What flowers to dry - Part 2: A few tricky ones

What Flowers to Dry - Part 2: A Few Tricky Ones

In this group, you'll also find flowers that you might not think would dry well. These blooms will change dramatically in the drying process. Don't be put off though, this change can make them even more exciting to observe and work with. I describe some common examples below.

Dahlias (Dahlia pinnata):

• grow best in full sun and are a cut-and-come-again flower, meaning that when you cut them out, more blooms will grow in their place
• the varieties that dry best include pom poms and double blooms, such as the cactus dahlia
• they are very fleshy and contain a lot of moisture, which means they will take much longer to dry
• each individual stem needs to be dried on its own – if they are bunched together, they may not get the air circulation that they require
• they are easy to grow from seed, and flower from late summer to early autumn

There are a few things that can go wrong during the drying process with dahlias, so recognising these issues can help you work better with dahlias

• Dahlias are fussy flowers to dry and need optimum conditions, with absolutely no damp.
• Some dahlias will dry with a floppy head, which can make them difficult to work with.
• The back of the flower head can go mouldy due to the high moisture content of the flower, so ensure there is good airflow around your flower to help prevent this.
• Flowers in a display need to be kept in a dry environment without direct sunlight, as they will deteriorate much quicker than an everlasting.
• Single petals are very fragile and can be very difficult to dry.

Hellebores (Helleborus lividus):

• hellebores are one of the first flowers to appear in January and will last until April or May
• they come in shades of mauve, green, gold and dusky pink, making them perfect for more muted displays
• when harvesting, cut the stem right to the base of the plant
• the optimum time to cut hellebores is when the main flower is turning to seed, but be careful not to cut them too soon though or they will wilt
• hellebores need optimum conditions in order to dry well

Peonies (Paeonia):

• a favourite among fresh flower lovers for good reasons, but they make great dried flowers too, although they will look very different dried and can even be difficult to dry
• peonies are very fleshy flowers so they will take a long time to dry
• its best to cut them when they are in their prime or the petals will drop when drying, and hang them individually
• you can also dry the buds of the flowers too