What flowers to dry - Part 3: Perennials

What Flowers to Dry - Part 3: Perennials

The perennials I describe below are all very common, and it's likely you'll be able to find them in your own garden or a friend's.

They're all quite easy to dry too, but you won't be able to cut them as often as the cut-and-come-again annuals. They're especially great for bringing texture, shape and colour into your displays.

Great Burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis):

• grow up to 1.2 metres in height
• you can cut as much stem length as you want, which makes them ideal if you wish to add height to your display
• they look great in bouquets or standing alone in a vase
• to dry, pop in a vase with a little bit of water and in an upright position, and you should see the heads will droop slightly, creating unique shapes – alternatively, you can hang them to dry them straight

Astrantia (Astrantia major):

• flower from late spring through to summer
• they are cut and come again, but are slow growing
• they look great in bridal displays, particularly buttonholes and flower crowns
• its best to pick them when the main flower is beginning to set seed, this will help to maintain the stem's structure

Oregano 'Kent Beauty' (Origanum 'Kent Beauty'):

• cut the whole stem, including the leaves
• they are good for use in delicate displays, like a flower crown or wreath
• the plant benefits from being cut back in the autumn

Daisy Family (Asteraceae):

• varieties that work particularly well include rudbeckia, echinacea and ox-eye daisy
• they shrink a lot during the drying process, particularly the petals
• you can dry rudbeckia and other daisies in a vase with a little bit of water, which will help the petals to dry in an open position

Oregano (Origanum vulgare):

• let it bloom and you'll get tall spire-like stems with clusters of flowers, which can then be cut and dried

Catmint (Nepeta cataria):

• grows abundantly and smells lovely, even when dry
• grows very tall