30 Best Flowers for Drying

By Matt‌ ‌Gibson‌

In the tardy downslope and wintertime month , when the sky gets hoary and the trees lose their color , when everything just seems drab and lifeless . During these times , it ’s a good estimate to clear up up your indoor spaces by making colored nosegay out of dry out bloom . Dried peak agreement are a budget favorable hobby that can work wonders for your modality . There is a vast raiment of industrial plant that are worthy for dry out , and many of them ironical exactly like they looked when they were alive , which make them perfect for display indried system .

Though this may be your first metre hearing about dried arrangements , the practice session of usingdried flowersin ornamental display is nothing Modern , and actually date back to ancient greek and roman tradition , where dried flowers were used in garland , and laurels and even pinned to clothing and fuzz .

best flowers and herbs to dry

As a universal rule , compositae flowers are not the unspoiled pick for dry out , though there are some exceptions . Compositae blossom include daisies , aster , and sunflower . The exceptions include some aster varieties , and teddy bear sunflowers . flush from the statice family be given to dry out very well , as do most herbaceous plant , away from St. Basil and dill . Flowers from the house Umbelliferae are typically not good picks for drying , aside from Queen Anne ’s Lace and Ammi Majus .

Tips for Drying and Harvesting Flowers

The good dried flowers come from healthy live flowers . pluck out the hefty flower in the garden for drying just before they hit growing . Gather the best looking flowers together in belittled or medium sizing bundles and tie the ends with a India rubber band . reach your megabucks in a cool , wry expanse with lots of air circulation and no unmediated sparkle . The flowers should be fully teetotal in about two weeks in most cases .

little flowers like pentzia or xeranthemum should be picked in bulk , as pick them individually and tying them by their root is a waste of time . Instead , pull them up straight from their rows , leaf and all , and hang them up with the bundles . Do n’t interest about removing leave-taking from the radical of your bundles . For efflorescence like yarrow and statice , take a few seconds to line up the heads when tying up their bundles to make the bundles seem more professional . Do n’t missour flower meanings dictionary .

African Daisy(Osteospermum)

African daisy have a monotonous bulb shape than even daisies , which make them better for pressings . Layer African daisies in rows between sheet of blotting paper and press them vapid by laying books or brick on top of them . African daisies that keep on their shape calculate good in wreaths and arrangements as well . The Soprano African daisy cultivar is a effective example of a heyday with a flatter medulla chassis . Learn more from our articleHow to Grow African Daisy Flowers .

African Marigold(Tagetes erecta)

African marigolds will actually dry out on the vine themselves , so wait until they are wry to harvest them and you do n’t have to worry about hanging them upside down after harvesting them . Just gather them in bundle to put in with the rest , or make them into arrangements right after harvest . Learn more from theCornell University profile on African marigold .

Amaranth(Amaranthus Cruentus)

Erect amaranth flower miscellanea can be dried vertically . Just place the stems into a chicken feed , or a container that stands them good and keep it in a dark , dry , cool location . For hang amaranth blossom , dry out them in bundle to roll out their stalk . To keep the curvature of hanging amaranth varieties , dry out them by place them over a curved surface instead of pay heed them in bundle . Learn more about upright amaranth flowers from our articleHow to mature Amaranthus Cruentus .

Anise Hyssop(Agastache foeniculum)

Anise Hyssop blossom can be dry in big money by hanging them upside down and keeping them in a cool , ironical location out of direct sunlight . instead , these flowers can be dry out quickly in the microwave by nuking them on high for one to three minutes . agree farewell for sobriety after each second and stop when the leaves have dried . get wind more from our articleHow to Grow Hyssop .

Baby’s Breath(Gypsophila)

When harvesting Baby ’s Breath flowers for dry , choose the stems that have only one-half of the flowers spread out while the repose are shut buds . Make a net cut on the stems while running them under tender water . Then make megabucks of five to seven prime stems each . marry them up by their bow with a rubber band or piece of drawing string and keep them in a cool , dark , dry location .

Learn more from our articleHow to produce Baby ’s Breath .

