Growing cut flowers in spring and summer is rewarding, but what about winter? Drying flowers is the answer, and Frances Tophill shows us how
Drying flowers has gone through phases of popularity (and unpopularity) but in recent years it seems to be something people are trying more and more. The driving force behind this is probably financial. Times are hard for us all, and spending money on fresh flowers can seem like a stretch too far. Growing cut flowers is great in the spring and summer, but virtually impossible in the winter, so preserving summer blooms to brighten up the house seems like a logical step. The other big factor driving the dried flower revival is sustainability. The vast majority of bought cut flowers are imported from other countries, especially in winter. Drying your own flowers – even in some cases without the need for your own garden, with foraged flowers such as the buttercup drying beautifully – is so much more environmentally friendly.
The process is easy, too. Sometimes you can just let plants dry in their vases, throwing out the blooms that go over and retaining those that stay attractive for the best of both worlds. Tansy and hydrangea work well with this method. For others, hanging them upside-down is the best way.
Frances’ flowers that dry well
▲ Craspedia globosa
Billy buttons should grow well from direct sowing in spring. Pick them with as long a stem as possible on a dry day when they’re in peak colour. Suspend them upside-down in bunches in a dark, well-ventilated and dry room for one to two weeks.
Height x Spread 90cm x 50cm Flowers May-Sep
▼ Gomphrena globosa
These can be a little bit delicate once they are dried so be careful while you are arranging them. They grow best in full sun but partial shade will also be fine – the blooms might just be a little less vibrant. To dry, bunch them together and hang for three weeks.
H x S 60cm x 30cm F Jun-Sep
Ammi majus
A beautiful annual in the carrot family; sow seeds from March until May. They can be direct sown or sown into trays or modules. Plant out from late May and expect flowers by August. To dry them, hang upside-down in a well-ventilated, dry room, out of direct sunlight, for around three weeks.
H x S 1.5m x 50cm F Jun-Sep
▲ Salvia viridis ‘Oxford Blue’
This is the annual clary sage, with bract-like flowers of deep
