmos

Light, airy, and romantic. Our cosmos produce ruffled, fully double blooms that look like tissue-paper roses floating on delicate stems. They move in the breeze, catch the light, and add softness and motion to any arrangement. Colors range from pure white to shell pink to deep crimson. The perfect filler flower — but beautiful enough to stand alone. Spanish priests named them cosmos — Greek for “ordered universe” — because the evenly spaced petals seemed to reflect divine harmony. Read more about flower meanings. Vase life: 5–7 days.

Celosia

The texture flower: tall feathery plumes that shimmer with an iridescent sheen in pastels of pink, peach, gold, and lime plus bold tones in hot orange, salmon, red, and pink; and crested varieties that look like something from a coral reef — vivid, ruffled, and utterly unique. Celosia dries beautifully if you want flowers that last for months. The name means “burning” in Greek. In West Africa, celosia is a food crop and symbol of vitality. In Victorian England, it meant “don’t be so serious.” Read more about flower meanings. Fresh: 10–14 days. Dried: indefinitely.

Amaranth

Drama in flower form. Our deep purple and soft pink amaranth produce long, cascading rope-like tassels of deep crimson that drape a foot or more — they spill over the edge of a vase like liquid velvet. These are statement flowers — one stem changes an entire arrangement. The word amaranth means “unfading” in Greek — sacred to the gods of Olympus and to the Aztecs, who cultivated it for 8,000 years. Read more about flower meanings. Vase life: 7–10 days.

Gomphrena

Small, round, jewel-like blooms on slender stems in rich pinks, reds, purples and oranges. Gomphrena is one of the best flowers for drying — the color holds almost perfectly. Tuck a few in with your zinnias for an accent that ties everything together. Gomphrena symbolizes unchanging love — because the blooms hold their color perfectly, even months after drying. Read more about flower meanings. Fresh: 7–10 days. Dried: months.

China Asters

Fluffy, fully double pompom blooms in mixed colors — lavender, purple, pink, rose, and white. China asters bring a different shape and texture to your cup that you won’t find in the zinnias and sunflowers. They look like they belong in a painting. In Victorian flower language, asters meant “I will think of you” — the flower of afterthought and quiet reflection. Read more about flower meanings. Vase life: 5–7 days.

Marigolds

Bold, fully double pom-pom blooms on tall, sturdy stems — classic African marigolds in saturated orange, golden yellow, and deep burnt orange. The flower heads average two to four inches across and are densely packed with ruffled petals. These are the flowers that look like they’re made of crepe paper — tight, round, and impossibly full. They’re prolific producers, so the rows stay loaded all season. Marigolds also happen to be edible — the petals taste faintly of citrus and spice. In Mexico, marigold petals are scattered on Día de los Muertos to guide the spirits of the dead home. In Hindu culture, they symbolize the sun and appear in nearly every ceremony. Read more about flower meanings. Vase life: 7–10 days.

Snapdragons (Spring Only)

Tall, stately spikes covered in ruffled blooms that open from bottom to top. Dense flower towers in the full spectrum of spring color. Available April and May only — once the heat arrives, the snapdragons bow out and the summer flowers take the stage. In medieval Europe, snapdragons were believed to ward off evil. Squeeze the bloom and the dragon’s mouth opens — kids have been doing it for centuries. Read more about flower meanings. Vase life: 7–10 days.

How It Works:

Pick your own flowers at your own pace — no rush, no limits on variety.

1. Reserve ahead. Select your date and time online and reserve your spot.
2. Arrive and check in. Pick up your souvenir cup at check-in during your scheduled session time.
3. Grab your tools. We provide pruners and a water station to get your cup started. Fill your cup about a third full of water before you head into the field.
4. Walk the rows. Take your time. Every row is different. Cut what you love — zinnias here, a sunflower there, some celosia for texture, a stem of amaranth for drama.
5. Fill your cup. Stuff it full. Pile it high. We won’t judge.
6. Return the pruners. The cup is yours to keep.

Pro tip: The morning sessions have the freshest blooms and the coolest temps. The evening sessions have the best light for photos. Pick your priority.

Making Your Flowers Last

You just picked your own flowers and carried home an armload. Here’s how to keep them looking incredible for as long as possible.

In the Field

Cut stems at an angle — a diagonal cut gives the stem more surface area to drink water. Cut them longer than you think you need. You can always trim at home, but you can’t add length back. Choose blooms that are just opening or recently opened — tight buds may not open once cut, and fully blown flowers won’t last as long.

On the Drive Home

Keep your cup upright and out of direct sun. If it’s a hot day, get them inside to water as quickly as you can. Flowers start losing moisture the moment they’re cut.

At Home

Strip any leaves that would sit below the waterline — submerged leaves rot and breed bacteria that shorten vase life. Re-cut the stems at an angle under running water. Use a clean vase with cool, fresh water. Add flower food if you have it (we sell packets in the farm store).

Ongoing Care

Change the water every two days. Each time you change the water, re-trim the stems by a quarter inch. Keep the vase out of direct sunlight and away from fruit — ripening fruit releases ethylene gas, which makes flowers wilt faster. Remove any blooms that fade before the others to keep bacteria from spreading.

Want Flowers That Last Forever?

Celosia, gomphrena, and amaranth all dry beautifully. Hang them upside down in a cool, dark, well-ventilated spot for two weeks. The colors fade only slightly, and the blooms will last for months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a reservation?
For snapdragons in conjunction with strawberry season, no reservations are needed.  For summer and fall flowers, use the reservation link above to schedule your visit.

Can I bring my own container?
The cup is part of the experience (and the price), so please don’t bring containers from home.

Can I bring my dog?
No — the flower field is not open to pets.

What if it rains?
Sessions may be canceled due to weather. Check our social media or call before heading out if the forecast looks iffy.

What should I wear?
Comfortable shoes you don’t mind getting dirty. The field is grass and soil, not pavement. Sunscreen and a hat are smart — there’s no shade in the flower field.

Can I take photos in the field?
Absolutely. The flower field is incredibly photogenic. Snap away. Professional photography sessions require advance booking — contact us for details.

How long does a session last?
Most people spend 30–45 minutes in the field. There’s no hard time limit, but the flowers are happiest when they get into water quickly after cutting.

Are there other things to do while I’m here?
And if you loved picking your own flowers, check back — the field changes every week. Depending on the season, the farm is full of activities like strawberry picking (spring), open swim at the quarry (summer), apple picking and pumpkin picking (fall), and the Scarrigan Farms haunted trail (October) . Check our seasonal calendar for what’s open.

Ready to pick your own flowers? Reserve your session using the link above and we’ll see you in the field.

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Strawberry picking begins in mid-April. Open swim begins in late May and is available all summer. Apple picking begins in September. The pumpkin patch and haunted trail are open in October and we are currently taking reservations for weddings, company picnics and private events.