Bunny Tail Grass(Lagurus ovatus)

dry bunny rabbit tail grass is no different from drying most flowers . Cut the stems down to similar sizes , wed them into bundles and attend them upside down to dry for several week in a nerveless , dry , dark localisation . In addition to being dry out , however , bunny tail grass is often dyed as well , using simple food coloring as dye to add unusual colors to your dried transcription .

Learn more from theAmerican Meadows profile on bunny empennage gage .

Cockscomb(Celosia)

Cockscomb , or genus Celosia , is another flower that looks excellent when dry out , and is perfect for dry out flower placement . Cockscomb can be air dried in bundle , left hanging upside down in small groups of five to seven flowers per bundle , in a dark , dry , coolheaded location . The Dragon ’s Breath cultivar is particularly fine-looking when dry , as it ’s graphic , mysterious - red hue does n’t fade too much from the drying process . Learn more from our articleHow to Grow Celosia ( Cockscomb ) Flowers .

Cress(Lepidium sativum)

Though it is not really a flower , cress holds together really well when dried . Every upright corsage , whether dried or fresh , can profit from some special K to contribute as makeweight and to mix things up a biit . cress plant is double-dyed for this role . If you desire to grow more viridity that will help diversify your dried bouquets , seem into ornamental grasses , as there are multiple grasses that ironic looking refreshing and young , just like cress . see more from theUtah State University Extension ’s visibility on garden cress .

Coneflower(Echinacea)

Because of the flatter pattern of coneflower ’s lovely blooms , do not put them in bundles and pay heed upside down to dry them . or else , coneflowers should be dried by spreading them out , flowers , root word , leaves and all , on dry out blind in a dingy , coolheaded , well - ventilate area , like an attic or cellar . coneflower usually only take five to seven days to dry out in the proper environment as long as they are space out appropriately so that each peak is separated from its neighbour so that they do not reach or overlap . Learn more from our articleHow to Grow Echinacea ( Coneflowers ) .

Cornflower(Centaurea cyanus)

Due to their small size , cornflowers should be group together in megabucks of about 20 efflorescence . Hang the large bundles upside down to dry out in a glum , coolheaded , dry positioning that get skilful atmosphere circulation . Once they are dry , you have two option of how to use your dried cornflowers . Either use the full flowers in dry out arrangements , or despoil the petals off of each flowerhead to make a flower confetti , which can be used for medal , or as a colorful increase to DIY potpourri blends . Learn more from our articleHow to Grow Cornflower .

Eucalyptus(Eucalyptus globulus)

Eucalyptus is another great option for adding some green for filler to provide some dividing line to the colorful prime in your dry out arrangements . Eucalyptus will also sum up a nice minty aroma to your dried transcription . Eucalyptus should be air dried in bundles like most of your other dry out flowers and greens . connect together eucalyptus stems in bundles of five to ten stems per parcel .

Learn more from our articleHow to develop Eucalyptus Trees .

False Goat’s Beard(Astilbe)

Astilbe flowers are very easy to dry . Either hang up in packet upside down in a nerveless , ironical , disconsolate surroundings , or spread them out on racks or screens elevated off of the earth in a similar environment . Learn more from theAmerican Meadows profile on astilbe .

Floss Flower (Ageratum)

Also do it as the floss flower , ageratum ’s pom pommy - shaped blooms look great in dried arrangements . Ageratum flush are unremarkably lavender or blue , but you could also regain blooms in white , pink , and red shades . The Stellar low cultivar is peculiarly well - suited to drying .

Learn more in our articleHow to Grow Ageratum ( Floss Flower ) .

Globe Amaranth(Gomphrena globosa)

To reach the well event when dry out out your globe amaranth flowers for dried arrangements , cut back the blossom just after the blossom are whole receptive . Before bundling world amaranth peak for dry out , strip the leaves off of each stem , then grouping the stems together in bundles of ten to twelve flowers each .

study more in our articleHow to Grow Globe Amaranth .

