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Everlastings (Dried Flowers)
While cut fresh flowers symbolize beauty and fleeting life, everlastings represent longevity and
immortality. Everlastings are plants that retain their shape and color long after they have been picked and
dried. Everlastings serve as a reminder of nature’s bounty and provide the home gardener with an
opportunity to preserve the beauty of the growing season year-round.
In Victorian times, flowers and leaves that retained their fragrance were used to perfume and adorn homes.
Rose petals and sweet-scented rushes were scattered on floors, while cloth bags and filigree containers
filled with aromatic leaves and flowers freshened drawers and cupboards.
Today, interest in dried flowers is enjoying resurgence in popularity. Dried plant materials provide an
attractive option for urban dwellers who may have little time, interest or space to grow a garden. Many
commercial nurseries all over the world are growing flowers solely for drying.
The Everlasting Garden
Although good plants for drying are available in the wild and from florists and suppliers, you may want to
grow your own. A garden of everlastings starts with careful planning. Since flowers and plant materials for
drying should be picked as close as possible to their prime, your planting plan should take into account
such information as the height and width of the mature plant, flower and foliage color as well as the time of
bloom.
The beds in your garden need to have a mixture of plants that will not be affected appreciably by the
removal of flowers and foliage for drying. Mixed borders that contain herbaceous perennials, as well as
shrubs, roses and annuals, are especially well-suited to the dried-flower enthusiast Not only do mixed
borders provide a good selection of plants for drying, they also remain interesting over long periods of
time.
A cutting and drying garden may be laid out in rows of plants similar to a vegetable garden. Lavender,
celosia, gomphrena, strawflower and larkspur are good plant selections for the dryer’s garden. If desired,
the rows can be arranged in compartments like rooms in a house and emphasize various themes,
atmospheres and color schemes.
Materials for drying may also come from existing gardens or plantings in the home landscape. Even the
vegetable garden provides good materials for drying such as okra pods, onion seedheads, asparagus leaves
and some herbs. Many plant materials can be collected in the fall and winter and used directly in
arrangements after gathering. These materials include cones, seed pods, grasses, berries and grains found
in the garden as well as in fields and along roadsides.
Plant material may also be gathered in the wild. When gathering in the wild, there are a few common-sense
rules to remember. Always leave enough plants in the wild to insure the success of the next generation.
Second, be respectful of private property and protected areas. Third, do not harvest threatened or
endangered plants. Lists of these plants are readily available from State Departments of Conservation or
other conservation agencies. You may want to purchase a good field guide to assist you with identification.
Harvesting and Air Drying
Plant material for drying may be collected at any time during the year. Collect plant material on a day when
the humidity is low. The late afternoon is preferable, after the heat of the day has passed and before the
evening damp has set in. Cut the stem cleanly with pruning shears, scissors or a sharp knife; never pull a
plant out by the roots. Prepare plant material for drying immediately after picking to prevent mold and
discoloration.
The easiest, most effective way to dry plants is by air drying. Since flowers will continue to open as they
dry, select flowers that are not fully open. To preserve the best color and shape, remove the foliage from
the stem and group together in small bunches secured with a rubber band or string.
Use of Drying Agents
Flowers may be dried in their natural form by totally burying the flowers in one of several desiccating
materials. Desiccants are drying agents used to absorb moisture from flowers and leaves. Borax, sand and
silica gel are desiccants that may be purchased at craft stores or through mail order. Flowers suitable for
drying in desiccants include chrysanthemums, roses, peonies, larkspurs and daisies.
A popular mix for drying flowers is made of equal parts sand and borax. Choose sand that is fine, clean and
dry. White cornmeal may be substituted for sand as it is light in weight and has less of a tendency to flatten
flowers. The addition of three tablespoons of uniodized salt per quart of mix will help the petals retain their
color.
Pour one to two inches of the borax mixture into the bottom of a low cardboard box. Position the flower in
the mixture so that the petals are in a natural position. Slowly pour more of the borax mixture in the box
until the plant material is completely covered. Place the uncovered box in a warm, dry place to allow for
maximum aeration and evaporation. Flowers will dry in approximately three to five weeks.
Silica gel is available under a variety of trade names. It is white but some types contain blue crystals that act
as an indicator of the amount of moisture which has been absorbed. As the moisture is absorbed from the
flowers, the indicator crystals turn pink. To reuse silica gel, spread the gel on open cookie sheets and bake
in the oven at 250 degrees until the crystals are blue again. This process should take approximately one
hour. Store unused silica gel in air-tight containers.
