Best Plants and Flowers for Drying

Dried flowers — Sunny Meadows Flower Farm in Columbus, Ohio, uses some of its plants for beautiful dried arrangements. Photo:
Kelsey Hansen

Ohio flower farmers Gretel and Steve Adams grow thousands of everlasting flowers and plants on their 40-acre Sunny Meadows Flower Farm in Columbus. These beauties look great in summer gardens and fresh arrangements, but they're also perfect for drying (and you can buy Sunny Meadows' creations online). Choices range from colorful papery strawflowers and velvety celosia to quirky rounded seedpods. Here are a few of their favorites, along with tips on how to grow and how to preserve dried flowers.

01 of 14

Celosia

Celosia are adored for their intense colors and velvety texture. Sow indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, then move outdoors after the threat of frost. Gretel says that for her, the burgundies and reds hold their color the best when dried, while green and creamy colors can fade to brown. Celosia come in two common forms: spikes and cockscomb. For the spikes, try ‘Celway’ in terracotta or ‘Flamingo Feather’ in pale pink. ‘Kurume Rose’ in bubblegum pink is a favorite cockscomb. Celosia thrives in hot, dry conditions. Flower heads grow bigger as they mature, so pick when they reach the desirable size.

02 of 14

Oats

Beyond flowers, grains like oats make great plants for drying. Their wispy seed heads add texture to dried floral bouquets. Oats are a cool-weather crop, so direct sow them in early spring for a late-summer harvest. Follow package directions for details. To dry oats, Gretel says to cut stems near the base when they’re still a little green and before they start to shed pollen.

03 of 14

Statice

This classic everlasting is great for beginners and produces papery blooms all summer long. Start seeds indoors 6 weeks before the last frost then transplant seedlings outside after the last frost. Gretel says to harvest the first round of blooms in late summer then leave plants for a second round of fall blooms. She prefers the darker blue- and purple-flowering varieties that tend to be more disease-resistant. They also hold their color better than lighter-colored ones. Use dried statice as a filler to add volume to bouquets.

04 of 14

Shepherd’s Purse

Yes, this is a weed and a charming one when dried. Try gathering some stems from a ditch or field nearby. Even save some of its seeds to sow in an open area of your own backyard where the plants can re-seed and roam. “Don’t be afraid to try something new,” says Gretel, pointing to other everlasting-desirable weeds like pennycress and burdock.

05 of 14

Flax

Called “bubble grass” for its attractive seedpods, flax is another grain grown as an everlasting. Direct sow seeds in spring, so stems will be ready to harvest before they’re vulnerable to powdery mildew typically in late summer. For drying, Gretel says to harvest stems fresh, once seedpods have formed.

06 of 14

Nigella

Albion Love-in-Mist — Albion Green Pod Nigella produces both star-shaped flowers and large seedpods.
Courtesy of Johnnyseeds.com

Also known as love-in-a-mist, nigella features delicate, star-shaped flowers in spring followed with large, rounded seedpods that are prized for dried flower bouquets. Direct sow seeds in a sunny spot in well-drained soil. You’ll find varieties in vibrant and pastel floral mixes. ‘Cramer’s Plum’ is a Sunny Meadows favorite, with purple-tinged seedpods. The farm saves its seeds, since they can be hard to source. For drying, Gretel recommends harvesting stems when seedpods are green. Leave a few seedpods to further mature, then collect the seeds or let them self-sow for the next season.

07 of 14

Larkspur

Purple larkspur is easy to grow and holds its color well when dried. Just don’t wait until spring to plant larkspur seeds. Instead, direct sow them in mid- to late-August. The plants stay small (4-6”) through the winter then grow into tall flowering spikes in spring. Gretel’s favorite source for larkspur seeds is Wildseed Farms.

08 of 14

Gomphrena

Cute as a button, these rounded flowers are great for wreaths or bouquets. Gretel even strings them for a garland much as you would popcorn. Start seeds indoors in trays 4-6 weeks before the last frost then transplant outdoors after the danger of frost. This late-summer bloomer thrives in heat. Harvest when flowers have colored up and stems are firm.

09 of 14

Strawflower

These prized everlastings have papery flowers in a variety of colors. Start seeds indoors in trays 6 weeks before the last frost. Since they can be challenging to germinate, double up on the seeds per cell, do not cover with soil and make sure they are exposed to plenty of light. Transplant seedlings after the last frost. For drying, cut stems during the day and before the flowers’ pollen ring develops. If you wait too late, the centers will blow up and seeds will fly away. Try single-colored varieties sold by Johnny’s Selected Seeds or Suntory’s supersized Granvia strawflower plants sold at garden centers.

10 of 14

Broomcorn

These brightly colored seed heads, once used for broom-making, add texture to dried flower bouquets. Direct sow seeds from the last frost date to mid-June. For a continuous harvest, try planting successively every two weeks. Once the plants reach 4” tall, thin them to 8-12” to promote thicker stalks. The plants can reach 17 feet, so be sure to stake them or plant with other tall, supportive plants like mammoth sunflowers. Gretel says new shorter sorghums are available but don’t produce sprays as big.

11 of 14

Marigold

This easy-to-grow annual makes an excellent addition to dried flower bouquets. Choose taller varieties with big double blooms for their fullness when dried. Sow indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost then plant seedlings outdoors after the danger of frost. Harvest flowers throughout the summer, and don’t wait too late into fall when the flowers hold more moisture and are harder to dry. Favorite varieties include giants ‘Jedi Orange’ and ‘Coco Gold’ and shorter ‘White Swan’.

12 of 14

Eucalyptus

Grown for its dreamy grey-green foliage and quintessential minty scent, this wedding staple is tough to germinate and requires a long growing season. For a jump start, Gretel suggests buying transplants from a garden center, planting them in early spring and then waiting until September to harvest full-grown stems. Resist harvesting too early, or the tips will droop. Favorites include ‘Silver Dollar’ with ginkgo-shaped leaves and purple-red stems; ‘Baby Blue’ with large sprays of blue-gray stems covered in rounded leaves; and ‘Parviflora’ with small, pointed leaves.

13 of 14

Ammobium

This everlasting features a bounty of elegant, silvery-white blooms with yellow centers. Sow seeds indoors 5-6 weeks before the last frost then transplant outdoors after the threat of frost. These plants prefer cooler weather. For dried flowers, cut stems when flowers are half-opened. Blooms will continue to open as they dry.

14 of 14

Sea Oats

This perennial grass is prized for its seed heads. Gretel recommends starting with plants from a local garden center. Place them in a place where they can spread. Once established, they will reseed and multiply. The seeded stems can be harvested when they are green or later when they redden with age.

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