6 of the Best British Flowers to Grow and dry at home
I'm going to admit I spend a lot of January day-dreaming about Spring and Summer, I try with the best intentions to seize the month but I'm looking forward to longer sunnier days.
So on that note, I've been browsing the flower seed shops and deciding on what I'm going to grow from seed for Summer enjoyment.
I was having a think about which British grown flowers are also best for drying so we can bring the homegrown outside in throughout the year. If you're thinking you'd like to grow some florals and grasses for drying this year, here are 6 of the best British flowers to grow to dry at home...
Straw flower
These flowers seem dried even when they're growing on the plant. They come in so many colours and I particularly love the white and blush pink versions. They’re great for adding some focal points in a dried display or flower crown because they're solid and hold their flower shape when they're dried.
Limonium
Very feathery and add a lovely silhouette to arrangements, related to statice so this is very robust but much more delicate and elegant. These work well as a filler flower.
Achillea
A dried flower that has a large flat surface area so it fills up space in a vase or on a dried flower hoop. A good dried flower if you'd love a pop of mustard yellow in your dried floral arrangement. They're also available in pastel shades too.
Dianthus
A smaller carnation, these are cute little flowers that fade to a subtle tone when they dry. These look very romantic and cottage garden when they dry and I actually prefer the dried versions of these to fresh.
Statice
These retain their colour so well and again, almost seem dried out when they're still growing on the plant. This flower is good at growing in coastal areas so it's very robust. Grows in white, yellow, salmon, pink, purple and lilac.
Bunnytail
These ones live up to their name and look like fluffy miniature rabbit tails. A cute little grass that is great even when it’s displayed on its own in a small bud vase. Beige and muted so will work well with other earthy, clay and putty shades.
When it comes to the drying stage, I've always found it easiest to hang small bunches of the flowers upside down, indoors in a warm and dry space. Overcrowding of the stems can trap the moisture so the flowers don't dry out quickly enough.
It's usually best to dry the flowers out in Summer. Check your flower seed packets but these types of flower seeds tend to be planted out in March/April/May time to flower across Summer. Pick your flowers for drying on dry days and make sure to leave some growing outside for the birds and pollinators. Seed heads in the garden are great for mini beasts to live during the colder months too.
Have fun choosing your dried flowers to grow for Summer and let me know which ones you decide on! I'm definitely going to grow some strawflowers and achillea this year.
Dried Flower Crown Workshop
- learn how to make a dried flower crown round the kitchen table
- take some time for yourself to make something of your own
- spend time with your friends, or at a hen do, getting creative
- I bring all the tools, naturally dried flowers and equipment to you