It is seed starting time! I am in the process of starting all my annual dried flowers from seed right now. It is a big job and takes lots of work until they are ready to plant out in May.
Annuals are plants that complete their life cycle in one year. They germinate, grow, flower, set seed and die. They are a lot of work as you have to start them every year from seed!
But here are my favourites for drying that I couldn’t do without as they are just so beautiful dried and keep their colour well.
My Top 5 Annuals for Growing for Dried Flowers
- Strawflower – Xerochrysum bracteatum aka Helichrysum bracteatum
- Paper daisy – Helipterum roseum
- Winged everlasting – Ammobium alatum
- Globe amaranth – Gomphrena globosa
- Celosia ‘Flamingo Feather – Celosia argentea var. spicata
- Bonus entry- Bunny tails – Lagurus ovatus
Although some are not technically classed as annuals, the climate here in Zone 5 means that we have to grow them as annuals as they will not survive any cold weather.
Other annuals I could have added are Statice, Zinnias (yes, they dry well!) Salvia viridis, marigolds, cornflowers and larkspur.
What favourites would you add to the list?
If you want to try growing strawflowers yourself now is a good time to start the seeds. Check out my guide to strawflowers HERE
All that work got me thinking about the flowers that are perennials and good for drying.
Perennials are plants that come back year after year and that saves a lot of time and work when it comes to growing flowers for drying.
My Top 5 Perennials For Dried Flowers
* Yarrow – Achillea millefolium
* Anise hyssop – Agastache foeniculum
* Lady’s mantle – Alchemilla mollis
* Sea holly – Eryngium planum
* Peonies – Paeonia lactiflora
Also on the list is masterwort – Astrantia major, globe thistle – Echinops ritro, mountain mint – Pycnanthemum virginianum, sea lavender – Limonium latifolium, Coneflower – Echinacea purpurea, Pearly everlasting – Anaphalis margaritacea, blazing star – Liatris spicata and lots more.
There are, of course, lots of grasses and seed heads that I dry too and will make a blog post on those sometime.
I do have many other favourite garden plants that I do not use for for dried flower work but they are equally beautiful and useful in the garden for other reasons…some of those are for natural dyeing.
I will keep those for a future post! If you think I have missed any of your favourite flowers for drying then let me know.