Silica gel is generally applied the same way as the sand/borax mixture. There are a few important
differences to remember. First, use shallow, air-tight containers to make the maximum use of drying
material. Containers must be tightly sealed. If containers are not tightly sealed, the silica gel tends to absorb
moisture from the air, and flowers dry too slowly or not at all.
Second, remove the natural stem and attach the flower to a short wire before placing in silica gel. Two
techniques for wiring may be used: hook wiring and cross wiring. Hook wiring may be used for flowers
with soft centers. Flowers with a harder base or center, such as roses, should be cross wired.
To hook wire a flower, use about a 20- to 24- gauge wire and push it upward through the center of the
flower base. Bend a small hook in the end of the wire and pull it back through the flower. Make sure that
the small hook is well hidden in the flower’s center as it will become visible as the flower dries.
To cross wire a flower, push the wire through the center of the flower base at right angles to the stem. The
wire is centered in the flower base and both ends are then bent down and twisted together to make a short
base.
Flowers with wired stems are dried facing upward with the wire stem bent or curled along the bottom of
the container. Flowers dried with their natural stems may be dried on their sides or upside down with their
stems protruding upward. However, it is difficult to work the drying agent between the petals when
flowers are placed facing downward.
Completely bury flowers in silica gel by gently sifting material over the petals. After all of the flowers have
been added and covered, lift the container and tap it gently on the base to help settle the material. Cover
tightly and prepare for storage. Flowers buried in silica gel dry very quickly - usually in five to ten days.
Experimentation may be necessary as the exact drying time will vary with the thickness of the flower.
To remove flowers from drying agents, pour off drying mixture until the petals become visible. Gently lift
flowers out of mixture. Turn flowers upside down and carefully tap out any remaining residue. If traces of
drying agents remain, remove by brushing with a soft, dry artist’s brush or gentle stream of air.
Microwaving
Microwave drying only takes a few minutes and provides flowers that look fresher than those obtained by
other drying methods. Begin by placing plant material in heat-tolerant glass or microwave container. Do
not cover the container. To maintain shape, support material such as silica gel must surround the plant
material throughout the drying process. A cup of water may be placed inside the microwave to prevent
excessive drying.
Since microwave ovens and flowers vary, some experimentation may be required. Generally, drying time
will vary from about three minutes for very dense flowers to about one minute for smaller flowers.
After microwaving, leave flowers in the silica gel for 12 to 24 hours to assure they are cooled and dry. Since
microwave dried flowers tend to absorb moisture, you may wish to spray the petals with hair spray or
lacquer to seal them.
Decorating with Dried Flowers
The exciting process of growing and drying flowers is merely preliminaries to the creative art of arranging
them. Dried plant material offers a wide range of shapes, colors and textures for creating beautiful floral
decorations. Some popular decorative uses include dried flower arrangements, hanging bunches, garlands,
swags and wreaths.
Dried flower arrangements are particularly well-suited to office areas and lobbies where fresh cut flowers
are too expensive and difficult to maintain. While choice and size of the container play an important role in
determining the shape and style of your arrangement; nature is perhaps the best guide when creating
arrangements of dried flowers.
Both drying and dried flowers look marvelous hanging in bunches against a wall, from ceilings or beams, or
hanging from racks. Dried flowers should be bunched together according to color, shape and textural
concerns. Ribbons or bows may be added to the bunches for a more decorative look.
Doorways, banisters, fireplaces and long tables covered with linen cloth take on a festive look when
decorated with garlands and swags. A swag or garland is a rope of dried plant material designed to loop
from one point to another. The preparation of garlands and swags can be somewhat time-consuming; they
are usually reserved for special occasions such as a wedding or holidays.
One of the most popular uses of dried materials is in the creation of wreaths. While there are a wide variety
of store-bought bases that you can choose from such as wire, straw, grapevine and foam; you may choose to
make your own from materials found in nature. There are many good books available to get you started on
the creation of a dried flower wreath.
Storing Dried Materials
Drying method is the most important consideration when storing dried plant material. Flowers hanging in
bunches to air dry can simply be left hanging, so long as they are hanging out of direct sunlight. Dried
flowers that have been preserved in silica gel should be stored in air-tight containers for protection against
humidity and to retain floral shape and color.
