Oshibana: Pressed Flower Art You Can Make Yourself

Oshibana is the art of making pictures from flowers, petals, leaves and grasses pressed flat and dried. Pansies, ferns and bits of bark become landscapes, still lifes, cards and even portraits, and the materials can be gathered on a walk or taken from a bouquet you've been given. Here's where the technique comes from, which plants work best, how to press them properly and how to make your first pressed flower picture.

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What is oshibana and where does it come from?

"Oshibana" is Japanese for "pressed flowers". According to a popular account, the art began in 16th-century Japan, where samurai practised arranging dried plants as an exercise in patience, focus and harmony. In Europe, pictures, albums and cards made from pressed flowers became fashionable in the Victorian era, when almost every home kept a herbarium.

Modern Japanese oshibana enjoyed a revival in the late 20th century as artists learned to keep plant colours longer by sealing works in airtight frames. Today pressed flower art is used for pictures, cards, bookmarks, jewellery and home decor.

Which plants are good for oshibana?

• Flat flowers press best: pansies and violas, violets, verbena, lobelia, cosmos, larkspur and individual hydrangea florets.
• Large, full flowers (roses, peonies, gerberas) are separated into petals or cut in half.
• Leaves and greenery: ferns, maple, ginkgo, strawberry leaves, grasses and herbs.
• Extras: bark, birch bark, fluff, seeds, moss and thin twigs.

Gather plants on a dry day after the dew has lifted, choosing fresh, undamaged flowers. A bouquet you've received is a wonderful source: press a few flowers before they start to wilt and turn them into a keepsake picture. For preserving hydrangeas, see our hydrangea guide.

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How to press flowers for oshibana

• In a book. The simplest method: place plants between sheets of absorbent paper (blotting paper, newspaper or paper towels) inside a heavy book and add weight on top. Change the paper after 3–4 days so nothing goes mouldy. Pressing takes 1–3 weeks.
• In a flower press. Two plywood boards with straps and layers of card and paper dry plants faster and flatter.
• Quick methods — ironing through paper with no steam or using a microwave flower press. Colours stay brighter, but take care not to over-dry.

The golden rule is to dry as quickly as possible with no moisture — that best preserves colour. Lay plants in a single layer without touching. Store pressed material in envelopes or folders somewhere dry and dark.

How to make an oshibana picture: step by step

You'll need: pressed plants, heavy card, watercolour paper or fabric for the base, tweezers, clear glue (PVA or a glue stick), a fine brush, scissors and a glazed frame.

1. Plan your design. A simple flower arrangement or wreath works well for a first piece. For complex scenes, draw a light pencil sketch.
2. Arrange without glue. Use tweezers — pressed petals are fragile. Start with the background and larger pieces, then add small details.
3. Let it rest. Come back after a few hours with fresh eyes — it's easier to see what needs adjusting.
4. Fix in place. Brush a tiny dot of glue on the back of each piece and press gently.
5. Frame it. Put the picture behind glass to protect it from dust and moisture.

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How to keep the colours

Pressed plants fade over time — that's natural. To slow it down, hang the picture away from direct sun and radiators and use a glazed frame (ideally UV-protective) with a solid backing. Oshibana artists seal their works so no air or moisture can get in.

Pressed flower ideas

• Cards and bookmarks — lovely handmade gifts. For more ideas, see our DIY Valentine's cards.
• A picture from a wedding bouquet — press a few flowers and keep the memory of the day.
• A botanical poster — a herbarium of plants from one walk or one summer.
• Fantasy scenes — landscapes, animals or petal dresses for drawn figures.

Love making things with flowers? Try origami flowers or a paper snowdrop bouquet.

FAQ

How long do flowers take to press?

One to three weeks in a book or press, depending on how thick the plants are.

Can I use flowers from a bouquet?

Yes, if you press them while they're fresh. Separate large flowers into petals.

Why do pressed flowers lose their colour?

Slow drying, moisture and sunlight. Press quickly and keep the picture behind glass out of the sun.

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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.