The best flowers for dried flower arrangements
Creating the perfect dried flower arrangement depends largely on your flower selection. If you choose flowers that are not really suited for drying, then you’re bound to be disappointed. The fact of the matter is that some flowers are tough enough to hold their shape once dried while others will simply fall apart.
Flowers that are part of the compositae family, asters, daisies, and sunflowers do not usually dry well. They might work well as pressed flowers but the nature of their petals and the way the petals are arranged make them unsuitable for dried flower arrangements. The petals generally fall off sooner rather than later making for a less than attractive sight. Some asters and Teddy Bear Sunflowers can be used in dried bouquets. As with most things in life, there are exceptions to the rules and these are two examples.
Flowers that are part of the Statice family and most herbs will also dry quite well. There are, however, some herbs that don’t do well when dried and these include dill and basil. These plants tend to wilt and their leaves don’t look good at all even if dried.
Remember that the better the quality of your flowers when they are fresh, the better dried flowers they will make. Damaged or less than perfect fresh flowers will not be as attractive when dried for obvious reasons. It’s also good to note that there are different methods of drying flowers and different methods work best for different types of flowers. In most cases, your hardy blooms will do well when hung upside down. Hanging them upside down ensures that the flowers maintain their shape while drying.
Flowers that can be hung dried include:
- Amaranthus
- Delphinium
- Marigolds
- Baby’s Breath
- Carnations
- Hydrangeas (take special care with these)
- Roses
- Yarrow
Bells of Ireland can be dried but it’s best to use the glycerine drying method in order to ensure that they don’t fall apart and they hold their shape once dried. Peonies can be dried upright. This helps them open up more while drying for a more eye-catching appearance once dried. Some petals may fall while drying in this way. You can catch any falling petals and use them for potpourri.
Another important point to remember whenever drying flowers is to ensure that they are in a dry environment, out of the sun, and that there are no strong breezes. Just one gust of wind can destroy an entire bunch of drying blooms. It’s also good to display your dried flower arrangement in similar conditions. If you expose your dried flowers to direct sunlight, it can cause the colour of the petals to fade significantly. You can expect the colours of dried flowers to differ from those of fresh flowers but they should never be completely dull. Your dried bouquet may gather dust from time to time. Clean your dried bouquet with care and, if you ever need to store your dried bouquet, you should do so in a dry, dark place and inside an airtight container.