What flowers to dry - Part 5: Grasses

What Flowers to Dry - Part 5: Grasses

In the UK, when we think of grass we usually picture a flat green lawn with just one variety of grass growing on it. But actually, if you let your lawn grow wild you'll discover that it's full of variety.

The best time to cut grasses for drying is midsummer to autumn. Also, with some grasses you will need to cut them while they are 'in the green' to stop them disintegrating as they dry.

To find new varieties, simply go for a walk in nature and see what you can spot. By choosing a few different types of grasses, you'll end up with a wide variety of textures and tones that will add movement to your work. I've listed a couple of great examples below.

Canary grass (Phalaris canariensis):

• cut it before it sets seed
• make sure it hasn't dried out before cutting

Quaking grass (Briza media and Briza maxima):

• has great movement and flow, bringing a natural look to arrangements
• it can be difficult to work with though as it can easily get tangled together