Plants for Drying and Creating Dried Arrangements

Plants for Drying and Creating Dried Arrangements

For skilled gardeners, we can find annuals that have aesthetic uses even in their dried state. Are you wondering what to plant in your bed so it blooms beautifully and the plants provide additional benefits and visual pleasure for the rest of the year? Weave annuals suitable for drying into the plant composition you choose.

Strawflowers and Other Plants for Drying

• Strawflower is the most commonly grown plant for drying. Originally from Australia, it has spread throughout the world. In our conditions, we grow it as an annual, as it is sensitive to frost and low temperatures. Strawflowers are sown from mid-April in their designated location. Plants bloom later. If you need flowers faster, pre-grow them in a greenhouse or cold frame. At room temperature, seeds germinate in 10 days, then transplant the seedlings to the selected location in the bed. Strawflowers begin to bloom 6 weeks after planting. Harvest strawflower inflorescences for drying at full bloom. Mature strawflowers readily overgrow and their inflorescences become overblown.
• Statice - is an annual suitable for drying and beautifully complements strawflowers in dried arrangements. It grows to a height of 50-60 cm, blooms in yellow, blue, red, white. The color range is wide, useful even in funeral or ceremonial arrangements. It is a short-season annual that you can sow as early as February. It does not tolerate high heat. Water regularly. If it doesn't bloom, leave it without water for about 14 days, then water - it will bloom beautifully.
• Helichrysum - helichrysum in red and helichrysum in pink - is very similar to strawflower. It belongs to South African perennial plants. Like strawflower, it needs a sunny location for growing, protected from wind and well-drained soil.
• Amaranth - its origin is in the subtropical zone of America. For good growth, it needs warm, calcareous, well-nourished soil in a sunny location. Seeds planted in May will germinate within two weeks. Plant max. 6-10 seeds per 1m² of bed. Due to its more robust growth, you can help the plant with support. For a long time, Amaranth was considered a weed. It found its use precisely in dried arrangements. It is interesting and decorative. Harvest before the flowers go to seed. Dry without leaves in a ventilated room. Do not dry in direct sunlight.
• Nigella - comes from the Mediterranean, where it is considered both a weed and a spice. What's ornamental about nigella are not the flowers, but the fruits, which are colorful capsules. It's good to sow nigella in autumn. It germinates longer. After flowering, pull up entire plants with roots and dry before the seed pods completely dry out.
• Globe Amaranth - thrives better if you pre-grow it, but you can of course sow seeds directly in the bed. Plant in May in warmed soil. Globe amaranth was known in ancient India. Globe amaranth contains a lot of water, best dried in a hot air dryer.
• Delphinium - It prefers long, dry summers. It comes from Asian steppes. It's therefore better to let it germinate in autumn. If you sow in spring, start sowing early to see flowers. From June you can then harvest. Coat flowers with glycerin so they don't fall apart during drying.
• Echinops - was created by crossing about 150 years ago. Sow in March in a greenhouse. Transplant seedlings in May to sunny locations with well-drained soil. Dry in a dark room stripped of leaves.

Ornamental Grasses for Drying

• Grasses are a decoration and necessary complement to every flowerbed. They have beautiful green or silvery leaves. Shiny. They can be used in every bouquet even freshly cut. When planting grasses, make sure the flowerbed is well loosened to a depth of at least 30 cm. Work a thick layer of compost into the soil. Sow tall grasses in the back part of the flowerbed. Taller grasses can also be grown as a solitary plant at the edge of the flowerbed, by the path.
• Blue fescue (lat. Festuca gautieri) - is a tufted grass with stiff leaves. Evergreen, grows to a height of 10 cm. Blooms from June to July. After the flowers fade, you can trim the grass completely.
• Bunny tail grass (lat. Lagurus ovatus) - also called hare's tail. Grows to a height of 4-50 cm. It originates from the Mediterranean. It has white, fluffy spikes.
• Briza maxima - quaking grass - grows to a height of 5-100 cm. It also originates from the Mediterranean. It is grown in an ornamental version. It rarely becomes naturalized.
• Reed canary grass (lat. Phalaris arundinacea) - has vigorous growth and white-striped leaves. Grows to a height of 90 cm.
• Pampas grass (lat. Cortaderia selloana rosea) - has beautiful grey-green leaves with a sharp edge and decorative silvery plumes. Grows to a height of 250 cm.

We can also add strawberry corn or other ornamental corn to dried arrangements.

An interesting decoration for autumn are of course also ornamental gourds of various shapes. Which you can pre-grow now in peat pellets.

You can also use ready-mixed annual flower mixes for drying.

If you enjoy handicrafts and further process the grown plants, you will certainly make use of dried plants and other aids for making bouquets, wreaths and arrangements that will enhance our home or work desk throughout the year. You can also create decorations with glued pictures made from strawflowers. Handmade arrangements will brighten up your kitchen, cottage or pergola. You can also involve children in the creation. Use easily shapeable wire or a flower holder from our range. Strawflowers, gourds and corn will also serve as a beautiful gift for friends who come to enjoy your garden.

Author: Hana Michalíková