Globe Thistle(Echinops)

For the best results when drying globe thistle flowers for dried arrangements , cut your earth thistle stems right after the morning dew vaporize , and just prior to the plant life ’s blossom reaching full matureness . Take your cuttings early when drying globe thistle , as they will continue to make grow and spread up after being rationalize . Dry orb thistles like most flowers , their stems tied up together and hung in modest to average sized bundles of about five to seven flowers per parcel . find out more fromCornell University ’s profile on globe thistle .

Herbs

All kinds of herbs are perfect candidates for drying . Not only do herbs make a beautiful and redolent accession to dry out heyday arrangement , you’re able to dry them as a mean of preserving their flavor to apply in the kitchen . fix your own dried herbaceous plant with homegrown plants ensure you ’re getting a much fresher product than you would from the spice stand at the grocery store — and you know exactly what ’s sound into raising the plant every dance step of the way . Learn more in our articleHow to Dry Herbs from the Garden .

Hydrangea(Hydrangea macrophylla)

Drying Hydrangea flowers is a bit dissimilar from the normal process to dry out most flower types . Most flowers are turn off once they reach peak color on the vine , but it ’s important to let hydrangeas dry out more before cut back their stems . As hydrangeas dry out a turn , their colors switch , picking up junior-grade colours , Oakleaf cultivars like Tara , adopt hint of precious coral or surface , while big - folio hydrangea add hints of purple , aqua , or burgundy to their already splendid blooms . Once the people of colour budge and the petals go to become more stiff and unannealed , relegate out the scissors .

Cut hydrangea stem at an slant , ingest between one fundament and 18 inches of stem , along with the flowerheads . Strip the leaves and submerge the cuttings in freshwater . Next , coif your hydrangea cuttings in a vase with refreshed water to finish the dry out mental process , allow the bottom three inches of stem to be inundate under the water line . Do not overcrowd the vase , as hydrangea need good aura circulation to dry correctly . supersede water when it vaporise and allow two weeks for flowers to fully dry . Once petals are stiff and dry and stems are soft to snap , your dry out hydrangeas are ready to use in dried arrangement , garland , and more . instruct more in our articleHow to farm Hydrangeas .

Honesty/Money Plant(Lunaria)

Honesty is a gorgeous plant , and its cluster of purple flower make a outstanding improver to any dried flower organization . They have a “ prairie ” or wild flower look that lend a lot of charm to your arrangements . However , the heyday are just one thing that makes honesty a perfect plant for drying . One of the plant ’s common name is “ money flora ” because of its silvery , coin - shaped seed pods . After the bloom have pass , get the industrial plant go to seed and bring out these crinkly , metallic round seed pods . The branches of the plant life that nurse the papery seeds bring lots of textural interest to dried bloom arrangements . Learn more in our articleHow to Grow Honesty Flowers ( Lunaria annua ) .

Larkspur(Delphinium)

The beautiful , vibrant downhearted spires of larkspur blossoms make a great summation to cut flower agreement , whether they ’re fresh or dry out . The Guardian Lavender diversity is most urge for those who are growing larkspur for use in dry placement . Use string or a safe band to securely bundle six to eight stalks of larkspur together . Then hang the flowers upside down in a dark , dry room that offers plenty of ventilation . Within about two weeks , the flowers will have dried totally and will be quick to expend in arrangements . Learn more in our articleHow to Grow Larkspur Flowers .

Lavender(Lavandula)

Lavender is a perfect component for a dry out flower garden . The tall husk topped in spires of amethyst blooms look so cute stay out of blossom arrangement . But arrangements are n’t the only direction to use dry lavender . Because the plant retain its odor when dry out , you could also use it in potpourri , sachet , and bath and physical structure products once you ’ve dry your harvest . memorize more in our articleHow to Plant and Harvest Lavender .

Love-In-A-Mist(Nigella damascena)

The real star of love - in - a - mist is n’t the blooms . Instead , people who bonk order flower value passion - in - a - mist for its feathery , fernlike leafage and and the spiny cum pod the plants produce . you could dry the flower , of track , or hold back for the flora to grow seed pods and dry out those , too . Cut the flowers , leaving long stems , or dress still hunt with come seedpod when the pods are still somewhat novel and have some verdure to them . bind a bundle of six to eight together , and hang them upside down to dry in a sinister location with scurvy humidness and wad of ventilation . take more from theUniversity of Wisconsin - Madison Division of Extension ’s visibility on dearest - in - a - Mist .

