13 Fabulous Flowers for Drying
Don't be sad when bloom-time ends. Learn how to save your beautiful flowers forever.
Globe Thistle
Celosia 'Dragon's Breath'
Sundaze Blaze Strawflower
Strawflowers like Sundaze Blaze (Bracteantha or Xerochrysum) should be harvested before the centers of the flowers open, so there's enough moisture in the blooms to make them easy to handle. Cut the stems 12 to 15 inches long, and remove the leaves. Tie the stems together (a rubber band is good for this, as the stems tend to shrink when they dry), and hang them upside down in a dry, dark spot that gets good air circulation. They’ll be ready to use in 2 or 3 weeks.
Pansiolas
Dried, pressed violas or pansies are great for making cards, scrapbook pages or other crafts. Pick the fresh flowers early in the day and pinch off the stems just under the blossoms. Then layer them between paper towels or blotting paper and press them under some heavy books, or use a flower press. Check every couple of weeks to see if the blooms are dry enough to remove and use. Shown here: Anytime Pansiola 'Iris'.
Baby's Breath
Globe Amaranth 'Forest Pink'
African Daisy 'Soprano'
African daises like ‘Soprano’ are "flatter" and better for pressing than very full daises. Layer the flowers between sheets of blotting paper and let them dry under books or bricks for a week or two, or dry them in a box filled with desiccant. Use the pressed blooms in crafts or frames; dried daises that retain their shape are pretty in floral arrangements or wreaths.
Larkspur 'Guardian Lavender'
Ageratum 'Stellar Blue'
Also called floss flower, ageratum is an annual with pink, white, violet or blue blooms. Pressing the flowers flattens them and tends to make the colors fade, so dry them in a preservative (a desiccant) instead. Lengthen the short stems with floral wire, if desired. Then remove the foliage and put the flowers facedown in the desiccant for 2 or 3 weeks. Shown here: Ageratum 'Stellar Blue'.
Artemisia schmidtiana 'Silver Mound'
Most gardeners don't grow artemisia for its flowers, which are small and not at all showy. But the plants have attractive grayish-green to silvery foliage that's great for dried arrangements. Prune them in late summer and strip the leaves away from the stems. Hang the the stems upside down to dry in a well-ventilated, dark place. If you prefer, wait until the flowers appear before pruning. Artemisias make a good filler for arrangements, wreaths and swags. In the garden, the plants are stunning beside blue flowers. This variety is 'Silver Mound'.
'Cream Veranda' Rose
If you’re saving roses from a bouquet or the garden, use flowers that have just begun to open, and hang them upside down to dry. Another option: dry your roses in a container filled with desiccant. For flattened flowers, press the roses between layers of blotting paper or newspaper. Always make sure there’s good ventilation to discourage mold.
Hydrangeas
Lavender
Snip lavender stems after the morning dew has dried and hang them upside down, in bundles, in an airy, dark place. If you plan to use the buds in potpourris or crafts, gently use your fingers to take them off the stems, and let the buds dry on a flat surface
