Dried flowers are well and truly back in fashion, bringing with them a wonderfully nostalgic, natural beauty. They bridge the gap between garden and home, letting you enjoy your favourite flowers long after their season has passed.
A brief history of dried flowers
For some gardeners, dried flowers bring a smile of recognition from the 1970s. Back then, nearly every home had a vase of ‘everlastings’ in pride of place. There were also bunches of coloured statice and straw flowers hanging to dry above the Rayburn from late summer onwards.
Now, fifty years later, a new generation has discovered the charm of dried flowers. They love the airy seed heads and home-grown sustainability of dried flowers. In addition, they want to avoid imported, unsustainably grown cut flowers produced out of season.
This month is the ideal time to plan next year’s cut flowers for borders. Seed catalogues are landing on doormats, and seed companies are publishing next year’s offerings online. Perennial nurseries should still have winter-dormant plants for sale. At the same time, you can let your imagination run free as you plan your dried flowers. Envision a kaleidoscope of summery colours hanging to dry in your house or shed next autumn.
The key to a gorgeous, dried flower arrangement is careful plant choice. Choose plants whose flowers either retain their colour or fade beautifully as they dry. They should also hold their shape and structure after drying. So, below is a selection of some of the best plants for drying.
Best plants for drying
Statice (Limonium sinuatum)
A classic, easy-to-grow and dry annual that retains its flower colours brilliantly, with colours staying stable for months. The papery flower petals range from purples and pinks to whites and yellows.
How to grow
- Sow from February to April with gentle heat.
- Plant out in full sun and well-drained soil.
- Pinch out young plants for bushier flowering.
Drying tip – Hang bunches upside-down in a warm, airy place before the flowers fully open.
Strawflower (Exerochrysum bracteatum)
Strawflowers are possibly the most reliable and vibrant of all dried flowers. Their petals feel like silk and dry like perfect paper. They last for ages and look freshly picked even months later. Colours range from shades of yellow and orange to deep red and light pink. They look fantastic woven into seasonal wreaths as well as in a vase.
How to grow
- Sow indoors from March, harden off and plant out after frost.
- They like plenty of sun and poor soil. Too rich or fertile a soil encourages floppy stems.
Drying tip – Cut as soon as the outer ‘petals’ start to open. The flower heads will continue to unfurl as they dry.
Honesty (Lunaria annua)
The papery, translucent, silvery seed pod discs need no special preservation techniques. Just strip off the outer cases to reveal shimmering, silvery membranes which look stunning in winter arrangements.
How to grow
- Sow May to July for flowers and seed pods the following spring/summer as honesty are biennials.
- Prefers part shade and is very easy to grow.
Drying tip – Cut stems when pods turn greeny-white and dry upright in a vase with no water.
Love-in-a-mist (Nigella damascena)
With these delightful, wispy-leaved annuals, it is the delicate seedpods you want to harvest, not the flowers. They add airy structure to any dried flower arrangement.
How to grow
- Direct-sow in March to May or again in August for earlier flowers the following year
- Grows best in full sun and will self-seed around the area, especially if grown in gravel, if a few seedpods are left on the plant.
Drying tip – Cut when pods turn pale and papery.
Globe thistle (Echinops ritro)
As their common name implies, the flower heads are a wonderful, architectural, round globe shape. They will dry a steely blue if cut before the flowers have fully opened.
How to grow
- Buy dormant bare root divisions in winter, or sow in spring.
- They love a sunny location and stony, well-drained soil.
Drying tip – Cut before flowers fully open to preserve the colour.
Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata and arborescens)
These classic shrubs produce masses of flower heads from late summer to late autumn. The overall shape depends upon the type being grown.
Paniculata produce cone-shaped flowers and are happy growing in full sun. Arborescens are generally covered in large, rounded flower heads, known as ‘mop heads,’ and prefer a part-shade aspect.
Macrophylla and serrata flowerheads tend to have a looser central cluster of flowers. They also have a lower-growing outer ring of what look like petals. These are classified as sterile florets and prefer to be grown in part shade.
How to grow
- These hardy shrubs can be planted any time of the year that the soil is workable.
- They prefer fertile, moisture-retentive, free-draining soil.
- Don’t over-fertilise as this can result in soft, floppy stems that might collapse when dried.
Grasses
The seed heads of many grasses are also great to dry. They look good massed together in one giant arrangement or added to other dried flowers. These do not need to be hung up to dry. They are best placed in a shaded, warm room to dry.
When to sow or buy for dried flowers
Annuals
Most classic dried-flower plants are annuals. Many are best sown indoors between February and April, or direct sown outdoors between April and May. For early flowers and sturdier stems, start in modules under cover.
Biennials & Perennials
These can be bought as young plants in spring or sown mid-summer for flowers the following year. December is a great time to order dormant perennials online.
Shrubs & Grasses
Container-grown plants can be bought at any time of the year. However, they should only be planted when the soil is workable. In the case of ornamental grasses, delay planting until the spring. Their roots do not cope well with excess winter wet.
December festive floral fun
Frosted Wreaths
Combine silver leaf artemisia, dried hydrangea flower heads, and silvery honesty seed heads. Add grass seed heads to create a soft, wintry wreath.
For rustic texture, add dried seedheads such as poppy and teasels.
A gentle dusting of eco-friendly mica powder gives a frosted finish.
Festive Table Posies
Make small, low decorations using strawflower blooms, nigella pods and dried helichrysum.
Add a few evergreen sprigs, such as yew, pine or rosemary, to bring fragrance without overwhelming the dried flowers.
Gift-Topper Bundles
Tie mini bunches of dried lavender, strawflowers or small grass seed heads onto wrapped presents using twine or ribbon. Choose small varieties such as ‘Bunny Tails’ (Lagurus ovatus) for a neat finish.
They are charming, compostable and far more personal than plastic bows.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1 – What are the best plants for dried flowers in my garden?
Great plants for dried flowers include statice, strawflower, honesty, love-in-a-mist, globe thistle, hydrangeas and ornamental grasses with attractive seed heads.
2 – When should I sow or buy plants for dried flowers?
Most dried-flower annuals are sown February to April indoors, or April to May outdoors. Biennials, perennials, shrubs and grasses are bought when soil is workable.
3 – How do I dry flowers and seed heads for arrangements?
Hang statice bunches upside-down in a warm, airy place. Alternatively, stand honesty and grass seed heads upright in a vase with no water.
4 – Why are dried flowers a good sustainable choice?
Dried flowers offer home-grown sustainability. They help gardeners avoid imported, unsustainably grown cut flowers that are produced out of season.
5 – How can I use dried flowers for Christmas decorations?
Use dried flowers in frosted wreaths, festive table posies and gift-topper bundles, combining hydrangea, honesty, strawflower, nigella, grasses and fragrant evergreens.
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