Dried flowers are a long-lasting, low-maintenance source of color and beauty that you can use to create stunning cut flower arrangements. While fresh flower bouquets won’t last much longer than 10 days, dried arrangements can maintain their shape and color for over a year.
The key to a successful dried flower arrangement is choosing the right flowers. While most flowers bend or crumble after drying, certain species are known for holding their shape brilliantly.
Below, find the best flowers and filler plants for long-lasting dried arrangements, along with tips for drying, arranging, and preserving dried flowers.
Choosing Flowers for Drying
The best flowers for dried arrangements are those that maintain their shape and color after drying, without folding, crumbling, or fading. These tend to be flowers with low moisture content and sturdy petals.
Some flowers with large numbers of tightly-layered petals, such as strawflower, dry easily without falling apart. So do some species that form dense clusters of small flowers, such as statice and baby’s breath.
Many of the most popular flowers for dried arrangements are globe-shaped, such as gomphrena and giant ornamental onion. These spherical flowers maintain their robust shapes after drying. Flowers that form tall vertical spikes, such as Fernleaf lavender and plume celosia, are also good options.
Ferny, softly textured foliage and large, long-lasting bloom clusters have earned Achillea status as a classic choice for the perennial garden. The many varieties available offer a nice range of bloom colors and plant sizes to fit most any garden. Ideal choice for beds, borders, and cutting gardens. Makes a dependable mixed border plant. Cut flowers are long-lasting in fresh bouquets. Terrific plant for butterfly gardens.
Giant Ornamental Onion (Allium giganteum)
A fun and exceptionally showy perennial for the spring flower garden. Impressive, perfectly rounded clusters of purple flowers are held high above the foliage on tall, sturdy stems. Flower clusters are long-lasting and look good for around two to three weeks. Suitable for rock gardens and mixed borders either individually or grown in a clump of several bulbs. Excellent cut flowers for fresh or dried arrangements. Combines beautifully with small ornamental grasses.
Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila paniculata)
Baby’s breath is familiar to many as a result of its popularity as a “filler” in cut floral arrangements. Countless tiny blossoms seem to float amidst a delicate tangle of stems. Lends a light, airy appearance to the garden and fills in space among more substantial plants. An ideal choice for beds and borders. Excellent cut flowers for fresh or dried arrangements.
Grandiflora Rose (Rosa hybrid)
Grandiflora roses are a cross between the hybrid tea roses and floribunda roses. This hybrid cross results in a plant that produces clusters of flowers, but with the larger blooms and more formal look of the hybrid tea roses. Grandiflora bushes are a bit more winter hardy than the hybrid tea roses as well. A classic favorite for landscape focal points. An excellent specimen, foundation, or border plant. Cut flowers are long-lasting in bouquets.
Globe Thistle (Echinops ritro)
A reliable solution for hot, windy locations where nothing else can grow. Globes of steel-blue flowers add a unique form and a touch of whimsy to the garden. Globe Thistle is a magnet for all sorts of pollinators and birds love the seeds. A must-have for a butterfly garden or garden designed to support wildlife. Ideal choice for beds, borders, and cutting gardens. Perfectly suited to informal, naturalized settings. Excellent cut flowers for fresh or dried arrangements. Birds enjoy the seeds!
Statice, Sea Lavender (Limonium perezii)
One of the best flowers for adding lasting color to hot, dry situations. Clusters of small papery flowers on sturdy stems bloom all summer long. Salt tolerant and deer resistant. Ideal choice for beds, borders, and cutting gardens. Nice for larger patio containers. Excellent cut flowers for fresh or dried arrangements.
Fernleaf lavender is a sprawling, aromatic species with attractive, feathery silver-green foliage. The leaves are superb for adding textural interest to mixed perennial beds and herb gardens. Use flowers for fresh or dried cut bouquets. A good choice for growing in containers on patios and decks. Butterflies and bees love this plant!