Pompon Dahlias(Dahlia pompon)

Pompon dahlia dry better than other eccentric of dahlias , so if you recognize you ’ll be using your flowers in dried arrangements , it makes sensation to choose to farm the pompon variety . Dahlias also wrench out better when dry out with a desiccant than when they are simply left hanging upside down to dry .

Silica gel is the recommend desiccant to use for dry out pompon dahlia . You simply prepare a fictile container with an inch of silica gel crystals , using a container with a sealable , airtight chapeau . Place the flower on top of the one - inch bottom of silica gel crystals , arrange them so that no part of any flower is touching another or touching the container itself . Then practice the scoop that is provided with the silica gel to carefully lay to rest the blooms in the crystal . Work slowly so the flower does not become squashed or distort as you bury it . Once the salad days are swallow , seal off the container , and the flowers will dry within two to seven day . take more in our articleHow to turn Dahlias .

Poppy (Seed heads)

poppy are so unique and dramatic in the garden that they make a born accession to dried agreement . The best types of poppies to dry are breadseed poppy — also called rale poppies—(Papaver somniferum),and Shirley poppies(Papaver rhoeas ) . In addition to drying the blooms , poppy also have attractive seeded player pods that can be dried for a completely different look than the flush . You ’ll see these in florist shops or craft entrepot labeled as “ poppy pod . ” The rotary , rattly seedcase sit atop long stems and make good plus to wild flower - elan arrangements , or they can even be used on their own for a more sculptural feel .

pick up more in our article onHow to Grow poppy .

Queen Anne’s Lace(Ammi majus)

Queen Anne ’s lace is a classic gain in all kinds of blossom arrangement , both fresh and dry out . The round bunch of snowy blooms execute a role standardized to babe ’s intimation , fill in between ground leaf and the featured blooms with a foamy clean spray . These blossom are especially effective for a way to quickly broaden the texture of an arrangement .

Choose heyday to shorten for drying that are either in the middle of their prime of life or about to strain their prime . Remove the leaves from Queen Anne ’s lacing heyday before you dry them , as they do not dry out successfully , and prove to absent them once the heyday has been dried can cause damage that you could avoid by stripping the leaves before starting the drying mental process . you could dry Queen Anne ’s lace hanging upside down in bundles of two or three blooms for two to three weeks , or for faster drying , place the prepared cut flowers in a composition board boxful and fill the boxful with a compounding of adequate helping white cornmeal and borax , address the blooms . con more from theNorth Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox visibility on Queen Anne ’s Lace .

Rose (Cream Veranda Rose cultivar)(Rosa ‘Cream Veranda’)

All variety of rose are beautiful in dry arranging , but the Cream Veranda diversity seems to have been made for them . The blooms measure between two and two and a one-half inches across , and each one is pile and piled with so many petal it looks as if several rose blossoms have constellate together to make one telling bloom . The Cream Veranda rose looks more like a luscious , petal - hard paeony than it does a rose . The creamy pale pink of the efflorescence also work well in dried arrangements , whether it ’s adding contrast with more vibrant colors or being combine with other pallid shade for a cloudy , dreamlike arrangement .

you’re able to air - dry these roses by first removing all leaves from the stems , then bunching a few together , tying to batten down the bunch at the bottom with drawstring or string so the blooms fan out at the top . Hang the crowd upside down from the twine for two or three week until they have dry out completely . Using a desiccant like silica gel is recommend over air drying for turgid blooms like roses , as the shriveling that go on when flower are zephyr - dried will be reduce and the roses will retain their shape better . Use an airtight plastic container , and add together an inch of silica gel crystals before placing your peak inside . coiffe the flowers cautiously so they do not bear upon the edges of the container or one another . Then apply the scoop shovel that came with your silica gel to slow comprehend the blooms and stems totally with the silica gel vitreous silica . Be deliberate not to permit the crystal weigh down the roses or otherwise get them to be misshapen . Once they are buried in the silica gel , varnish the container shut , and the roses will have dry out in two to seven days . take more in our article onHow to arise rosebush .

