Choosing the best flowers to dry in autumn and winter

Drying fresh flowers is often easier during the warmer months of the year. Apart from the heat helping out the drying process, you also have a wider selection to choose from. That said, the autumn and winter are not completely void of floral beauty.

As summer ends and autumn begins, it’s the perfect time to snag as many blooms as possible to enjoy over the colder months. Look around your garden or order some seasonal flowers from your local florist and dry them out before the weather gets too cold and they go out of season. Remember that some flowers should be hung upside down when dried and others needs to be dried in an upright position. Similarly, some flowers are not suitable for drying unless you plan on making potpourri. Great flowers for drying include roses, baby’s breath, and hydrangeas. On the other hand, tulips are really delicate which means that the petals are more likely to fall before or by the time the bloom dries.

During the winter, you might be more inclined to dry fruit and spices as opposed to fresh flowers. Some favourites include dried oranges, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise. Not only do they suit the season in terms of their appearance, but they also give your home that seasonal scent! When making your own Christmas potpourri, these scents will really bring those dried petals to life. When drying winter flowers, remember to add other colourful and textural aspects like sticks and berries.

It’s also good to keep in mind that dried flowers, berries, leaves, and other plant material will always change colour. They will usually darken in appearance and, although the colours are not that bright, this colour change certainly helps enhance that festive spirit.