Flower drying basics

As a general rule flowers should be collected just as they are coming into their prime and before they begin to fade (exceptions noted below). Cut when the plant is dry, with no dew or rain.

Tie stems with rubber band so that as moisture is released from the stems and they shrink, the band will tighten with them.

Hang flowers upside down in small bunches in a dry location for several weeks.

Perennial flowers for air-drying:

Achillea/ Yarrow (Yellow forms)

Delphinium Dianthus Paeonia/Peony Double Roses Beebalm/Monarda Sea Holly/Eryngium

Astilbe (collect as flowers fade – can be spray painted)

Allium, large flowering types (can be sprayed with metallic paint for holiday arrangements or to tuck in Christmas tree)

Hydrangea ‘Annabelle’ (harvest as they go into their second green phase)

Hydrangea paniculata (harvest as they go into their red/pink phase)

Lavender Annual flowers for air-drying: Ageratum Amaranthus Baby’s Breath/Gypsophelia

Celosia (plume and cockscomb)

Dusty Miller German Statice

Gomphrena/Helichrysum/ Strawflower

Ornamental peppers

Seedpods good for dried arrangements/bouquets:

Bittersweet (Native & cultivars only; Asian species is invasive)

Iris sibirica Smilax/ Carrionflower Baptisia/False Indigo Peonia/Peony Cassia/Wild Senna Penstemon ‘Dark Towers’ Hypericum /St. Johnswort

Ornamental Grasses (Miscanthus & Chasmanthium in particular)

Ostrich Fern fertile fronds (brown central stalks)

Nigella/Love in a Mist Poppy/Papaver Scabiosa Do not use: Teasel (invasive) Sources: Zannah Crowe, Johnson Gardens. Lisa Larsen, Sunborn Gardens