Rose Buds(Rosa)

The buds of all types of roses can be trim from the plant and dried while they ’re still unripened and included in your dried arrangements . They add something special to dried arrangements that include fully unfold rosebush , or you may utilize them on their own for smaller projects like boutonnieres where an open rose efflorescence would be consuming . you’re able to increase the optical interest in your arrangement by cutting buds in all unlike stages of outgrowth to dry , from tightly closed bud that have just appeared to those starting to unroll their petal that would be opened in a thing of day if leave on the bush .

you may dry rosebud by spreading them out on the racks of a dehydrating machine if you are n’t including long stems with the bud . you could also dry out them by tying twine or twine around each stem individually and hanging them upside down in a spot that stick dark and dry and has good ventilation system . memorize more in our article onHow to Grow Roses .

Sea Holly/Alpine Thistle(Eryngium)

Sea holly ’s unusual color and shape make it a natural choice for dried flower arrangement . The thistle - corresponding blooms come in powdery blues that dry to a blue - grayish color . The architectural , geometric flesh of the sea holly book up well when dry out , with notched - edge flower petal sticking out from behind every thistle - like rosiness . Mix sea holly with other bluish and regal flowers , and add some silvery gray or snowy leaf as demarcation .

cut down the flush you want to dry out in the morning before the flowers have open up completely . Make bundles of eight to 10 flowers each , and tie them together at the end with a twist tie or arctic circle . get them dry upside down in a spot that is dark and ironic with plenty of ventilation . Find out more in our articleHow to Grow Sea Holly ( Eryngium ) blossom .

Silvermound/Wormwood(Artemisia schmidtiana)

The silvermound industrial plant is smaller than many that get used in trimmed arrangement , growing to just a pes or so tall and spreading to a foot and a half wide or less . However , it ’s used in sweet and dried arrangements so ofttimes because the eloquent - gray feathery foliage makes such a beautiful contrast to the green foliage of other plants and their vibrant blush . Silvermound prime in August , but the chickenhearted peak are belittled and are not unremarkably included in arrangements like the foliage of the plant is .

Cut the sprigs you want to dry in previous August , then remove any unattractive or deadened foliage from the bottom of the stems before drying upside down in a dismal , dry patch with good respiration . Learn more from theOhio State University Horticulture in Visual Perspective ’s visibility on silvermound .

Statice/Sea Lavenders(Limonium)

marsh rosemary flowers develop clouds of tiny bloom in shades from a heathery down - purple through lavender and violet on to indigo . The industrial plant is resistive to cervid and is often used in arrangements because the flowers are long - live both on the plant and once dried . The stems are also well suited to dry transcription , as they ’re uncompromising and support the blooms well .

Cut statice for arrangements when the heyday have open to about three quarter of their eventual fullness , leave a stem of 12 to 18 inches . The flowers will continue open their efflorescence as they dry . Be sure to disrobe any foliation or protruding halt from the lower part of the flowers you cut before drying them so they ’ll fit into your organisation nicely . Hanging upside down in a dry , sorry room that provides breathing , the flowers will have dry in seven to 10 days . Find out more in our articleHow to Grow Statice .

Strawflower (Sundaze Blaze cultivar)

Strawflowers have a crisp , paperlike petal grain that bring itself perfectly to dried flower musical arrangement . The flowers model grandiloquent atop the fragile root word and are just backpack with petals . Strawflowers come in an raiment of color all along the spectrum from yellowish and orange to blench pink through magenta and crimson . These efflorescence really have a wild prairie feel about them , and arrangements or wreaths of dried strawflowers are a great way to add some farmhouse vogue to your home . find out out more in thestrawflower profile from Missouri Botanical Garden .

Drying and displaying your flowers is a cracking manner to get the most out of your horticulture efforts . dry out flower arrangements are a lovely way to brighten up a dull space during the fall and wintertime when there is a deficiency of vividness both alfresco and in . Instead of pull up up your annual efflorescence from the beds each twelvemonth and tossing them into the compost , get a bit more enjoyment out of their front by bringing them indoors to decorate your home .