Obviously, the flowers I grow are ones that I can dry, so that as well as looking beautiful they have a financial benefit to me too. I started off growing flowers to sell for fresh, but as the business has evolved it’s very much a dried flower farm now. I also buy in dried flowers from other British growers, to use in my wreaths and bunches, when my own supply isn’t enough.

I thought it might be useful to share with you my favourite flowers to grow for drying, and those that I use the most in bunches and arrangements. Maybe you could try drying some yourself, let me know how you get on.

By no means is this an exhaustive list, and my favourites change all the time, but these are super useful AND beautiful. Win win.

1. Dahlias

   These are the absolute best when dried, and I think they elevate any dried bunch to look stunning. I do use them in wreaths too, and just love the texture particularly in the pom pom varieties. You can see some of my dried bunches with dahlias featured here.

2. Ammobium

   Sweet little white buttons of dried flowers on wild wiggly stems. I adore them. My wedding crown was made up of ammobium and it worked brilliantly as its just so delicate. This is a cut and come again plant, and it just pumps out the flowers all season which is another reason to love it.

3. Poppy seed heads

   Once you’ve got poppies growing, you’ll always have poppies growing. Prolific self seeder, they’re super easy to grow. You can get all different types, which in turn have different seedheads. My favourite are the opium poppies (papaver somniferum) for the juicy big seed heads that look brilliant on their own in a bunch, or mixed with grasses.

4. Ammi

   This is beautiful fresh, but if you cut it as the umbels are open and at their best you can preserve that beautiful shape and structure for dried arrangements. You cannot beat dried ammi, its just incredible. My White Winter Hymnal wreath, that was really popular at Christmas, featured Ammi.

5. Larkspur

   Larkspur dries brilliantly, and you can get it in such pretty colours, its lovely on its own or in bunches mixed with complementary colours. I love the pinks and white, when dried.

6. Limmonium

   Limmonium latifolium is by far my favourite in this group. It is delicate, airy, and really useful as a filler. I use it in bunches, wreaths, wall hangings, clouds. I couldn’t be without it. I do love limmonium sinuatum too but much prefer it in the pastel shades as sometimes it can be a little brash in colour.

7. Briza

   I love this in all its sizes, the little ones are just the sweetest in a bud vase such as this, and it also adds such a delicate bouncy texture to wreaths and wall hangings. The large varieties are fab in bunches with grasses. An essential.

8. Miscanthus

   I adore this grass. I have quite a few different varieties growing at the farm now, and its just majestic in the field, as well as cut. I do like adding it to bunches and larger wreaths but at home I make sure I have a large bunch of it in my lounge, as i love it so much. Gorgeous texture.

9. Statice Dumosa

   Teeny little white stars, on a fairly short branching stem are just the most gorgeous addition to buttonholes, my botanical domes, and any wreaths too. I’m always looking for something that can gently fill space in a wreath and this always fits the bill. I haven’t had any joy growing this yet so I always buy this one in.

10. Gypsohila

    I love love love this dried, simply cannot get enough of it. I have only had success growing the white, and desperately want armfuls of fluffy pink gypsohila to dry but so far no joy. Maybe this year will be my year. If you haven’t dried this before, do try it - it is very easy - and you can enjoy it in your home forever more. It looks amazing in vases on its own.

    
    

    There you have it. My current favourite dried flowers to work with. Is there anything on there thats a surprise to you? I’m sure I’ll have some new treats this year - dried flowers are always worth experimenting with, nothing is safe from my drying rack.