Some flowers dry into gorgeous, long-lasting keepsakes, while others wilt, brown or fall apart. Choosing the right blooms is the single biggest factor in successful drying. This guide covers the 15 best flowers to dry, why they work so well, and which flowers to avoid — so your dried arrangements look beautiful for years.
What makes a flower good for drying?
The best flowers for drying share a few traits: low moisture content, sturdy petals that hold their shape, and strong natural color that resists fading. Flowers that are already papery or structural when fresh — like statice and strawflower — are practically made for drying, while thin, watery blooms are far trickier.
The 15 best flowers to dry
1. Roses
The classic choice — roses dry beautifully by hanging or in silica gel, keeping their form and much of their color. Perfect for sentimental blooms. See how to dry roses.
2. Lavender
Lavender dries effortlessly and keeps both its color and its famous scent, making it a top choice for bunches, sachets and wreaths.
3. Statice
A true “everlasting” flower, statice is papery even when fresh and holds its vivid purple, pink and white color for years.
4. Strawflower
With stiff, straw-like petals, the strawflower is one of the best drying flowers of all, available in brilliant jewel tones that barely fade.
5. Hydrangea
Hydrangeas dry to a lovely papery texture and antique color. Let them begin drying on the plant for the best results.
6. Baby’s breath
Airy and durable, baby’s breath dries almost perfectly and is endlessly useful as filler in dried arrangements.
7. Globe amaranth
These round, clover-like blooms hold their shape and bright color superbly, keeping a fresh look when dried.
8. Celosia
Velvety, richly colored celosia — both plume and cockscomb types — dries beautifully and adds dramatic texture.
9. Yarrow
Flat-topped yarrow dries easily and holds its warm yellows, golds and reds, adding structure to bunches.
10. Billy balls (craspedia)
Cheerful golden spheres on straight stems, billy balls dry perfectly and keep their sunny color indefinitely.
11. Gomphrena, lavender and grasses
Ornamental grasses, bunny tails and seed heads dry to beautiful texture and have become signatures of modern dried arrangements.
12. Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus foliage dries soft and silvery (especially when preserved with glycerin) and is a staple of dried bouquets.
13. Peonies
Prized, romantic and best dried in silica gel to preserve their lush, full form and soft color.
14. Marigolds
Sturdy marigolds dry well by hanging and keep their warm orange and gold tones.
15. Larkspur and delphinium
Tall spikes of larkspur and delphinium dry and press beautifully, adding height and color to arrangements.
Flowers that are hard to dry
Some flowers are best avoided or require special techniques. Thin, high-moisture blooms like tulips, daffodils and most lilies tend to wilt, brown or collapse when dried. Very delicate flowers may shatter. These are often better preserved with glycerin or pressed flat rather than air-dried.
Best flowers to press (flat)
For pressing rather than three-dimensional drying, choose naturally flat blooms: pansies, violas, violets, daisies, cosmos, larkspur and ferns all press beautifully. See our how to press flowers guide for techniques.
Tips for the best dried flowers
Harvest flowers just before they’re fully open, dry them quickly in a dark, dry place, and match the method to the flower — air-drying for sturdy blooms, silica gel for delicate ones. Combining several of these reliable flowers gives you arrangements full of color and texture that last for years. Learn the techniques in our how to dry flowers guide.
Best foliage and grasses to dry
Flowers aren’t the only thing worth drying — foliage and grasses add essential texture and movement to dried arrangements. The best include pampas grass (a modern favorite), bunny tails, eucalyptus, ferns, wheat and other ornamental grasses, and seed heads like poppy and nigella. Many of these dry simply by standing or hanging, and eucalyptus can be preserved soft with glycerin (see preserved flowers).
When to harvest flowers for drying
Timing matters for the best dried results. Harvest most flowers just before they reach full bloom, when the color is strongest and the petals are firm — fully open flowers can shatter as they dry. Pick on a dry day in late morning, after the dew has evaporated but before the midday heat, and choose unblemished blooms. Hydrangeas are an exception: let them begin to dry on the plant, until the blooms feel papery, before cutting.
Should you dry your own or buy dried flowers?
Both have their place. Drying your own is cheapest, most sustainable and lets you preserve sentimental or garden blooms exactly as you like. Buying dried flowers gives instant access to a huge range, including hard-to-dry species, dyed brights and on-trend stems like pampas grass, without the wait. Many people do both — growing and drying favorites while buying specialty stems to fill out arrangements.
Best flowers to press (flat)
If you want flat flowers for framing and crafts rather than three-dimensional dried blooms, choose naturally flat, thin-petaled flowers: pansies, violas, violets, daisies, cosmos, larkspur, delphinium and ferns all press beautifully. Thicker flowers like roses and peonies are best pressed as individual petals. See our how to press flowers guide for techniques.
Best flowers to dry FAQs
What flowers dry the best?
Roses, lavender, statice, strawflower, hydrangea, baby’s breath, globe amaranth, celosia and yarrow dry best. They share low moisture, sturdy petals and strong color that resists fading, giving long-lasting results.
What flowers are “everlasting” when dried?
Statice and strawflower are the classic “everlasting” flowers — they’re papery and stiff even when fresh, so they keep their shape and vivid color for years with almost no fading.
What flowers don’t dry well?
Thin, high-moisture flowers like tulips, daffodils and most lilies tend to wilt, brown or collapse when air-dried. They’re usually better pressed flat or preserved with glycerin instead.
Do dried flowers keep their color?
Naturally long-lasting flowers like statice, strawflower, lavender and globe amaranth keep their color very well. Drying with silica gel preserves color best, and keeping dried flowers out of sunlight slows fading.
What is the best flower to dry for beginners?
Lavender, statice, strawflower and baby’s breath are ideal for beginners — they dry easily by simply hanging them upside down and reliably keep their shape and color with no special equipment.
Can you dry roses?
Yes, roses are one of the best flowers to dry. Hang them upside down in a dark, dry spot, or use silica gel to best preserve their shape and color. See our full guide to how to dry roses.
Related: dried flowers guide · best flowers to dry · dried flower arrangements · flowers A–Z.