Gomphrena, Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena globosa)
A flower arranger’s delight! Tall stems of bright, globe-shaped blooms retain their color indefinitely. A fun plant to have in the garden or in patio containers because the flowers add such a novel shape. Exceptional for dry locations or poor soil conditions. Ideal choice for beds, borders, and cutting gardens.
Strawflower. Golden Everlasting (Bracteantha bracteata)
These easy-care Australian natives will carry the summer garden into autumn with no fuss at all. Long lasting, papery blooms in warm hues make strawflower an excellent addition to hot, sunny plantings. Perfectly sized for rock gardens and border fronts. Superb for baskets, containers and window boxes. Excellent cut flowers for fresh or dried arrangements.
Hydrangea macrophylla all have large, attractive leaves but vary in flower clusters. Some varieties have their blooms grouped in flat, lace-like arrangements earning them the alternate common name of Lacecap Hydrangea. Others of the macrophylla species are known as Mopheads for their more rounded flower clusters. Ideal for borders, hedges or foundation planting. Excellent for planting along fences and walls.
Plume Celosia (Celosia plumosa)
Celosia plumosa has flowers that are upright plumes. The delightfully bright, fluffy feathers of bloom bring vertical interest and long-lasting color to sunny plantings. Look for varieties with red or yellow foliage to heat up the display even more! A perfect choice for beds and borders, baskets, containers and window boxes. Excellent cut flowers for fresh or dried arrangements.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Yarrow brings soft texture and long lasting color to the perennial garden with a minimal care. The Achillea millefolium species includes many of the deep red, pink, and orange hued varieties. Regardless of color they all attract butterflies and admiring eyes. An ideal choice for beds, borders, and cutting gardens.
No results found.
Filler, Foliage Plants, and Grasses for Dried Arrangements
Just like with fresh bouquets, foliage plants and grasses can serve as filler to add volume, texture, and balance to dried arrangements.
The most popular foliage for dried arrangements are eucalyptus leaves, from the silver dollar gum (Eucalyptus polyanthemus) or Argyle apple (Eucalyptus cinera) trees. Foliage from these trees comes in tall stalks adorned with gorgeous, detailed green leaves. Eucalyptus dries and preserves well and forms a striking display all on its own. It also serves as a beautiful filler alongside other dried plants.
9 Shrubs and Ornamental Grasses that Work Well in Dried Bouquets
Hare’s Tail (Lagurus ovatus)
Ornamental grass grown for its furry soft, white oval “bunny tail” plumes atop light green, grass-like arching foliage. Also known as Rabbit Tail Grass and Bunny Tail Grass. It loves the sun and is heat and drought tolerant once established. Makes an excellent cut flower for fresh or dried arrangements. Most showy when planted in groups.
Northern Sea Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium)
One of the best native ornamental grasses. Valued for its ability to grow in shade. Seed clusters arch gracefully from atop the foliage and last into winter. Makes a dependable mixed border plant. Excellent cut flowers for fresh or dried arrangements. Provides dramatic color and form to autumn and winter landscapes.
Silver Dollar Plant, Argyle Apple (Eucalyptus cinerea)
This plant is familiar to many as a common addition to fresh or dried floral arrangements, wreaths and swags. The foliage is high in aromatic oils that release a refreshing fragrance in the garden or use the cut stems to enjoy the scent indoors. Grow as an annual shrub in regions with harsh winters. A good specimen, street tree, or planted as a border.
Quaking Grass (Briza media)
Quaking grass forms a neat tuft of medium-green foliage. It gets its name from the clusters of loose, brownish-purple flowers that seem to tremble in the lightest breeze. Dependable color and texture looks great all season. The perfect choice for beds and borders. Makes a dependable mixed border plant. Looks great in rock gardens. Excellent cut flowers for fresh or dried arrangements.
Pussy Willow, American Pussy Willow (Salix discolor)
Pussy willow is a hardy, fast growing shrub native to eastern North America. This is an excellent choice for consistently moist soils; near streams and ponds or poorly-drained, swampy locations. Pussy Willows are one of the first shrubs to bloom in the spring. Fluffy yellow blossoms are followed by fur-like catkins that resemble cat paws. Cut stems are an excellent, long-lasting addition to floral arrangements.