Materials that have been air dried or dried in borax mixtures may be wrapped in newspaper or tissue and
stored in large, long cardboard boxes for protection against invading insects, dust and strong light.
However, be certain that plant material is completely dry before storing, as any remaining moisture will
cause the contents of the entire box to rot.
Dried plant material may last for several months without deteriorating when stored properly in a clean, dry
place. However, even the best dried flowers eventually fade and should be discarded when they no longer
produce the desired effect.
Pink and Red Dried Flowers
Part
Common name Scientific name Habit Ht (in)
used
Tardiva hydrangea Hydrangea paniculata Tardiva' P 12-24" flower
Larkspur .Delphinium consolida P 4-6' flower
Globe amaranth Gomphrena haageana A 8-20" flower
Love-in-a-mist Nigela damascena A 12-18" seedhead
Hybrid tea rose Rosa sp. P 3-5' flower
Amaranth Amaranthus caudatus A 3-5' seedhead
Cockscomb celosia Celosia cristata A 1-2' flower
Wheat celosia Celosia spicata A 1-2' flower
Yarrow Achillea millefolium P 2-3' flower
Ornamental onion Allium sp. 'Drumstick' P 24-36" flower
Strawflower Helichrysum bracteatum A 2-3' flower
Russian statice Limonium sutvorowii A 18-24" flower
Green and Brown Dried Flowers
Common name Scientific name Habit Ht(in) Part used
Oak-leaf hydrandea Hydrangea quercifolia P 4-8' flower
Sea oats Chasmanthium latifolium P 3-5' seedhead
Lotus pods Nelumbo lucifera P 9" seedhead
Cattails Typha latifolia P 48" seedhead
Ornamental onion Allium aflatunense P 24-36" seedhead
Okra pods Abelmoschus esculentus A 2-6' seedhead
Black-bearded wheat Triticum durum P 36" seedhead
Pitcher plant Sarracenia purpurea P 36" flower
Cherry branches Prunus sp. P 40-50' branch
Sweet annie Artemisia annua A to 60" flower
Eucalyptus Eucalyptus cinerea P 30-50' stems/leaves
Bamboo Phyllostachys sp. P 15-20' stems w/culms
Purple coneflower Echinacea purpurea P 1.5-3' flower
Blue and Purple Dried Flowers
Part
Common name Scientific name Habit Ht (in)
used
Statice Limonium sinuatum A 12-30" flower
English lavender Lavendula angustifolia A 1-3' flower
French lavendar Lavendula dentata A 1-2' flower
Blue salvia Salvia farinaceae A 2-3' flower
Floss flower Ageratum houstonianum A 8-14" flower
Larkspur Delphinium consolida P 4-6' flower
German statice Limonium tataricum A 12-15" flower
Oregano Origanum sp. A,P 1-2' flower
Pennyroyal Mentha pulegium P 8-12" flower
Yarrow Achillea millefolium P 2-3' flower
Globe thistle Echinops ritro P 3-4' flower
Astilbe Astilbe sp. P 1-4' flower
Yellow and Orange Dried Flowers
Common name Scientific name Habit Ht (in) Part used
Yarrow Achillea filipendulina P 2-5' flower
Chinese lanterns Physalis franchetii P 1-2' seed pod
Hybrid tea rose Rosa sp. P 3-5' flower
Plume celosia Celosia plumosa A 6-12" plume
Cockscomb celosia Celosia cristata A 1-2' plume/head
Drumstick Craspedia globosa A 8-12" flower
Oak leaves Quercus sp. P - leaf
Rosehips Rosa sp. P - seedhead
Strawflower Helichysum bracteatum A 2-3' flower
Tansy Tanacetum vulgare P 11-36" flower
Statice Limonium sinuatum A 12-30" flower
White, Cream and Silver Dried Flowers
Common name Scientific name Habit Ht(in) Part used
Artemesia Artemesia ludoviciana var. albula P 24-36" leaves/flowers
Baby's breath Gypsophila sp. P 1-3' flower
Maidengrass Miscanthus sinesis P 2-8' flower
Pampas grass Cortaderia selloana A 60-108" seedhead
Money plant Lunaria annua A 18-36" seedpod
Silver beardgrass Bothriochloa saccharoides P 3-5' flower
Ornamental onion Allium sp. P 18-36" flower
Globe amaranth Gomphrena globosa A 8-20" flower
Hydrangea Hydrangea macrophylla P 4-8' flower
Dusty Miller Senecio sp. A,P 1-3' leaf
