DIY Dried Flower Arrangements: What to Use, How to Dry and Arrange

A dried flower arrangement is a bouquet that needs no water and lasts not a week but months. Lavender, statice, pampas grass, cotton, eucalyptus and dried hydrangeas create warm, cosy decor in boho, Scandinavian or rustic style. Here's which plants work for dried arrangements, how to dry them properly, how to put an arrangement together yourself and how to look after it.

View full-size photo

Which plants are good for drying

Plants with firm petals, globe-shaped heads and seed heads keep their shape and colour best:

• Flowers: lavender, statice (limonium), strawflower (helichrysum), gypsophila, craspedia (billy buttons), xeranthemum, globe thistle, yarrow and pearly everlasting.
• Grasses: pampas grass, bunny tails (lagurus), wheat, oats, feather grass and phalaris.
• Textures: poppy heads, honesty (lunaria), cotton, pine cones, lotus pods, berried branches, bark and moss.
• Foliage: eucalyptus, ruscus, ferns and magnolia leaves — best preserved with glycerine.
• Flowers from a bouquet: roses, hydrangeas, proteas and peonies can be dried too, keeping the memory of a gift.

Blue, purple, pink and orange flowers hold their colour best. Reds darken almost to burgundy and whites turn creamy yellow. Pick on a dry day after the dew has gone, choosing flowers that have only just opened fully — overblown ones shed.

How to dry flowers

• Hanging. The easiest method for lavender, statice, grasses and roses. Tie small bunches, strip excess leaves and hang them upside down somewhere dark, dry and airy. Stems stiffen in 2–3 weeks. Darkness keeps the colour, hanging keeps the stems straight.
• In a vase. Works for hydrangea, gypsophila, mimosa and eucalyptus: pour in 3–5 cm of water and don't top it up. As it evaporates, the plant dries slowly and holds its shape.
• In silica gel. For full flowers such as roses, peonies and ranunculus. Cover the flower with dry silica gel (sold in florist and craft shops) in a sealed container for 3–7 days. It preserves colour and shape best.
• With glycerine (preserving). For leaves and branches: mix 1 part glycerine with 2 parts hot water and stand freshly cut stems in it for 1–3 weeks. The leaves stay supple and won't crumble.

Flowers for pictures and cards are pressed flat — see our guide to oshibana.

View full-size photo

How to make a dried flower arrangement: step by step

You'll need: a vase, pot or basket; dry floral foam (grey or brown — not the green foam used for fresh flowers) or simply a heavy vase with a narrow neck; secateurs, floral wire and tape, and a glue gun for small details.

1. Choose a palette. Two or three main shades plus neutrals (beige, cream, wheat) look more stylish than "everything at once".
2. Set the shape with large pieces. Pampas grass, eucalyptus or tall grasses define height and outline.
3. Add focal flowers — the largest and brightest: roses, proteas, hydrangea, cotton. Place them at different heights in groups of two or three.
4. Fill the gaps with small heads: gypsophila, statice, bunny tails and lavender.
5. Secure everything. Stems hold by themselves in foam; lengthen short or fragile ones with wire and tape.
6. Check all sides and remove extras: with dried flowers, space between elements matters as much as in a fresh bouquet.

If you're worried about shedding, lightly mist the finished piece with hairspray from 30–40 cm away — it especially helps pampas grass and grasses.

View full-size photo

Dried flower arrangement ideas

• A boho vase of pampas grass, cotton and eucalyptus for a living room or hallway.
• A lavender bunch in a clay jug — a touch of Provence at home. See more in our lavender gift ideas.
• An autumn wreath of grasses, cones, physalis and dried leaves for the front door.
• Mini posies in small bottles — table decor and gifts for guests.
• A framed arrangement or one under a glass dome — protected from dust and lasting for years.

How to care for dried flowers

• Keep them out of direct sun — colours fade within weeks.
• Avoid moisture: bathrooms and spots near the cooker aren't ideal, as dried flowers absorb damp and smells.
• Dust them with a hairdryer on cold or a soft brush once a month.
• Refresh the arrangement every year or two: over time dried flowers fade and gather dust, which isn't pleasant for allergy sufferers.

Prefer fresh flowers? A bouquet with delivery can be dried once it starts to fade and turned into a dried arrangement.

FAQ

How long does a dried flower arrangement last?

With proper care, one to two years; longer in a frame or under glass.

Which flowers keep their colour best when dried?

Lavender, statice, strawflower and craspedia, plus blue, purple and pink flowers. Reds darken and whites yellow.

Can I dry a bouquet I was given?

Yes: take the flowers out while they're fresh, tie them in bunches and hang them upside down somewhere dark and dry.

View full-size photo

Author: Maria Svitlovir

Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.