Chinese Lantern, Winter Cherry ‘Gigantea’ (Physalis alkekengi var. franchetii)
Although commonly called “Chinese Lanterns” this flower is native to subtropical regions throughout the Americas and Africa. The common name comes from the brilliant orange, papery pods that cover the developing fruits of the plant. They dangle from the branches like glowing Chinese lanterns. An excellent specimen, foundation, or border plant.
Red Twig Dogwood, Red Osier Dogwood ‘Sibirica’ (Cornus alba)
One of the best plants around for adding a touch of color to snowy winter landscapes, but this is a shrub with year-round appeal. White flower clusters in the spring are followed by dark berries that attract an array of birds. Autumn brings a flush of crimson foliage that eventually drops to reveal stunning red branches underneath. Ideal for specimen, foundations, and mass plantings. Beautiful when combined with evergreens in winter gardens.
Hardy Pampas Grass (Erianthus ravannae)
Pampas grass is a magnificent specimen plant with year-round appeal. The graceful mound of grassy foliage is topped with feathery silver-gray plumes in summer that will persist all the way through the winter. The stalks can be cut for use in dried arrangements indoors. Grasses add a wonderful element of movement to the landscape as the wind rustles through the wispy foliage. An excellent specimen plant or in the background of a mixed border.
Harry Lauder’s Walkingstick, Contorted Filbert ‘Contorta’ (Corylus avellana)
Contorted filbert’s uniquely twisted, corkscrew branches create an unsurpassed sculptural effect in the landscape. Long, pendulous catkins emerge in spring hanging like ornaments among the newly emerging foliage. Crinkly, deeply veined foliage adds texture in the summer and the leafless shrub is one of the best plants around for adding interest to the winter landscape. Also known as “Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick”.
No results found.
How to Dry Flowers
Air drying, or hang drying, is the best way to dry flowers for dried arrangements. This method involves drying an entire stalk (flowers and stem) without removing or pressing the flowers.
Follow these steps to air-dry flowers:
Gather flowers that dry well, such as the ones recommended above.
Cut the stems to the desired length and trim off any unwanted foliage.
Form a bundle and tie it up with string, floral wire, or a rubber band.
Hang the bundle upside-down in a room with low humidity and good ventilation.
Let the flowers dry for a few weeks, until they’re dry to the touch.
Tips for Arranging a Dried Bouquet
Arrange a dried bouquet similarly to how you would put together a fresh one. There’s no “wrong way” to arrange flowers, but if you want a classic look, consider combining these three elements:
Focal points: colorful, showy blooms that take center stage.
Height: the combination of taller and shorter plants to create layers.
Filler: foliage plants and dense flower heads that fill in the space to establish volume and balance.
For an even more technical approach, follow the 3-5-8 rule. This method involves arranging bouquets with three focal point flowers, five foliage stems, and eight smaller, complementary filler flowers.
Preserving Dried Flower Arrangements
Light, moisture, and dust contribute to the aging of dried flowers. Eventually, they will fade, become brittle, and fall apart. However, dried arrangements last much longer than fresh ones. Properly dried flowers can remain display-worthy for over a year.
To help preserve dried arrangements, keep them out of direct sunlight. If they become dusty, try no-contact cleaning methods. Gently blow off the dust with a compressed air can spray (from a proper distance) or a hair dryer.
More Ways to Use Dried Flowers
Only certain flowers are suitable for dried arrangements – ones that can hold their shape without collapsing or crumbling. However, there are other ways to use dried flowers, such as pressed flower art and all sorts of artistic crafts. These uses don’t require the flowers to maintain their original shape.
Show your unique sense of style and express your creativity through homegrown gourds! These step-by-step instructions describe how to dry decorative gourds for indoor and outdoor display.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.
0 Comments